Broadway Musical Cats Makes Indian Debut at NMACC in Bandra
The iconic Broadway musical 'Cats' made its Indian debut at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Bandra, Mumbai, where it was staged from June 17 to 28. Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and adapted from T S Eliot's 1939 poetry book "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats", the award-winning production brought the historic theatrical experience to India for the first time.
The production told the story of a tribe of cats known as the Jellicles, who gathered for their annual Jellicle Ball. On this special night, the wise elder cat Old Deuteronomy chose one deserving cat to ascend to the Heaviside Layer to be reborn into a new life.
Performers transformed into lifelike cats through elaborate costumes, makeup, and choreography. Among the characters presented to the audience were Victoria, who opened the show; Munkustrap, the principal narrator; the wise elder Old Deuteronomy; Jennyanydots; the flamboyant Rum Tum Tugger; and Grizabella, the outcast whose emotional journey formed the heart of the story.
The performance also featured Bustopher Jones in his black coat, the mischievous duo Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, Sillabub, Gus the Theatre Cat, and Skimbleshanks. Demeter and Bombalurina introduced the mysterious criminal Macavity, while Mr. Mistoffelees performed illusions. The production also included the humorous number "The Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles" before the Rumpus Cat arrived to restore order.
The emotional high point of the evening came with Grizabella's rendition of the song "Memory," which earned one of the loudest ovations of the night.
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber first began setting Eliot's poems to music in 1977, presenting them as a song cycle in 1980 before creating the full musical. Since its London premiere in 1981, the show ran for 21 years in the West End and 18 years on Broadway, previously holding the record as the longest-running musical in both locations.
The staging of the musical at the Bandra cultural centre marked the first time Indian audiences experienced the production live.
