失望

It's been a very arty-farty 2 weeks. Caught some films at SIFF, went to WKWSCI's FYP screening (albeit only for 1 day) and just gone to CATS.

I've been looking forward to catching CATS, and to think that I actually decided to spend over $100 to catch it (cos usu I go for restricted view seats which cost abt half that price), and I was actually quite disappointed by it.

When I watch a musical, I usually expect a good plot, good sets and of course good songs and music plus good singing. And in CATS, I find that there was the lack of a strong plot (ok despite it been running for like eons, I've nv known what's the plot so I went in to watch with a fresh mind), no change of sets whatsoever and the thing that irks me most, there was NO LIVE ORCHESTRA!

I guess I've come to expect a good live orchestra after watching Phantom and Forbidden City of which I enjoyed both really much.

So really, I don't know what makes CATS like so popular. Maybe the plot got lost in me cos I can't quite catch what most of the lyrics were. The dance were supposed to be good. They were pretty good, but then I find it repetitive after a while. Getting up close to 1 of the cat was pretty exciting. At least I found a redeeming factor - the detailed makeup and exquisite costume. There were those that could sing well, but sadly I can't say that ALL of them could. And I almost fell asleep in the first Act.

The funny thing was, while queuing for the toilet during interval, the lady in front of me was busy going onto Wiki using her iphone to find out what CATS was all about. Kinda my sentiments at that point. Then the lady in front of her asked the lady on iphone if it was her first time catching the show and commented that the previous time she caught the show, it was much better and it had a live orchestra and that she was pretty disappointed with this show. Hmm... initially I tot I was just too critical. But turns out I wasn't.

Then second Act was definitely more engaging than the first, but I still was disppointed as a whole. I think I put my expectations too high, thinking that a long running Broadway and Westend Musical MUST be something good.

I like to watch shows that evoke a certain feeling in me, I like to laugh and cry along with the characters and feel what they feel. But I felt nothing. Because there was no clear plot, no clear theme, except that it was about cats - different kinds of cats. My brother whom I watched the show with gave the explanation that maybe it's meant to be a lighter kind of musical, something purely entertaining.

Will be catching 天冷就回来 next week. This I already know the plot cos I caught it on its previous run 2 years ago. I'm looking forward to be touched by the songs. Hope it does not disappoint.