Cats the Movie and Other Bad Choices
/Broadways musicals are magical, heartwarming, and spectacular but they are inaccessible. Unless you have a secret stash of money that you use for the theater, seeing these shows on a regular basis is highly unlikely. That is why the idea of making musicals accessible for the average American is an idea that I support. (I am very passionate about making musicals accessible to more people of color but I will rant about that later). I am in love with the idea of musicals becoming live network shows or turned into feature films. Both adaptations are making Broadway accessible to a new audience, reaching beyond musical buffs, like myself or the typical wealthy white population.
While making these shows into television specials or movies is a wonderful concept, I would like to have a little chat with whoever is responsible for selecting which shows will be live on television versus made into a feature film. Choosing a show like Cats to be on the silver screen and then making The Little Mermaid Live! is honestly ridiculous and here's why:
West Side Story. The Sound of Music. Hairspray. Les Misérables. The Music Man. All made fantastic feature films because these shows would only be enhanced by the special effects and sets that Hollywood production could offer. Les Mis was taken to a whole different level in the movie version. The characters were entrenched in the setting and it felt very realistic. On stage, the audience needs to use their imagination to a certain extent because of the backgrounds and props but the film provided all the visual content that you could ask for. Depending on the musical, a movie version can enhance the overall concept. For other musicals, movies can strip away their magic.
This brings me to Cats. Seeing the trailer to this movie was spooky and disturbing. Most of the magic in the original musical version of Cats comes from the use of the stage. The dancers fly through the air like cats and mimic their mannerisms perfectly. The dynamic choreography is performed without distraction from the scenery. Sometimes there are no lyrics and the cast is just dancing around quietly like how cats actually are. Also, the costumes are cat-like...not actual cats. They are not mascots with cat heads and paws. They are people portraying cats in an artistic way. They have human faces with furry unitards on. The Cats movie trailer has morphed our beloved queen, Jennifer Hudson, into a cat-sized human with ten fur-covered fingers and a morphed face. In a word I am: disgusted. It's unacceptable and also frightening for viewers of all ages. The characters in the movie have very realistic cat bodies that are covered in fur with human faces but are walking on two legs. This should have been left as a stage production. Has Andrew Lloyd Webber seen this? Did he approve? Cats has a beautiful score and iconic choreography. It would be perfectly suited for a live network show where the cast can scurry across an actual stage and do their feline business for all to see. Honestly, I could drag this concept for days because it was such a poor choice. There are so many other musicals that are better suited to be made into movies. (I have a long list that I will share later).
Leona Lewis as Grizabella on Broadway and Jennifer Hudson as Grizabella in Cats the Movie
This brings me to The Little Mermaid Live!...why is this happening? I completely understand it is the 30th anniversary of the movie and that is beautiful. Good for you, Disney. However, we have already been waiting on our knees for Halle Bailey to sing our faces off as Ariel in the live action remake. Disney you are drowning us Under the Sea and I won't stand for it. Also, it is important to mention that the Broadway version of The Little Mermaid is not the greatest (especially without Tituss Burgess). Seeing this musical live is not anything spectacular. They have the cast on roller skates. I do not need to see this on television. I’ve seen enough. Look at this video clip if you want to see for yourself. They have Ariel sliding and gliding around like she’s at Cascade. I see why Disney is making it a live action movie and that is all it should be. If anyone needs help from special effects and CGI technology, it is a human actress trying to portray a mermaid. All we need is the cartoon and the live action version that we are waiting on. I do not need to set my DVR to watch this foolishness. I haven’t seen it and I am already disappointed.
Auli'i Cravalho as Ariel and Queen Latifah as Ursula
Here is my solution:
Put Cats on ABC Live! to teach the new generation about the greatness that is Andrew Lloyd Weber. Let them witness the sheer magic of Cats as an onstage production. Make a Broadway version of Moana so that our love, Auli'i Cravalho, can get some more shine because she deserves it. Take Queen Latifah and Shaggy to the live action remake to star alongside Halle Bailey. Boom. Problem solved.
