Cats at Montecasino

“Well, the Theatre’s certainly not what it was.
These modern productions are all very well,
But there’s nothing to equal, from what I hear tell,
That moment of mystery
When Cats musical made history.”

Cats is one of the most successful and longest running Broadway and West End productions of all time.

It first premiered in London in 1981 and went on to run for over 20 years in both London and New York.

The music was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on a collection of poems by T. S. Eliot called Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.

I was glad I had read a bit about Cats beforehand, because otherwise I think I might have been confused. There isn’t really a traditional plot or storyline. Instead, the show invites you into the secret world of the Jellicle cats. Each cat introduces themselves through song and movement, each with their own personality, quirks, name, and energy… The mysterious one. The playful one. The dramatic one. The forgotten one.

Eventually, Old Deuteronomy, the oldest and wisest of the Jellicle cats, chooses one cat who will be reborn and ascend to the Heaviside Layer, their version of heaven. Along the way, the famous song Memory is sung, a moment that carries a lot of nostalgia that even if you don’t know the story, it still stirs emotions somewhere deep within.

The whole production has a dreamlike, nostalgic feeling. It makes you wonder what kind of cat you would be if you had to introduce yourself this way. What would your song sound like? What would you wear? What parts of yourself would you highlight? It even makes you think about your friends in the same way. Who would be the quiet observer? Who would steal the show?  What would your friends sing about you when you walk in!?

The actors and actresses were phenomenal. Not just good performers, but fully embodied cats. The way they moved was mesmerising and impressive! Every stretch, jump, pause, and glance felt feline.

This all felt especially fitting for us. We got two cats last year, and Linley recently got a cat too, so we found ourselves smiling at small “catty” details. We recognised it, because once you have a cat, you realize that they are not at all like a dog!

Before the show, we ate at Nomad Restaurant again, which has become part of the ritual. We enjoyed it a bit too much because we didn’t even notice the time and, when we did, we had to start running to the theater.  We got there just while they were announcing that the doors are about to close!

This trip also stirred memories from last year. Around this time, we went to watch My Fair Lady, also with with Kosmostoere.

That same weekend last year, Linley welcomed her very first guest to her Airbnb, Somewhere Shire. This year, instead, we have just published our first course.

Everyone on our bus was friendly, chatty, and warm. Helé from Ladybrand’s mother, sat next to us, travelling with her sister. A small world moment. We were also considered “the young ones” on the bus… which reminds me that it’s all about perspective!

Today we went to Hartebeespoort Dam Cable Cars. Hartebeespoort carries its own layer of memory for us. Ouma Marie used to stay there, we used to walk to the dam when we visited and Linley and I went on the cable cars again, something we last did as kids.

Carol mentioned she even has a photo of Marcus as a child on the old cable cars.

Cats is a strange musical. It doesn’t try to explain itself too much. It just invites you to watch, listen, feel and perhaps ask yourself: Who am I, really, when I step onto the stage of my own life?