★★☆☆☆ After 35 years, Lloyd Webber’s feline fantasy is really showing its age.

Capitol Theatre, Sydney
November 1, 2015

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats is one of the grand old dames of musical theatre, but like its worn out heroine, Grizabella the glamour cat, this musical is really showing its age.

In that role, singing by far the most well known number, popstar Delta Goodrem is the headliner and biggest box office draw of this most recent Australian production. Vocally she delivers something very pleasing, provoking cat-calling rapture from the celebrity studded opening night audience as she belted out the climax of her second act reprise of Memory. However this performance seemed disappointingly divorced from the characterisation of this once beautiful but now haggard Jellical pariah. Goodrem’s bright, young voice, and slim physique, easily visible under her ragged floor-length cloak, made her account of the has-been Grizabella conspicuously dubious. Delivering a blow-by-blow replica of Elaine Paige’s iconic original, Goodrem seemed stiff, her gait wooden, and while she definitely appeared more comfortable in the second act, this still fell short of coaxing any genuine connection with this character.

There are some standout performances from the rest...