Boulder Dinner Theatre’s presents the cats’ meow

Boulder’s Dinner Theatre: Through September 24

Grade: Not to be missed!

In April 1982, I was strolling down Drury Lane in London when I noticed a huge display of humanoid cats on the exterior of The New London Theatre. I decided then and there that when I had finished my vacation I would return and see it after its opening. The tickets I got when I returned were in the first row of a moving platform. So when the lights went down and the green cats’ eyes began to glow, we began to spin around the set of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical, Cats.

Elaine Page’s Grisabella was great. However … who was it that said, “Everything old will be new again?” That pretty well describes the astounding performance of Shelley Cox-Robie as Boulder Dinner Theatre’s Grisabella. Cox-Robie has led the troupe at Boulder through good times and bad, and always performs with such skill that, having seen her most recent star turn, one feels as though they had just been gifted with a visit from the goddess. When I saw her early on in London, Paige was still coming to grips with her character. Cox-Robie has been able to really get inside the tatterdamalian fur of this geriatric cat, causing us as audience to identify with the true feline – and so very human-heart of “Memories.” Cox-Robie’s voice is an instrument nonpareil. She is the beating heart of what we as the audience expect at this outstanding venue of theatre and dining. You must run to get a ticket, if only for her performance alone.

You have also got to see the brilliant performances of Wayne Kennedy, Brian Norber, Joanie Brosseau Beyette, Alicia Dunfee, Brian Jackson, Bob Hoppe and Cindy Lawrence. This troupe of actors is made up of cats, who have consistently blessed the region with astounding Broadway level productions. And there are also the new kitties that are being raised by these angelic cats. They will follow along and be taught by onstage interaction how to behave as true cats of the theatre. Norber’s Gus, the theatre cat, is one of the show’s finest feline treats. His palsied remembrance of things past onstage as well as his criticism of the young theatre kittens of today is bracing and oh so true. Let those young actors who are skating along on good looks and youthful energy learn quickly that true talent, real character and steely perseverance must buoy them up soon in order to create lives on the stage as have Norber, Cox-Robie, Kennedy, Brosseau and Beyette. Otherwise their misplaced arrogance may doom them to a world where the narcissistic fame-seeker must find his or her destiny in the wonderful world of fast food, plumbing or reading the third grade copy on the nightly news.

As lithe and lovely as the original Cassandra was, Rae Klapperich is better. Her breezy balletic take on this elegant white kitten is heartening indeed. Amy Campion’s scenic design describes the dump without giving us clutter. Her usual superb work. Linda Morken’s creation of Klapperich’s costume is just one shining example of the magnificent work she has done to transport us visually to the world of the cat.

One other outstanding awareness is the similarity of the costumes of Old Deuteronomy and Old Gus, which look as if they come from the same bolt of cast-off fabric. Rachel Dugan’s lighting design is edible. Brava. Renaissance man is a term that has been overused in many cases and incorrectly in others. Nevertheless … there is no better term to describe the director/choreographer/actor/dancer/singer Steven Bertles. His pas de deux with the delicious to watch Joanie Beyette as Mungo Jerry and Rumple Teaser is an agile, limber, elastic, double-jointed exercise in dance that is eye-popping.

Scott Beyette’s Rum Tum Tugger is a feat of musical theatre brilliance. Beyette is a seasoned actor, and yet onstage in the skin of this testosterone driven tomcat, we find a vital rock star causing the other pussies to swoon and faint. Bravo.

Brian Jackson’s extremely articulate Munkostrap gives us introduction to a good portion of the cats with elocution, which is a real treat. In my viewing of this show in London and New York the actors swallowed their words and were only partially understood. It is to be noted that Jackson has survived a rather longish baptism of fire at BDT and has risen to be one of the great cats.

You can also look forward to seeing Bob Hoppe, Matt Peters and on some nights Joey Santos. Tracy Warren and Cindy Lawrence spice up the show as Jellylorum/Griddlebone and Jennyanydots, the Gumby cat respectively.

Let us not forget two facts about Boulder’s Dinner Theatre. Led by Maestro Neal Dunfee, BDT has the finest live musical theatre orchestra in the district. It is also a fine dining experience. Try the new barbecue pork dish. I did, and am going back for seconds. And don’t forget that award-winning key lime pie.

Boulder Dinner Theatre’s current production is the cats’ meow.