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How to Live a Jellicle Life: Life Lessons From the 2019 Hit Movie Musical ‘Cats’

Lion & Unicorn Theatre

Reviewed – 21st October 2020

★★★★

“an hilarious journey through the fever dream that is the 2019 movie musical Cats”

In December 2019, the questionable decision was made to turn the Tony Award-winning musical Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber into a blockbuster movie, in which a star-studded cast were transformed into singing and dancing humanoid-felines through the use of some rather dodgy CGI. The bizarre film adaption quickly became a meme that took the internet by storm and left reviewers in despair.

The somewhat surreal experience of watching the movie Cats had an understandably profound effect on many across the world, including Linus Karp, the director, writer and star of the new one-man show ‘how to live a jellicle life: life lessons from the 2019 hit movie musical ‘cats’’.

The show takes the form of a mock lecture in which Karp takes the audience through an animation-filled PowerPoint full of ‘jellicle’ wisdom. He begins by explaining the plot (or lack thereof) of the movie Cats. In short, Cats follows a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night that they make their ‘Jellicle choice’, that is, deciding which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life. Unclear? Tough luck! As amusingly noted by Karp, that is about as much of an explanation that Lloyd Webber thought to provide.

The audience is next introduced to the Jellicle cats themselves from the “very sexy” Rum Tum Tugger played by Jason Derulo to the supposed ‘Napoleon of Crime’ Macavity the Mystery Cat. Karp makes hilarious quips and comments about all our new feline friends, and has particular fun presenting the audience with (supposedly) edited snaps of him and the lovely Mr. Mistoffelees, who he declares his true love.

The show is non-stop jokes and parodic musical numbers. The silly tone is set from the very beginning as the audience is seated to a version of Dua Lipa’s song Physical with the final chorus line replaced with ‘Let’s get Jellicle’. Later on in the performance, a disco lights machine is used to accompany a playlist of “gay-friendly pop songs” that ‘celebrate’ the Heaviside Layer. Karp is continually dancing and leaping across the stage, breaking between explanations for a bout of exaggerated musical theatre high-kicks and spins (Sam Carlyle). The absurdity of it all is infectious, and it is evident how much fun Karp is having throughout.

There is some audience participation though the ridiculousness of the show’s concept could have afforded more. Perhaps in post-Covid times, this could be incorporated more, such as a token (like a ‘Jellicle cat’ card) for the attendees to take away.

Karp is not afraid to embrace the jellicle attire (Alison Carlyle), decked out in full-body orange and black striped cat suit, a furry wig-cum-hat, and a red and black feathered tail. Throughout the performance, he adopts ‘cat-like’ movements to comic effect, and an especially funny moment is when he gets distracted by his own laser pointer. The stage is empty apart from the projector screen that sits at the back and a table with a carton of milk that Karp enthusiastically drinks from to open the show. The lights are simply done, a single spotlight on Karp as he prances around the stage.

Karp’s play is an hilarious journey through the fever dream that is the 2019 movie musical Cats. As silly as it is smart, ‘how to live a jellicle life: life lessons from the 2019 hit movie musical ‘cats’’, is a must-see for any person who left a screening of Cats pondering the epitome of philosophical questions: “how can I, too, live a Jellicle life?”

Reviewed by Flora Doble

Photography courtesy Awkward Productions

How to Live a Jellicle Life: Life Lessons From the 2019 Hit Movie Musical ‘Cats’

Lion & Unicorn Theatre until 24th October

Last ten shows reviewed by Flora:

Something Awful | ★★★★★ | The Vaults | January 2020

Tribes | ★★★★ | Putney Arts Theatre | January 2020

Important Art | ★★★ | The Vaults | February 2020

Jekyll & Hyde | ★★★½ | The Vaults | February 2020

Minority Report | ★★★½ | The Vaults | February 2020

The Six Wives Of Henry VIII | ★★★ | King’s Head Theatre | February 2020

Julius Caesar | ★★★★ | The Space | March 2020

The Haus Of Kunst | ★★★ | The Vaults | March 2020

Pippin | ★★★★ | The Garden Theatre | September 2020

Big Girl | ★★★ | Bread & Roses Theatre | September 2020

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★★★

“a clear portrayal of how relationships develop and intensify and the impact people can have on each other”

Two strangers on a tube meet and make conversation when the train comes to a sudden stop. A pretty normal scenario, you would think. You sit there for a few minutes and then you’re on your way again. In this story however, the tube stops and doesn’t move again. Rachel (Michaela Carberry) and “The Man” (George Damms) get to know each other over the course of the play. We see their relationship develop as they learn about each other in an intense, out of the ordinary situation.

“The Man” is a musician and Damms skilfully plays the guitar and sings at various points throughout. This is a nice addition and splits up the scenes effectively. Damms acts well and portrays a character who clearly has more to him than meets the eye and some emotional baggage it would have been interesting to find out more about. Carberry as Michaela is engaging to watch and shows good emotional range throughout her character’s ups and downs.

The set leaves quite a bit to the imagination, but a tube carriage is clearly conveyed by two “windows” at the back of the space with authentic signs you would find in a real carriage. The set space is also clearly marked by fluorescent tape, within which all the action takes place. This is an effective touch and could be said to help create the claustrophobic feeling you would experience if stuck inside a tube carriage for a prolonged period of time.

Joe Kerry (writer) has included modern references and relatable circumstances, such as Rachel’s uncertainty in her move to London to kick-start a career, making Tube relevant to audiences today. The two actors have received good direction from Bobby Standley but there is the danger, if sat at the side, that audience members may sometimes miss lines and facial expressions.

Tube is a clear portrayal of how relationships develop and intensify and the impact people can have on each other. In an un-naturalistic scenario, naturalistic themes are explored alongside a range of human emotion. Some scenes feel a bit disjointed, but a few twists and turns as well as music means we are kept engaged for the most part.

Reviewed by Emily K Neal