Solihull College Performing Arts, UK
Performing Arts Web Site: www.solihullarts.org.uk
College Web Site: www.solihull.ac.uk
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Cats, November 22nd & 23rd 2007, National Diploma year 2
In six weeks, the second year students have studied the techniques and methods used in Jazz Dance, Physical Theatre and Musical theatre. This production has been a significant undertaking for the ND2 students as they have had to concentrate on complex group and solo singing with sustained acting in Musical Theatre. We have used the many techniques available to produce Physical Theatre movement, soundscape and percussion effects into the show which the students have thrown themselves into enthusiastically. Jazz Dance is clearly a strong feature of this production and has challenged the students to raise their performance skills in this area. Some students have extended set work while others have choreographed their own sections.
ACT 1
Midnight on the junkyard. When car lights tear the darkness, a running feline appears for a moment. After a while other cats creep out of their hideouts. They gather to the annual Jellicle Ball. It's a great celebration of the tribe of Jellicle Cats. This night they will choose one cat who will go to the Heaviside Layer and start a new life.
Jellicle Cats are proud of who they are. They start the meeting with a song about their beauty, variety of their characters and special abilities. Then they reveal that every cat has three different names: an ordinary name that family uses daily, a more dignified name which never belongs to more than one cat, and finally - a secret name that no man can discover.
Victoria, a young white cat, dances with Mr Mistoffelees , a cat with black fur. They invite Jellicles to the Ball. Munkustrap, a large grey tabby, tells about the Jellicle Ball. The cats are waiting for their leader, wise Old Deuteronomy, who will help them choose which cat will be reborn in this special night. In the meantime Jellicles introduce themselves one by one.
Jennyanydots is lazy all day long but when the night comes, she teaches the mice and trains the cockroaches.
The Rum Tum Tugger is an eccentric and playful cat who likes to be the center of attention... and he succeeds in it - all the female cats adore him!
Grizabella is an old cat who left the tribe of Jellicle Cats a long time ago. Then she was beautiful and now she is lonely.
Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are a couple of fun-loving cats who always get into trouble because they "go through the house like a hurricane".
When Old Deuteronomy turns up, all the cats start to rejoice. They sing about his long life and they confess how much they respect him. Munkustrap entertains Old Deuteronomy with a tale about the awful battle between dogs and about the intervention of the great Rumpus Cat. Jellicle Cats begin their Ball, the wonderful annual dance of all the tribe. Grizabella wants to join them but the cats still avoid her. She leaves disappointed.
ACT 2
After the Jellicle Ball the cats listen to their leader's song about the moments of happiness and they contemplate. Then the rest of the cats introduce themselves.
Macavity, the Mystery Cat, interrupts the celebration and captures Old Deuteronomy. Two beautiful female cats, Demeter and Bombalurina, sing about the evil deeds of Macavity. After a while Macavity returns, disguised as Old Deuteronomy, but vigilant Munkustrap discovers the ruse and he fights with Macavity. When the evil cat seems to be almost defeated, he manages to escape.
Jellicles try to find Old Deuteronomy. Mr Mistoffelees appears to be useful. He uses his magical powers to bring the wise cat back. Now Old Deuteronomy can make his choice of the cat that will go to the Heaviside Layer. And then Grizabella appears once more. She sings that all she's got are her memories and she yearns for anybody's touch. The cats, moved by her sad story, accept Grizabella and Old Deuteronomy chooses her to be the one who will be reborn in the new Jellicle life.
In the end Old Deuteronomy sings that "cats are very much like you".
Jonathon Warrilow - Munkustrap
Beau Carter - Rum Tum Tugger
Nicola Palfrey - Grizabella; Jennyanydots
James Dainton -Mungojerrie; Mistofelees
Danielle Goodfellow - Rumpleteazer
Abbas Shoukat - Old Deuteronomy
Emma Walsh - Bombalurina
Nicketa Jackson - Demeter
Maria Pazouros - Electra
Gemma McCaffrey - Jemima
Stacey Hansford - Victoria
Shane Witty - Coricopat
Ashleigh Howard - Tantomile
Nicole Bailey - Cassandra
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2:05Cats, Solihull College, Performing Artsby gregmarshall2690 views
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