We got to watch the Manila performance of Cats Now and Forever with Lea Salonga playing as Grizabella.
The problem was, we slept through about half of it. I got bored at the tenth minute and found more excitement trying to sneak peanut M&M’s into my mouth while the usher was about two feet away from me.
At intermission, we had to purchase the expensive programme souvenir in order to figure out the story. I would have saved money if there had been Internet access at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
I must give credit to the precise choreography and the unison singing; but squirming bodies in cat suits moving around for seven minutes at a time, along with dictions that make it difficult for you to understand the lyrics, just doesn’t cut it for me. At best, my interest was captured within the first two minutes of a sequence before I follow what the other guy to my right is doing – bobbing his head.
Of course, the high point is Lea Salonga, whose non-dancing part allowed her to showcase her vocal powers. I picked up a copy of the original cast recording and compared the original Grizabella with Lea. By far, Lea is much more powerful, much fuller, and much more moving.
The other highlight is the Filipino version of Memory that was sung by a Caucasian performer. Although I could only make out the vague words through her shrill voice, it made me proud when I heard the last line: may umagang darating (look, a new day has begun).
Cats has been translated to more than 20 languages and is the second-longest running Broadway show, though they’ve stopped performing it on Broadway.
Talking about translating the song Memory, I have more fun with Rico J. Puno’s version of Barbara Streisand’s The Way We Were.
With apologies.
Memories, light the corners of my mind
Misty watercolor memories of the way we were.
Alaala, ng tayo’y mag-sweetheart pa
Nagpapasyal sa may Luneta
Kahit walang pera
So it's the laughter we will remember
whenever we remember
the way we were.
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