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Cats: The Book of the Musical
A richly illustrated book that re-creates the making of one of Broadway’s biggest hits, based on Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Color photographs and drawings by John Napier.
111 pages, paper
First published November 1, 1981
1 person is currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Lloyd Webber
544Ìýbooks99ÌýfollowersMany popularly successful musicals of British composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber include
Jesus Christ Superstar
(1971),
Evita
(1976), and
The Phantom of the Opera
(1986).
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 16, 2008
It's basically Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats with colorful pictures from the original Broadway cast. But it's fun to read and the pics are fun and colorful and pretty!!
July 4, 2017
I came upon this book and thought that it would be an interesting fit to the 2015 Reading Challenge that I am doing. In a sense I was slightly disappointed to find that it so much similar to the original book that I had chosen to read along with it (yes I have never been to Broadway so unless the play is something based from a book or movie with a similar title I am out of the loop).
Due to my love for the original book that gave inspiration to "Cats" I have tried to read the book with a partiality so that way I wasn't comparing it. Sadly I have failed....
It was interesting to see pictures of the costumes that were designed for the various Cats actors and how they fit the main cat in the poem. I was a bit confused as to the costume changed that occurred with Jennyanydots while I think that is why I have to rate this one so little.
Sadly since we were are talking about a Broadway play in a book there is most definitely a lot more missing than meets the eyes. The play has more than just the normal cats that make-up the poems while the pictures in the book doesn't quite introduce you to the characters or if they do then the pictures are dark where you can't see them. Since there is a cast of characters in the back I think it would have been nice to have a cast of cat characters in their costume since I still cannot figure out the second cat in the Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles.
Maybe some day I can get a chance to view "Cats" so it makes a bit more sense but for the one who hasn't watched it or heard anything I would stay away.
~A Play~
Due to my love for the original book that gave inspiration to "Cats" I have tried to read the book with a partiality so that way I wasn't comparing it. Sadly I have failed....
It was interesting to see pictures of the costumes that were designed for the various Cats actors and how they fit the main cat in the poem. I was a bit confused as to the costume changed that occurred with Jennyanydots while I think that is why I have to rate this one so little.
Sadly since we were are talking about a Broadway play in a book there is most definitely a lot more missing than meets the eyes. The play has more than just the normal cats that make-up the poems while the pictures in the book doesn't quite introduce you to the characters or if they do then the pictures are dark where you can't see them. Since there is a cast of characters in the back I think it would have been nice to have a cast of cat characters in their costume since I still cannot figure out the second cat in the Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles.
Maybe some day I can get a chance to view "Cats" so it makes a bit more sense but for the one who hasn't watched it or heard anything I would stay away.
~A Play~
February 16, 2015
The pictures could have been in better quality, but it was awesome to look at the original poem verses and drawings of the costumes (although some of them were a little creepy)
May 14, 2020
The show really does not make a lot of sense but the idea to use T.S. Eliot's poems in a musical is very creative. I admit it; this show is a guilty pleasure for me.
August 24, 2019
Excellent, fast read. I’m going to see the stage show again for the second time tomorrow night. I love Cats!!
December 24, 2019
Gregg bought this book for me in 1987 before we saw Cats at The National Theater when we were dating.
We plan to see the movie so I read it again. I love the poems and how the unique personalities of cats are portrayed.
We plan to see the movie so I read it again. I love the poems and how the unique personalities of cats are portrayed.
April 15, 2019
Make fun of me all you want, but I absolutely love the musical. This is ART! One of my favorite stage shows, I fell in love with theatre as a kid largely due to Cats. Every element that went into the production I saw was a celebration of creativity and theatre itself: the makeup, the dancing, the music, the set, the lighting, the sound, the costumes, the performing - this show was perhaps the most perfect example of what Art can be and do.
I’ve heard it said before, “I don’t get it.� My only response is: “WHAT is there to GET??� As a notorious over-thinker, I still know when to enjoy entertainment for entertainment’s sake, and art for art’s sake, but with Cats I’m given both.
This is easily Andrew Lloyd Webber’s best work, as ambitious and groundbreaking as it is genuinely fun. If I ever become cynical to the point where I’m hating on Cats, it will be a sad, sad point in life.
I’ve heard it said before, “I don’t get it.� My only response is: “WHAT is there to GET??� As a notorious over-thinker, I still know when to enjoy entertainment for entertainment’s sake, and art for art’s sake, but with Cats I’m given both.
This is easily Andrew Lloyd Webber’s best work, as ambitious and groundbreaking as it is genuinely fun. If I ever become cynical to the point where I’m hating on Cats, it will be a sad, sad point in life.
April 11, 2011
Gives a clear libretto of the 1982 musical cats!
March 27, 2016
What an amazing musical!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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