WHY was CATS the longest running show on Broadway??? (m)

[zakatak]

Four of us saw this musical last night for the first time and ALL of us walked out during intermission. WHAT is so great about CATS? We felt that there was NO story, nothing to keep our interest (in fact I kept drifting off to thinking about making my POLY reservations for July!! )... At intermission, we looked at each other, asked "WHAT is this about?", decided we would have much more fun elsewhere and left.

If you have seen CATS, what did you think about it? What did we miss? Oye... I just didn't "GET IT"!

Lost in Confusion for $48.00 a ticket,
Karen

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I think it helps if you are familiar with the poems it is based on, or are a real cat person maybe? I thought it was OK once but wouldn't go again. I went in the 80s with my mom and sister, and my dad, DH and BIL all fell asleep way before "Memory".
Robin M.

 

[SuiteDisney]

I saw it on Broadway right before it ended and I wasn't thrilled.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

During the course of its Broadway run, Cats has:

Been seen by an estimated 8 million people. (Fifty million worldwide.)
Pumped $3.12 billion into the New York City economy.
Employed 231 actors. (Nineteen have died; two--Marlene Danielle and Susan Powers--have been with the show since day one.)
Sold 390,000 T-shirts, 130,000 sweat shirts and 1.14 million souvenir books.
Outlasted two U.S. presidents (Reagan and Bush) and the Eastern European Communist Bloc.
Proved to a generation of TV watchers that there was more to Betty Buckley than being Abby Bradford on Eight Is Enough. (Buckley was Broadway's original Grizabella--the cat that sings Memory.)

Have you seen the movie "Logans Run"??? Well when they finally make it to the old man with the cats he starts quoting the musical. I just learned that this year when yes I watched "Logans Run".

Sorry you didn't like it. I suppose it just wasn't your taste.

 

[caitycaity]

it's never been one of my favorites either.

 

[Rajah]

If I look at it as a show of song and dance, I love it! I love the music, the costumes, and the dancing.

If I look at it as a story, I'm left going "What's that?"

Since I'm a cat person who loves the music and costumes, I love it. I'd go see it again (seen it twice already) in order to see the music, costume, and dance again. I wouldn't go for the almost non-existant storyline.

 

[Tinkbell]

I really loved the music and the costumes. The actual "stoyline" is pretty weak. I think it's a fun show.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I thought it was okay. Could have been because we had front row seats. The snoozer for me was a Chorus Line. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[KaraKW]

I saw it and I loved it. Too bad you missed the point of the show.

 

[Kallison]

I agree - it stunk.

Of course I find a version of South Pacific to see every year and some of my friends think I'm crazy.

 

[epcotfan]

I happen to have loved it. Saw it several times back in the 80s. If you go in expecting a typical Broadway Musical you will be dissappointed. Then again I also love shows with creative and energetic choreography. This show is one the most difficult dance musicals. Cats is based on TS Elliot poems and there is a storyline. It was renowned for being one of the first "Mega Musicals" with special effects and clever costuming. It did win 7 Tonys.

I also dated a guy that used to be in the show so maybe I'm biased Where else can you find a bunch of people with great bodies in skin tight costumes?

 

[Micca]

It was a show that made a big contribution to putting me off musicals completely. Now DW enjoys them with DMIL.

 

[zakatak]

I knew I could get some unbiased answers from you guys! I hope nobody is actually upset that I walked out, we just are used to "storyline" theatre and didn't get this play... I should have asked about it BEFORE we went, then I would have known what to expect.

BTW, I really DID appreciate the skin-tight costumes. Especially Rum Tum Tugger... he must have had a sock down there!! Even my DH immediately looked at me to see if I had noticed... (duh, who wouldn't!).

I really enjoyed the Memory Song, but that is more along the lines of what I like in theatre... a beautiful voice singing a beautiful song.

Thanks everyone!

My favorite musical/play to date is Aida. And not everyone likes that! So, it really is just a matter of taste, I guess.

Karen

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

in the future, you should probably check out broadway.com or playbill on line for a synopsis of the show before you buy your tickets. that way there are no surprises. I loved Cats, and I also loved Aida. but they're very different types of shows.

 

[Tina]

I loved Cats. DH took me to see the touring company for my birthday several years ago. I always wanted to see the Broadway production, but never had the chance. I have the CD and I've also taped it off PBS.

 

[Chattyaholic]

I went to see that show in Detroit (or was it Chicago? I don't remember for sure....) when my daughter was 15 or 16, we went with the band group. Maybe it was because our seats were way in the back, I dunno....but I didn't care much for it either. I liked the costumes and some of the songs, but it was hard to hear most of the time.