ORANGE COUNTY PAC & CATS -- Matinee & Evening Performances -- January 21, 2012
CAST:
Alonzo
BJ/Growltiger/Gus
Bombalurina
Cassandra
Coricopat (NEW)
Demeter
Grizabella
Jellylorum/Griddlebone
Jennyanydots
Mistoffelees
Mungojerrie/Genghis
Munkustrap
Old Deuteronomy
Plato/Macavity
Pouncival
Rumpleteazer
Rum Tum Tugger
Sillabub
Skimbleshanks
Tantomile (NEW)
Tumblebrutus
Victoria
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NAME
Jamie Joseph
Chirstopher E. Sidoli (R)
Ashley Chasteen (R)
Candace Lyn Luther
Lucas Thompson / Larry Lozier Jr. (Craig Donnelly - U/S)
Madison Mitchell (R)
Melissa Grohowski
Elizabeth Ruff
Erica Leigh Hansen (R)
Chaz Wolcott (Craig Donnelly - Act 2 matinee)
Daniel Switzer
Daniel J. Self
Nathan Morgan (R)
Clinton James Sherwood
Robert Burke
Hillary Porter
Chris Stevens
Molly Emerson
Louie Napoleon (R)
Rachel Boone / Blayne Gregg-Miller (Amanda LaMotte U/S)
Brad Trump
Jordan Dunlap (R)
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(R) = Returning cast member
Blue names are Evening Performance performers.
TOUR REVIEW
US TOUR V -- Costa Mesa, CA
SEGERSTROM CENTER (OCPAC) - January 21, 2012 -- Matinee and Evening
The Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a massive complex with its interesting free-standing balconies. You really, truly, have to see the interior to believe it. This morning threatened rain, but most of it was gone by the time I left home and traveled to Costa Mesa. I stopped for lunch before continuing to the parking garage and a minor wait to be allowed in. My seat for the Matinee was CC1 -- front row but in the corner -- which turned out to be somewhat fortuitous later on. When I looked the set over, the dance floor seemed to be larger than normal, or maybe it was because the stage is rather large on its own. Also, there were two side panels I have not seen before. On the audience side of the proscenium, two panels indicated that the junkyard was out into the audience… sort of… oh, well… One of the items I liked in the junk was an old broken Coke© bottle as well as the remnants of a Kellogg© Rice Crispies box. As to the orchestra, I could not see where they set up, but the warmup seemed to come from the Backstage Left up toward the corner of the stage… No confirmation on that, though. Although the inflated set is easier to setup and takedown and ship, the fact that it IS inflated is apparent. I know it is impossible to haul around an actual John Napier set, the closest they had to a working set that looked relatively real was the 'plastic’ one that was bolted to a frame. This set had a 3D look to it without all the wrinkles and the ’Bong’ sound it makes when a performer kicks it. Between the Matinee and the Evening performances, I dined at the Silver Trumpet Restaurant. This place is a might expensive, but it is close to the theatre and the Wyndham Orange County hotel (where the cast stayed, I am sure). I had the hanger steak with a stuffed cheese and bacon potato, and arugula (a rather tasty salad green).
Just to warn you -- I will probably bounce around a lot and I am going to stay away from going song-to-song. People have already given the reader those comments. So here goes… I was skeptical that this would not be a good day for me since I did not have someone with me to discuss the show. When my camera malfunctioned, that did not lift my spirits any. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the last part of the 'day’. In the Segerstrom Center, those corner seats are not too bad for sightlines -- with the exception of the floor speakers. However, you are right in the path of kitty cats, so they are right at your knee at lot. During the Matinee, I had Demeter pass by, pausing enough that I could see a lot of detail in her makeup and costume/wig. My compliments to Madison Mitchell (Demeter). I thought about touching her back as she passed, but the haunted look in her eyes convinced me that such an action would have spazzed her out. Good character… During Green Eyes, I had Louie Napoleon (Skimble) find me, sniff me over, and examine my CATS ball cap. During Jellicle Songs, this seat allowed me to also examine the detail makeup on Tumble, Jellylorum and Grizabella’s Chorus look. During the Evening Performance, Louie decided to 'eye’ me almost nose-to-nose during Green Eyes, and I had a closeup of Erica Hanson (Jenny).
On some of the costume changes, I thought that Christopher Sidoli’s BJ was too slender. I like the roly-poly look that goes with the 'Twenty-Five Pounder’ song line. The character is still there and I still think he hits a slice at the end. Maybe he should use a 4 or a 5 wood instead of a spoon… (That’s a 3-wood for golf novices). I like having the Twins -- Coricopat and Tantomile back, but the red leg on Tantie confused me a little -- expecting Bombalurina instead. Still… Oh, and I had Lucas Thompson and Larry Lozier Jr. for Cori; and Rachel Boone and Blayne Gregg-Miller for Tantie on the 21st. I noticed that they were almost constantly together, or not too far away from each other. Tugger’s shorter 'lion-mane’ look actually worked with me. And I am sure that Ahdeya would have loved the Munkustrap cossie… And Daniel Self (Munkustrap) was a bright and lively Sentinel. I especially enjoyed the part when he held the 'kittens’ back when Nathan Morgan (Old D) came on, and then let them go after giving them the 'Not yet… Now!’ treatment. Speaking of Old D, the Matinee was full of kids, and Old D just had to wave at a few of them near the edge of the stage.
Some of the things I found interesting… When Jordan Dunlap (Victoria) does the Invitation Dance, she does not get that leg lift as high as some dancers, but her control and limber body still makes this old observer hurt… I wondered about where the friendliness with Bomba comes from, and her character was a bit more mature this time. When Old Gumbie Cat finishes, there is a call for Tugger and everyone starts looking out into the audience. When Chris Stevens (RTT) rips down the curtain, everyone jumps -- I loved this reaction almost as much as I do the 'bounce’ when BJ sits on the hat. During MJ & RT, I am not sure what happened, but Hillary Porter (RT) seemed to sing most of the beginning during the Matinee performance. During the Evening performance, Daniel Switzer (MJ) came in and sang his part.
Extra dance moves -- I noticed two things, but sitting here and tapping keys, I cannot remember if Chaz Wolcott (Mistoffelees) or his understudy, Craig Donnelly, did them. I remember seeing Misto do the splits during the Jellicle Ball. If Victoria doing the splits hurts, seeing a guy doing them as well causes mental damage… The male physique is not really built to allow that except by liberally stretching the thigh and pelvic muscles… And then, we have the Conjuring Turns during Mr. Mistoffelees. According to Chaz, he had to drop out of the Second Act of the Matinee, so Craig subbed for him. The Matinee Misto, which I believe was Craig, did 22 full conjuring turns. The Evening Misto, which I believe was Chaz, went crazy with the turns and mixing in multiple pirouettes. I could not get a number at all, but he did not stop there. Where Misto does a series of split-jumps? More pirouettes… Chaz? You and Misto are two of a kind… During the Matinee Growltiger, I must have had a Senior Moment or brain cramp -- which is still in force, I think… The pirate with the bum foot? I thought Christopher Sildoi’s Growltiger tickled him on the foot. During the Evening show, the tap on the foot was more pronounced and I realized my error… However, tickling might compound the agony… but I better not go further with that… During the same number, I loved the bit where Daniel Switzer’s Genghis gets impatient concerning Growlie and Elizabeth Ruff’s Griddlebone taking too long end their duet.
The cast in general was another strong one with many returning (veteran) members. I tend to credit the returning members for maintaining the strength of the performance, and the new members with keeping the performance fresh and interesting. Perhaps, the veterans use some of their time to review their characters and try new things or enforce establish ones. Whatever the cast did, they kept the magic going. I have to say this that my favorite character ladies looked fantastic. Being a fanfiction writer, I tend to favor Cassandra, Bombalurina, Demeter and Jellylorum with some additions like Teazer, Jennyanydots and Victoria. Cassie got into this contest ever since I met the London Tour performer in 2003 when I visited Scotland. Since then, I have always enjoyed the Burmese… or is she Abyssinian? Regardless, Candace Luther is right up there with her, especially her gracefulness and dance form. And I believe that Robert Burke (Pouncival) was still the hyper-kitten and always getting into trouble. I also must compliment the creative team for bringing back the Twins -- Coricopat and Tantomile. The UK cast had these two characters throughout, but Broadway took them out after a short time and assigned their parts to Teazer and Jerrie. I have always viewed the Twins as mystics in the Tribe, and their roles seem to mirror this. Every time Grizabella comes on, the Twins seem to already know she is there. In MOH, the UK Old D spoke, saying, “Tell them, Child.” In the current US Tour V, Old D does not gesture or speak, but the Twins make a mystic connection with Sillabub. This action jives with the UK version just so… Glad to see the Twins back and always together…
Technical: I have noticed this before and I wish it would improve, but it may be a venue problem, and beyond the abilities of the crew. When the performers get downstage, they go into a shadowy area, and all the audience can see is their silhouettes. Also, some microphones were either malfunctioning or not set high enough. MJ was hard to hear, as was Bombalurina…
And then there was the end of the evening show. Louie and Chaz managed to get into my corner (BB31) where Chaz provided me with a leftover strip of “Misto Mylar”, and Louie let me scratch him behind the ears. As Misto, Chaz definitely shows the Kitten personality, and the adult Conjurer he will become. If I could, I would definitely get a picture that had him in a pet store window with soul-eyes that demand you take him home… Louie is all over as Skimble’s alter ego, but his high point is Skimble looking at the chaotic mess of the broken train (*HUFF*). By stopping at the stage door, along with Kristian Quartarone who I have conversed with at the Patanges, they totally made my night and helped me out more than you know… I only wish we could have had a picture of that…
Thanks, CATS. Kink a Tail…
Dennis (Rumblepurr)
The Writer Cat
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