The teaser trailer for the long-awaited filmed version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's wildly popular musical, "Cats" has just been released. This beloved musical has enjoyed an incredible thirty-eight year theatrical run on Broadway. While I think it's a little overrated, I did see go see it twice and think it's certainly an entertaining play. Based on the poems by T.S. Eliot, this big-screen treatment covers the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer to be reborn. The impressive cast who play these "cats" includes James Cordon, Judi Dench, Idris Elba, Ian McKellen, Rebel Wilson, r&b singer, Jason Derulo, pop superstar, Taylor Swift, Oscar-winner, Jennifer Hudson and making her film debut, the principal dancer of the Royal Ballet, Francesca Hayward.
The main concern was always how actors dressed-up as singing cats would work on the big screen. The performers are wearing the costumes we are familiar with from on stage but with the help of CGI, they are blended to create the appearance of fur. I'm still undecided on how successful this has turned out but we also got a sample of the singing with Ms. Hudson (playing the glamour cat, Grizabella), performing the musical's signature song, "Memory" throughout the trailer. And while I'm a big fan of the singer/actress, I'm sad to say I'm not particularly impressed with what I've heard of her version of this classic song. Yet I'm open and optimistic to see and hear more of this film. Tom Hooper, the Oscar-winning filmmaker of the historical drama "The King's Speech" and the film adaptation of another beloved musical, "Les Misérables", directs.
"Cats" is due in U.S. theaters on December 19, 2019
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