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'Never felt so scared': the Cats obsessive who’s created a feral dance version of the purr-fect musical
Drew McOnie skipped school to audition for the original. It launched his astonishing career. Now he’s getting his claws into a no-pussyfooting version of the classic hit
TL;DR
- Drew McOnie, whose career began after an audition for the musical Cats at age 17, is now directing his own version of the show.
- His production aims to recreate the original's contemporary feel by incorporating modern dance influences like street and commercial dance, alongside classical and jazz.
- McOnie's version emphasizes a 'feral' energy, with dancers embodying a less domesticated cat persona, and intentionally cast younger, standout student dancers.
- He seeks to honor the legacy of original choreographer Gillian Lynne, aiming to match her spirit and ambition.
- The production interprets Cats not as a narrative-driven show with talking animals, but as a 'choreo-poem' or ritual expressing deep human emotion through animal form, focusing on themes of wonder and joy.
- McOnie believes the musical film adaptation was doomed because Cats is inherently a theatrical piece that relies on live performance and audience imagination.