It is one of the four most famous musicals, the one that more than the others has changed the history of this genre, with performances in over 300 countries in the world: it is “Cats” – by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Nobel Prize winner Thomas Stearns Eliot – which in the Italian version lands in the theater in Messina, signed by the Messina-born director Massimo Romeo Piparo, the artistic director of the Sistina Theater who once again confirms all the good he wants for his city of origin.
Four days, from tonight to Sunday, in which the people of Messina will be able to enjoy a show at the Vittorio Emanuele Theater that has already won the hearts of Italians by registering sold outs and records everywhere. An irresistible colony of humanized cats singing and dancing on the ruins of the Eternal City in a magical atmosphere marked by fantasy, drama, romance and great music.
On stage Chiara Canzian (daughter of Red, the legendary Pooh), protagonist in the role of Grizabellathe glamorous cat who sings the timeless “Memory”, a cast of over 30 artists, the live orchestra directed by maestro Emanuele Friello and the choreographies of Billy Mitchell, choreographer of London’s West End, current associate choreographer of the latest productions by AL Webber, from School of Rock to Cinderella.
«It is an opportunity – comments Piparo – to once again reiterate to the whole world the cultural and artistic centrality of the Italian capital, its history and the charm it can give to purely Anglo-Saxon stories such as this one about the Jellicle cats narrated by TS Eliot. The show – continues Piparo – has been adapted, remaining as always faithful to the musical score and the spirit desired by its creators, and has complete adherence to the taste of the Italian public. The cat characters all have a style and character that is very in line with our habit of interacting with this animal-life companion.”
For the first time in the world, Massimo Romeo Piparo’s “Cats” has obtained authorization from the author to be set in Rome, in a hypothetical and futuristic “landfill” of works of art and archaeological finds, with the Colosseum in the background. Even in the Italian version of the show, which on Broadway set the world record for consecutive performances until 2006: on a special night of the year, all the Jellicle cats meet at the Jellicle Ball where Old Deuteronomy (Fabrizio Corucci) their wise and benevolent leader, chooses and announces which of them will be reborn to a new life as Jellicle. But the feline party is disturbed by two events: the kidnapping of Old Deuteronomy and the appearance of Grizabella (Chiara Canzian), the fascinating glamor cat who, after leaving the Jellicles to explore the world, suffers exclusion and rejection of the pack and launches his desperate and melancholy appeal with the poignant “Memory”.
There are still many unforgettable characters that populate the Musical, among others the old Gus (Fabrizio Angelini), once famous for his acting career; the flashy Rum Tum Tugger (Giorgio Adamo), who always wants to be the center of attention. And again, the brilliant Munkustrap (Sergio Giacomelli), who makes his courage available to all members of the tribe; Mr. Mistoffelees (Pierpaolo Scida), the cat in a tuxedo capable of performing astonishing magic; Bustopher Jones (Jacopo Pelliccia) and the inseparable couple Mungojerrie (Simone Ragozzino) and Rumpleteazer (Rossella Lubrino).