Return to story

Riverside spares no expense on new dinner theater spectacle

August 3, 2006 12:50 am

By KATE WATERSON

THE ACTORS HISS. They purr and preen, stalk and slink.

Choreographer Holly Chorengel calls out the timing on a particular step and emphasizes with her arms: "Up! Down! Up! Down! Up! Down!"

All the cast falls in time, with spectacular effect. Even under house lights, with no special costumes, makeup or set, it is evident that this is going to be an exciting production.

"Cats" will make its Virginia dinner theater debut when it opens tomorrow at the Riverside Center in Stafford County.

The international smash hit musical is a favorite with audiences because of its dynamic dance numbers, singalong-able songs, and elaborate costuming and staging, all of which bring to life a magical world of colorful cat characters.

And Riverside has gone all out in order to capture what audiences love best about the show.

"The expenses of this production have been the greatest we have ever had in our eight-year history," said Ron Wehman, owner of Riverside and musical director of "Cats."

The show will feature choreography from the original production, the set used for the Broadway national tour, specially created wigs and more. Audio tracks were made at Omega Recording Studios in Rockville, Md., specifically for the production.

"What makes 'Cats' work is the harmony of costumes, makeup, music, dancing, set, lighting and all of that," said show co-director Mykal Kvenberg.

The original musical opened in London in 1981 and was an instant hit. It has since been performed around the world to high acclaim, winning numerous awards.

"Cats" was the longest running musical in Broadway history when it closed in 2000 after nearly 8,000 performances and 18 years at the Winter Garden Theater.

Based on T.S. Eliot's collection of poems "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," this Andrew Lloyd Webber musical tells the tale of a tribe of felines known as the Jellicles, who have gathered in a junkyard on a special night. It is the night of the Jellicle Ball and the time when one of their tribe will be chosen to be reborn.

"It's a far more complex, multileveled piece than people take it to be," said Stephen Hayes, who plays Bustopher Jones, a fat cat about town. "Working with Holly [Chorengel], there are subplots and motivations and histories that I never realized before."

Chorengel, who performed in Germany for 10 years in the Hamburg production of "Cats" (mainly in the roles of Demeter and Grizabella), is adapting the original choreography for the Riverside production.

Her experience has allowed her to show cast members how the cats they portray would behave.

Tribe protector Monkustrap, for example, always needs to appear strong. That means standing with legs apart, Chorengel directs, and hardly ever kneeling.

Sillabub, the youngest of the kittens, is fearless and curious and often runs into things.

Sleek, smooth, consistent movements characterize Cassandra, the slinky Burmese cat.

Macavity, the evil master criminal, of whom all the other cats are terrified, uses fierce facial expressions and strong, powerful movements to portray his character.

Old Deuteronomy, the wise old leader of the Jellicles, moves slowly and with dignity. And, Chorengel said, the pure size of him adds to his air of authority.

Wardrobe mistress Debbie Olson spent three long days making the coat that would give Old Deuteronomy adequate bulk. She cut 15 skeins of yarn into 8-inch strips to create the heavy coat.

Olson said it has taken her "forever" to make the fur leg warmers and arm bands for the 25 cats in the show.

The cats' unitards were all ordered ready-made, but set builder Matt Westcott was charged with the tedious task of finding a dye that would stick to the nylon fabric. He then sprayed layers of ink onto the costumes, giving each cat a unique appearance that accentuates its personality.

Meanwhile, in a workshop in New York City's Queens, wigmaker Norman Kauahi hired additional help and spent up to 12 hours a day for the last month creating all the specialized wigs for the show.

The high-energy performance is demanding on performers, as well.

Full of leaps, turns and legwork, the show is often referred to as a "dancical," and all cast members are onstage in almost every scene.

"You forget what it feels like not to wake up in pain," Chorengel recalls of her 10 years performing in Hamburg.

Hayes, who has directed many productions at Riverside, was skeptical at first about the center's ability to do justice to such a celebrated production that calls for so much dancing. But he said he's been shown otherwise.

"We've pulled in some great, great dancers," Hayes said. "It took a show like this to get them."

To reach KATE WATERSON: 540/374-5000, ext. 5779
Email: kwaterson@freelancestar.com