Cats questions- before the show

Pre-Show Questions - Cats

• How did you initially react to the script? How did your relationship with the material change?

I initially was very excited that we were to be taking on the show 'Cats' as from a very young age I watched the filmed stage version on video and would dance around my front room pretending I was a Cat. I don't feel my relationship with the material changed as I was very knowledgeable of the script as it was, s I have watched it countless amounts of times and was very familiar with the script and its context. The only way my relationship with the script changed was when we were told that we were going to change the concept of 'Cats'.

• What did/do you think of the concept of changing the context to the fashion world?

At first I wasn't sure how to think of the change of concept because could not see it working as it was so different and we were changing it completely to be humans and not an animal I was very uncertain of the idea. I was unsure that the new concept would make much sense to us as performers interpreting a new context to the piece and as a result the audience as the original show doesn't have a very in-depth story line that this new concept would confuse matters even more. I was in some ways disappointed that we weren't going to be dressing up as cats with all of the make-up and costumes as this has been a life long goal to be able to do this show and I was disappointed that it wasn't going to be in it's original concept.

• How has that worked in practice?

In practice and rehearsals I wanted to keep an open mind and tackle this new concept as it would be unproffesional to not be a part of the practice of it. I did find it hard to adjust to the idea of not being a cat but as rehearsals went on I was slowly managing to see how it would come together as we started talking about costume ideas and set designs and all of us thinking about how our characters would then be different in our new narrative.

• What has changed about your understanding of the narrative/characters?

The way that my understanding has changed to the narrative and characters is that although that we are no longer cats the characteristics of the cats in the original are being followed through to our concept. For example my character Munkustrap in the original is the protector cat and is second in command of the Jellicle Cats to Old Deuteronomy. In our version I still adopt the characteristics of being what was the protector cat as I look out for all the models and I am concerned for them all and take pride in making sure they are all okay and not in danger or trouble. I am still second in command to Old Deuteronomy

• Discuss a number of the ideas/possibilities that you have tried out whilst rehearsing

Ideas and possibilities that we tried out in rehearsals was experimenting the Macavity Fight. In the original piece Macavity takes away Old Deuteronomy and then Macavity returns impersonating Old Deuteronomy and then it is revealed that it is Macavity and then Munkustrap and Macavity have a fight (Mime/Dance fight). As that is what is the original we had to consider how we were to do this in our concept of fashion, we agreed the possibility that there is a scandal in the company which Macavity has made and Old Deuteronomy goes after Macavity to confront him. We then did have the idea of having Macavity come back in Old Deuteronomy's coat impersonating her. But then we thought why would this happen in our concept? We then decided on an idea that a person wouldn't be able to just come into a design house and the security you would have to go through would know that Macavity was an impostor. So Rachel (Director) thought of the idea having Macavity be a courier and come into the office with a parcel and then be having a look around trying to find designs to steal. As this is all to music and there is no dialogue it is all interpretive and mime to the music to create the story of this happening, I then wonder who is in the office and ask around and then it is uncovered that it is in fact macavity. This was something that took a bit of work experimenting with ideas as we have a new concept it is making sure it stays true to it and also making sure as it is not spoken this section and it is mime that from an audience point of view it makes sense. 

• Explain a few ideas that worked and ones you needed to reject?  ...and why?

Whilst rehearsing we have tried out and experimented the use of spacing. As we have a cat walk in the middle of our staging this is a factor which we have to consider when choreographing as when we are supposed to be doing some leaps across the stage fr example we then have to take into consideration the staging. Ways that we have come about this specifically is when we have done 'The Jellicle Ball' I choreographed the piece and didn't really take into account the cat walk as when I first choreographed this song we weren't in the studio or theatre where we could have built the cat walk we were in a different part of the college rehearsing. After we set the dance we then were able to use the cat walk to see how spacing would work, we managed to sort out the dance to split people and split lines to have people evenly spread on each side of the cat walk, however there were times where there was dancing that would need to go straight over it so we had to reject that idea and rearange the spacing so that we were either side of the cat walk and not having to trample over it. The reason why that had to be changed was because it made the choreography messy and un even so it was easier for people to start each side of the cat walk.  There was a moment where 3 lines of dancers come in from the sides of the stage and need to slide and step turn over the cat walk and as this is at a fast pace and everyone does it, it doesn't look too messy compared to when the odd person here and there needs to cross it during choreography. 

• Explain the thought processes behind your character choices in a thorough manner? (consider vocal & movement choices) 

The thought process I went through behind my character was that I really wanted to portray my status through the clothes that I wear and even by the way I walk and hold my posture. I have a high status in the company of Deutoronomy's Designs and I felt that just by the way I have a poise and carry myself across the stage would show the status I hold. Vocal choices are that I needed clear diction as there a lot times where I make announcements in the show and need a clear diction and pronunciation when it comes to making these speeches. The song that I sing ' Pekes and Pollicles' I needed again a clear diction as the song is very wordy and it needs to have clear pronunciation of the words and its very fast and as an audience member they would not be able to understand what is being said.