Author Bethel Grove
  • Home
  • Bethel's Books
    • Redeeming the Beast
    • Beyond Your Wardrobe
    • Are You Ready to Be Baptized
    • Are You Ready to Take Communion
    • Are You Ready to Repent (Again)?
    • Low Content Books
    • Other Books
    • Amazon Author Page
  • Lion's Eyes Reviews
    • Blog
    • Books in Review
    • Movies in Review
    • Broadway in Review
    • Quick Reviews
    • Rating Systems
    • Review Requests
    • What is a Book Launcher?
    • Goodreads Profile
  • Simple Youth Ministry
    • SYM Home
    • SYM Resources
  • Teen Girl Youth Ministry
    • TGYM Home
    • TGYM Resources
  • Other Projects
    • LOTR Fanfiction
    • Spoken Word
    • Personal Blog Posts
  • Gumroad Store
  • Services
    • Book Launch Services
    • Self-Publishing Coach
    • Beta Reading Services
  • About
    • Meet Bethel
    • Programs and Affiliates
  • Contact
Picture

Cats the Musical: Judging a Cat By Its Cover

9/11/2015

0 Comments

 
It was a great night when I got to see Cats for the first time. In fact, it was only about a month and a half ago (July 31, 2015). My friend Angela and I made plans to see it together, and she invited a few of her friends to join us. It was such a beautiful summer day and we were all excited and curious about the show, since we hadn’t seen it before. Part of what made this production so special is that this theater company does their productions every summer outside, in a setting that compliments the story they are telling. Since they were doing Cats, they choose to build their stage in front of an abandon building that was once part of the town’s mental hospital. Since it was outdoors, we can early to set up lawn chairs, and then we had a picnic dinner and relaxed before the show. When the show finally started, I was not disappointed by the quality or the staging of this play. It still amazes me what the Acting Out Theater Company is able to do with their outdoor settings. Plus, we even had a full moon rising over us toward the end of the evening, which when perfectly with the show. It was pretty cool. 

[All of the pictures I'm including in this post are from the Acting Out Theater Company's Production]
Picture
Overall, I have a fairly positive view of this musical, which rather surprised me, but I thought it has more questionable content than it does. I believe there is a lot that can be observed from the plot of this musical, if we take the time to look at the plot a little more closely.

Seeing Life From A Cat’s Perspective is Thought-Provoking

I must confess that I am more of a dog person than a cat person. I have had some bad experiences with cats as a child that kind of turned me off to being a cat lover. And even my love of dogs did not come until I was in college. However, even though I’m not as fond of cats, I found the insights into a cat’s train of thought to be very interesting, even if some of it was in the mind of human writers. I was very amused when they talked about their names in the song The Naming of Cats. It makes you think that maybe cats do have different names for themselves than we do. Any pet get used to the name that we call them, but in their minds, they probably have their own names that they call each other. And the names they came up with for each other are not anything like human names, or a name a human would could probably conceive for his pet. It was extremely interesting to me.
Picture
I was also intrigued by the stories of each of the different cats’ lives and the concept of the Jellicles and the Jellicle Ball. The times when I’ve watched cats and dogs playing, I’ve sometimes wondered what is going on in their heads and how they perceive what is going on around them. This play gives us the opportunity to explore the possibilities of what is going on in their heads. Although it is fictional and humanized to a certain degree, it’s done in a creative way that is very compelling to the audience. You are totally drawn into the cats’ world, and that is credit to great writing and acting.

Don’t Judge A Person (or a Cat) By Its Cover

Picture
The most important moral lesson that I believe can be drawn from the story of Cats is one of looking beyond the external to see who a person (or in this case a cat) is on the inside. This is played out in the character of Grizabella. She was once known as the Glamour Cat, but now she is an aging beauty that has roamed the darkest alleys and has become grumpy and bitter because of it. She is feared and rejected by the younger Jellicle Cats, even being barred from the Jellicle Ball. The other cats try to prove themselves worthy of being chosen to be reborn and ascend to the Heavenside Layer, but through it all, it is Grizabella that demonstrates the greatest depth to her character and need to be reborn. The younger cats realize there is more to Grizabella than her outward appearance or grumpy temperament. There was a soul with wisdom that was worn by the long life she had lived. 
When Old Deuteronomy (the Jellicle Cats’ patriarch) chooses Grizabella to ascend to the Heavenside Layer, their hearts are changed towards her. I think there is a profound lesson that can be learned from Grizabella’s story.
We are so quick to judge people without knowing their story. We judge them for everything from their outward appearance to our first impressions of them. We do this without getting to know them as a person. We don’t take the time to learn their story. As a result, we often miss the opportunity for a relationship to be built or for lessons to be learned from their lives. We often turn our hearts bitter and make enemies for ourselves in the process. When we do, we miss a very powerful point.

As a Christian, I believe that we are to remember a few key truths in this matter. Fellow Christians, we are NOT called to judge those that do not commit to our standards of morality or judge anyone based on their outward appearance. One of the biggest problems in this matter is assuming that we should. What we are called to do is listen to them, give them the value they deserve as human beings, and find ways to demonstrate love toward them. I have often found that it’s the stories that I do not to listen to at first are the ones that I most need to hear. This is especially true of the story of people’s lives. Listening to the stories of people’s lives and taking to heart to wisdom (both direct and indirect) within their life stories is a wise practice for anyone, no matter what stage of life you are in yourself. I appreciate how prominently this truth plays out in the story of Cats.  
Picture
Old Deuteronomy during the final

The Concepts of Rebirth and Heaven Are A Little Off-Center

The only major problem I had with the plot of Cats was this concept of rebirth and the “Heavenside Layer.” Now, there are a few things I need to clarify before I explain my disagreement. First, part of the concept of their rebirth is connected to the idea that cats have nine lives, which when you get down to it from a scientific standpoint, most people know this is not true. Second, I am fully aware that we are taking cats verses humans, but that is also part of my frustration with the way that this is presented here.
In this play, their concept of rebirth is basically to be given a new chance at life when they prove to be the most worthy. Grizabella ends up being chosen because she proved to be the most worthy, but she also had the greatest need. She had lived a full life and had been through a lot. This meant that she was worthy of making the ascent to their version of Heaven. And it seems to be implied that Grizabella will return to earth as another cat in another life.
Picture
As a Christian, I believe that we are called to be born again, but not in any way like they portray it in Cats. We are called to confess our wrongdoings, admit that we are in need of a Savior, and then go through a spiritual rebirth as it is symbolized in the act of baptism. We are supposed to die to ourselves and our old ways of life, but it’s more of a redirection of our current lives. Because the truth is that we only get one pass at life. There is no chance of reincarnation or physical rebirth once we are dead. I also believe that our ability to get to Heaven is not based on any of our own merits or who has suffered the most in this life. Our ability to get into Heaven is based solely on Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross, our acceptance of this sacrifice, and the way we lived our lives in response to this sacrifice. That is definitely a different version of salvation than I see portrayed in Cats. However, as long as you know about and understand this difference, I think this is still a great play to watch.
Picture
Rum Tum Tugger doing his dance

Other Positive Elements

These comments are specifically directed at the production I saw, because I believe that the Acting Out Theater Company did a phenomenal job! The makeup and costume design for this production was top-notch. The quality of this production lived up to all my expectations and more. They picked the perfect setting for the Russell Hotel and it was even more awesome to see the moon rising over us toward the end of the play. Well done AOTC!

Other Negative Elements

Overall, the play is pretty clean, but I did notice some mild innuendos in the dialogue. One of the cats (Rum Tum Tugger) does some pelvic thrusts during his self-titled intro song. Other than that, I think this play is pretty good and I would even say that it’s OK for kids to see with their parents if you are interested.

Finals Thoughts

Within its fictional setting originally created by T.S. Elliot in his book of poems, the musical Cats is a fun play that takes into the world of felines and reminds you to look past the external to listen to the life story of others. I’m definitely glad I had the chance to see it the way I did and hope that maybe you have learned how to listen for other people’s stories too. And please enjoy this humorous picture of me posing at the Rum Tum Tugger cutout! lol
Picture
Content Ratings
Picture
Sexual Content Rating: 2. Mild
Picture
Violent Content Rating: 1. None
Picture
Language Rating: 1. None
Picture
Other Negative Content: 2. Mild (Spirituality Off-Center)
Picture
Kid-Friendly Rating. Depending on their age, I think kids would enjoy this show. The plot may be a little confusing to kids, but this is one I wouldn't mind taking a kid to see
Picture
Teen Rating. This one could be a good option for teens too
Picture
Personal Rating. Aside from the spirituality being a little off center, I enjoyed getting to see this play.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Lion's Eyes Reviews is a blog dedicated to reviews of Christian books, most of which are non-fiction, but may also occasionally review movies and musicals. It will also feature the work Bethel does to help launch and promote the works of Christian authors.

    The name is derived from one of Bethel's favorite books, Through the Eyes of a Lion by Levi Lusko. Through these reviews, Bethel hope to give Christians the tools they need to look at the world "through the eyes of a lion" so they can find the courage to "run toward the roar". 

    To find the detailed archives of these reviews, you can check them out here:

    Books In Review
    Movies in Review
    Broadway In Review

    Quick Reviews

    ​
    To understand the rating used in these reviews, click here

    Categories

    All
    Alyssa Bethke
    Apologetics
    Beyond Your Wardrobe
    Bible Studies
    Biography
    Bob Goff
    Books I Don't Recommend
    Books In Preview
    Books In Review
    Broadway In Review
    Caleb Kaltenbach
    Carpe Aeternatatum
    Christian Fiction
    Christian Living
    Coming Soon
    Controversial Topics
    Creativity
    C.S. Lewis
    Dannah Gresh
    Devotionals
    Disney In Review
    Dr. Juli Slattery
    EBook Releases
    EBooks In Review
    Entertainment
    Forgiveness
    For Women
    Friendship
    Gary Chapman
    Girl Talk (Teens)
    Girl Talk (Tweens)
    Grieving With Hope
    Holidays In Perspective
    Interviews
    Jackie Hill Perry
    Jefferson Bethke
    Jon Jorgenson
    J.R.R. Tolkien
    Katie Davis Majors
    Kristen Clark & Bethany Beal
    Lee Strobel
    Lessons From The Bible
    Lessons Learned
    Levi Lusko
    Lion's Eyes Updates
    Love
    Lysa Terkeurst
    Mark Batterson
    Modesty And Fashion
    Movies In Review
    Music In Review
    My Cloud Of Witnesses
    My Generation
    My YouTube Videos
    Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
    Personal Experiences
    Personal Updates
    Prayer
    Princess Worth Dying For
    Priscilla Shirer
    Purity Movement
    PWDF Updates
    Reading Recommendations
    Reflections On Middle Earth
    Reflections On Middle-Earth
    Relationships/Sexuality
    Running Toward The Roar
    Sarah Arthur
    Singleness
    To The End Of Her Days
    Youth Ministry

    Archives

    March 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014

    RSS Feed


Picture
​Bethel Grove is a Christian young woman who loves to read and write, eat Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Blizzards, and disciple teen girls as a youth leader. What started as a hobby of writing book reviews and doing deep biblical studies eventually led her down the path of self-publishing and helping other Christian authors launch their books. She hopes to someday be a vocational youth minister and well-known author.
​Learn more

Bethel's Books

Redeeming the Beast
Beyond Your Wardrobe

Are You Ready to Be Baptized?
Other Books

Lion Eyes Reviews

Book Reviews
Musical Reviews
Movie Reviews
Quick Reviews

Social Media

Author Bethel Grove
Simple Youth Ministry
Teen Girl Youth Ministry

Other Pages

Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Profile
​Gumroad Store
     

    Join Bethel's Inner Circle

    ​Are you interested in following Bethel's journey as an author, book launcher, and teen girl ministry advocate? Then sign up to join her inner circle today to get email updates on her latest projects and ministry journey. 
    As a thank you, she will send you the exclusive short eBook "Why This Millennial Isn't Leaving the Church" for free.
Submit
© 2022 PRINCESS WORTH DYING FOR MINISTRIES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Bethel's Books
    • Redeeming the Beast
    • Beyond Your Wardrobe
    • Are You Ready to Be Baptized
    • Are You Ready to Take Communion
    • Are You Ready to Repent (Again)?
    • Low Content Books
    • Other Books
    • Amazon Author Page
  • Lion's Eyes Reviews
    • Blog
    • Books in Review
    • Movies in Review
    • Broadway in Review
    • Quick Reviews
    • Rating Systems
    • Review Requests
    • What is a Book Launcher?
    • Goodreads Profile
  • Simple Youth Ministry
    • SYM Home
    • SYM Resources
  • Teen Girl Youth Ministry
    • TGYM Home
    • TGYM Resources
  • Other Projects
    • LOTR Fanfiction
    • Spoken Word
    • Personal Blog Posts
  • Gumroad Store
  • Services
    • Book Launch Services
    • Self-Publishing Coach
    • Beta Reading Services
  • About
    • Meet Bethel
    • Programs and Affiliates
  • Contact