On paper, it sounds pretty tame. A bunch of cats meet up for a celebration and a ball. There's no storyline as such. No narrative.
So how come Cats has become one of the most popular musicals of all time?
It's all in the irrepressible energy o
n stage, the movement, the songs - Andrew Lloyd Webber, love him or loath him, certainly knows how to put together a show to entertain.
There are some wonderful moments. And the 'cats' show some amazing feline movement - someone, somewhere, spent an awful long time studying their favourite kitty to help translate that on to the stage.
Then there's the haunting melody Memory, one of the best hits to come out of a musical; the conjuring tricks of Mr Mistoffelees; the atmospheric set; the interaction with the audience... tame? Not at all.
It's not your usual musical, that's for sure, and the very young won't follow it (although watching and listening to elaborately-costumed singing cats is entertainment enough) but it'sa glamorous, glitzy night out.
Until Saturday, March 8
A word of warning for theatre-goers. Parking in the multi-storey behind the Mayflower used to be ideal - handy for the theatre and free after 6pm.
There's now a £2 charge in the evening - although if you didn't know in advance, there are precious few signs bringing that fact to motorists' attention.
Certainly there are no visible signs warning anyone going to the theatre about the change of policy - just ask the countless drivers who get caught out every night, and now face paying £30 for their parking ticket. Beware!
COLIN CHANNON
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