Cats - Original Australian Cast Recording - 1985

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Music reviews of Cats - Original Australian Cast Recording - 1985

Music Review: Letting CATS out of this [mixed] bag
Rating: 4 Stars

Debbie Byrne makes a pretty good Grizabella, displaying just the right amount of melancholic qualities, strong will and determination to really win back the affections of the Jellicles. Though her voice may not be able to get into the role as effectively as Elaine Paige or Betty Buckley due to the excessive vibrato and slight tinge of whininess, she manages to get into the spirit of the role by giving a generally good performance of Memory, despite the extra climax at an "awkward" point in the song. As Old Deuteronomy, John Wood's voice may lack a certain sense of openness and sonority apparent in Ken Page's voice on the original Broadway cast. His voice sounds a little constrained, and lacking in richness. But his portrayal proves the potential experience he is about to gain through giving the role a sense of wisdom. The lower-level principals, Jeff Philips as Rum Tum Tugger and David Atkins as Mr. Mistoffelees tend to lack a certain liveliness and slickness in their portrayals, but at least they can cope with the demands of the score well enough. This is more apparent in Jeff Philips's Rum Tum Tugger because his Elton John-ish voice is not really that able to get into the role of the character as effectively as John Partridge or Terrence Mann. But, the superb minor cast features Anita Combe in a beautiful performance of Sillabub, and the up-and-coming Australian star Marina Prior as a sweet and innocent Jellylorum, alongside Gary Ginvan and Laura Bishop in their slightly stiff Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, and a slightly weak-voiced Munkastrap in Anthony O'Neefe.

The star of the recording is Grant Smith in his triple-role of Bustopher Jones, Gus: the Theatre Cat and Growltiger. Of all the cast members, Grant seems to really get to the heart of each role and play it with feeling and character. His Bustopher Jones is particularly English in flavour, and his Gus is particularly melancholy, even if his Growltiger is a little tame. But he really proves that he can make a name for himself in these roles.

On the whole, I would rate this CATS recording as a fairly good performance of the show. I know that this version may tend to sound pretty weak (it is after all a spongy-sounding recording), but I would say that this is as enjoyable as, if not more enjoyable than, the Broadway cast recording that really comes out on top. But this definitely shan't stop any CATS fan from grabbing this recording for his own listening.

I would like to end off by saying that the atmosphere of this recording is like hearing the revised version of the score done in the spirit of the London recording.

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