I Laughed, I Cried...

...and as the saying goes, "It was better than Cats."

But it was Cats! A friend of mine is featured in a local production, and I just had to go see her. After all, it's been years since I've watched the taped production and even longer since I saw it on stage. Goodness, I don't think I've even listened to it for a super long time. I did perform "Macavity: The Mystery Cat" a year to two ago, but other than that, Cats and I have been relatively estranged.

As I've noted before, I am a theatre person. I love stage craft. It's pure magic in my book, especially when it's done well. And the love affair all began with this show.

My dad was a stereo fanatic. So when he brought home this large flat square labeled Cats, I had no idea what was in store. From the square, he pulled a shiny round disc with tons of grooves and popped it onto his record player. He'd purchased the LP for my mom, but I know I asked him many times to play it for me.

When I was in sixth grade, for my birthday, I received tickets to attend the tour performance of Cats at the Pikes Peak Center in beautiful downtown Colorado Springs. We had just moved from Woodland Park, a small mountain town, so the city life was quite appealing. I even remember what I wore--a long, soft pink sweater dress with a lace underskirt. I felt so grown-up.

Until I bawled like a baby through the overture. I couldn't help it! The stage lit up with a million white Christmas lights that twinkled in time with the music. A spectacular junkyard had been recreated on stage as a playground for human kitties. A few dancers even traversed the aisles as they joined together to the unsettling plunks of the first few notes. But when the music resolved into ear-tickling beauty, amazing things took place. The lights came up, and I was hooked.

The other night, I got to share that same magic with my six-year-old daughter. The venue was a church, not a music hall. The dancers were volunteers, not paid professionals. But the electricity in the air was the same. At least, it was for me. I think my little girl felt it, too. She was mesmerized throughout the first act. A trip to the concession stand at intermission bought her attention for the last half. Who can resist bribery by M&Ms, huh?

I know she didn't "get" it. She's too little to fully understand the weight of each word and how they link together to create a fantastical story. There are parts of this show I don't get, and I've listened to the cast album thousands of times. But it was an introduction. It's a start. I know she's already been bitten by the theatre bug, so this little nibble is bound to lodge in her memory. All alone in the moonlight. I can smile at the old days...

Oh, I'm sorry. Did I just slip into song? Well, bust my buttons.

If you're not familiar with Cats, you should try to see it at least once. It's different, but the music is phenomenal. And you will laugh. You will cry. Every good production should elicit such emotion.

Even if you're a dog lover.