After months of anticipation, the curtain is about to rise on the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats.
Arguably the most ambitious theatrical production to hit Peterborough this season, Cats ends what has been a very long string of musicals performed in Peterborough over the past year. But, with opening night only a few days away, it’s clear to the entire theatre community that Cats will be a unique musical spectacle.
“It’s not your standard musical,” says director Len Lifchus. “It’s an unbelievable theatrical experience, as the audience will see. It’s a spectacle. You can tell just by looking at the costumes and the wigs what kind of spectacle it will be. Add 22 musical numbers to that and it’s a journey that seldom is seen.”
“This is a very different show,” Len continues, “and I’m very fortunate to put together a talented team that is working with me and together we have been able to produce an unbelievable theatrical experience.”
Although the theatre audience will witness 22 different “cats” on stage in this one-of-a-kind show, behind the scenes over 80 volunteers have been working to create the show since August 2014.
“The whole production is talented, from the producer to set design right down to lighting design,” Len notes. “Everybody is doing their thing and coming together as a truly enjoyable experience.”
While Len directs, the spectacle of Cats comes from the creative hands of Production Designer Howard Berry who has been overseeing the creation of the sets, costumes, wigs, and makeup for nearly a year.
Working closely with his team consisting of Pat Hooper (Producer), Gwen Hope (costume design), Al Tye and Ralph Tippett (set construction), and Carole Jones (makeup and wigs), this group spearheads a massive team of people who are helping to create this incredible production.
“It’s exciting, but it’s hairy as well,” Howard says. “I’ve been in charge of all levels of the visual part of the show. I designed the sets, the costumes, work with the makeup, and order the various wigs. It’s a continual process.”
Based on T.S. Elliot’s 1939 book of poems, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Cats is not like other productions in way of a linear narrative. Instead, it is a production that relies on visuals more than plot, and the look of the actors is key to the success of the production.
In the case of the Peterborough Theatre Guild, they have successfully managed to transform their company from local actors into feline creatures. Actors that have been seen on stage many times are unrecognizable under the heavy makeup and unique costumes.
As I overhead one actor say to another, “I don’t even feel human anymore.”
“Each cat has a character,” says Carole Jones, who leads the team of 16 makeup artists who create the unique look of the actors. “The process started with the costumes and the colour, and from there we would discuss the individual cat and get the creative juices flowing and, from there, create the cat.”
Although they looked to other productions of Cats from the past, there was a distinct effort to make the look and feel of the makeup for the Theatre Guild’s production as original as possible. The makeup effects were designed by Shelley Moody by looking at what past productions have done — and by looking at actual photos of cats on the internet.
“We also had to research the actual cat face: the snout, the eyes and the cat look,” Carole explains. “You’ll notice that most of the lighter colours are in the middle of the face. We contour the darker colour to make the human face part of the cat’s fur. When the wig goes on, and the light hits their face, that’s the premise behind the cat face.”
The creation of the costumes has been a time-consuming undertaking of its own. Since December, a team of eight seamstresses have been working four days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to create the 23 different costumes used in the production.
“I try to get a different character for each costume,” Howard says. “Each costume is different so each cat can have their own personality. That’s what I strive for.”
Howard points out is that the biggest challenge is having the individual costume, wig, and makeup all blend together seamlessly on the actor.
“All the steps have to tie together because they are cats,” Howard explains. “In a normal show, if someone is wearing a glamorous dress, her makeup doesn’t necessarily need to match, and her hair can be any style. But a cat’s has to match perfectly.”
The final element that makes Cats a spectacle is the music and dancing. Music and choral direction is led by Mark and Justin Hiscox, with choreography by Melissa Earle.
“I’m very fortunate that Melissa Earle came forward as our choreographer because it’s a very heavy dance show,” Len says. “It requires a very talented choreographer and she’s done an incredible job.”
“These cats dance for nearly two and half hours nonstop and they’re singing while they are dancing,” Howard adds. “It’s a major undertaking for an amateur group.”
Nearly a year in the making, Cats has been a true labour of love for so many talented people in our community. With the show set to open on May 1st at Showplace, emotions and adrenaline run high among the cast and crew as final preparations come together.
Cats runs for seven performances from May 1st to May 9th at Showplace in Peterborough. Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors, and $15 for students and can be purchased by calling the box office at (705) 742-7469 or online at
www.showplace.org.
All photos by Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW
