***** Most of you have heard me say, or read my words relating to seeing a play more than once. I always say that “every time you see a play, it is a new experience, and can seem as different as night and day”. This is very true. A different director, cast, stage, set and of course technical aspects, can change the entire appearance of the play. Tonight’s production of  Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” on the stage of The Paramount Theatre proves this. Please note that I have rated this at 5 stars ( my maximum) but it is more than that! I have seen over 17 productions of this musical phenom, and nothing has ever been this awesome! Bravo Paramount! ( yet again!).

Trent Stork ( director) and his staff have taken this musical story based on the book “Old Possum’s Book Of Practical Cats” by T.S. Eliot, to a new level, much higher than ever before , and somehow, the cast of quality actors has become circus performers thanks to the work of Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi. Not only are they magical doing feats one cannot even imagine, but silks, trapeze, juggling and much much more. This is like “Cats” meets Cirque Du Soleil !

I have always felt that this particular piece was magical, but in its own way. A slew of cats hanging out in the scrap yard, hoping that the big cat would let one become new again. Kind of wimpy, huh? But with the music and the dance, it worked. The choreography in this production (Kasey Alfonso is amazing) far outshines anything I have ever seen in this musical. When you put the circus performance with the brilliant dance, you have sheer perfection and Stork orchestrated it all to perfection.

The illusions (Benjamin Barnes), the projections (Paul Deziel), the costumes ( Izuma Inaba), the props (Ivy Thomas) the orchestra led by Korey Danielson and a slew of hard working stagehands, lighting and sound people made this a brilliant night of theater in Aurora. From the opening number with overture until the final curtain ( two hours with a 15 minute   intermission), you will be mesmerized by the talented ensemble that Paramount and its staff have brought to this production.

Many of these performers are people we have seen before, on Paramount’s stages as well as on other local theater stages, but now they have learned to do circus type acts and Grizabella ( an amazing performance by Emily Rohm) gets on a trapeze, leaving the stage for the balcony ( far different than an old tire rising). AWESOME!

This is a cast that deserves to be THE ENSEMBLE of the year. They work well together, each knowing what to do when, making every action seem natural and never allowing anyone to fail. Lorenzo Rush Jr. is the perfect Old Deuteronomy, Gene Weygandt handles Asparagus, Bustopher Jones and Peter , Allison Sill, Anakin Jace White, Nellie Shuford, Emile Lynn, Brian Hupp, Joe Giovannetti, Sophie Liu David, Kara Brody, Brian Bandura, Matty Bettencourt, Liam Bradley, Evan C. Dolan, Dani Goldberg, Kat Harvey, Donovan Hoffer, Kat Hoil, Ryan Huemmer, Christopher Kelley, Hayley Larson, Jake DiMaggio Lopez, Michael Lunder, Matthew Millan, Emma Ogea, Alexandra Palkovic, Selena Robinson, Emily Siento, Tiffany Topol, and Matthew Weidenbener. Great teamwork! I hope I have them all!

I know there are some theater audience members that might be “purists” demanding that one never alter a play, but this one needed something, and the fact that Paramount not only added the Cirque to the show, but eliminated the “show within a show” segment, took this production to new heights. I loved every minute, including the final scene before the curtain call. I was on my feet before the end, wanting to give this ensemble the applause they deserved. This is one NOT TO BE MISSED!

“Cats” will continue through  June 15th with performances as follows: