This non-replica production is the second Cats production in Poland. It had its premiere on 27th April 2022 in Teatr Rozrywki in Chorzów. It's directed by Jakub Szydłowski, who played Rum Tum Tugger in the Warsaw 2004 production.
This production mostly uses the translation made for Warsaw 2004 by Daniel Wyszogrodzki, though with some changes, and keeps the translated title of "Koty". With that, the character names stay as in Warsaw, Jellicle cats are named Koty Dachowe (Roof Cats) and Jellicle ball is Dachowy Ball (Roof Ball).
According to the director, the show takes place on the roof of Rozrywka Theatre. The set is more industrial looking.
Costume and make up designs are original, with small inspiration from Warsaw, with the use of bright, unnatural colors like pinks, magentas and blues mixed in.
The score is primarily based on the changes introduced in 2017 to the 2016 International Tour - that including Growltiger's Last Stand being cut and replaced with The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles, the "Macavity" preview in the first act, and the Gumbie Cat dance break following a similar progression.
Creative Team[]
- Translation: Daniel Wyszogrodzki
- Director: Jakub Szydłowski
- Choreography: Jarosław Staniek, Katarzyna Zielonka
- Set and Light Direction: Grzegorz Policiński
- Costumes: Dorota Sabak-Ciołkosz
- Musical and Vocal Direction: Ewa Zug
- Ballet Director: Natalia Gajewska
- Director's Assistant: Magdalena Wojtacha
- Choreographer's Assistant: Aleksandra Karch
- Assistant Set Designer, costume designer: Magdalena Wiluś
- Cat Movement Workshop: Patryk Rybarski
- Vocal Preparation: Bartosz Listwan
- Light Production: Marek Mroczkowski (section manager), Mariola Szreter, Karol Freier, Mariusz Kosakowski, Adam Treuhahn
- Sound Production: Patryk Maskiera (head of the section), Jakub Gaweł, Tomasz Kafel, Michał Konofol, Michał Płuciennik, Szczepan Sośniak, Piotr Synecki
- Prop Makers: Katarzyna Grad, Krzysztof Szreter
- Pyrotechnic Effects: Tomasz Pałasz
- Stage Manager: Beata Jabłońska-Rakoczy
Character Specifics[]
- In this version of the show, Tantomile was changed to be male, which is reflected both in the actor and the name "Tamtamil", rather than "Tamtamila" - the translation used by the Warsaw production.
- Unlike Tantomile, despite being played exclusively by a woman, Mungojerrie is confirmed male, as the song states "and no one will find out if it was her (Rumpleteazer) or him (Mungojerrie)".
- Quaxo is a background character separate from Mistoffelees. Most of the Mistoffelees-Quaxo moments (such as Invitation to the Jellicle Ball and the "Terrible bore" line) go to Alonzo instead. While he shares a name with a Warsaw character that was said to be the equivalent of Quaxo, it is unclear whether he is actually the same character.
- While the Tumblebrutus shares a name with a Warsaw character that was said to be the equivalent of Tumblebrutus, it is unclear whether he is actually the same character.
- While she shares a name with a known international background cat, Etcetera is not a kitten and her role varies from what is expected of her typically. She is nonetheless considered a different take on that character and not simply a vague connection as her name translates to "Etcetera" verbatim.
- Młody Gus/"Young Gus" is not to be confused with Asparagus - "Young Gus" is literally Gus magically turned younger by Mistoffelees for the Pekes and Pollicles number. He is played by the same two actors as Tugger - when one plays Tugger in one show, the other plays Young Gus.
- Due to the name similarity, Bili Dalej may be conflated with the character of Bill Bailey (though there is also a character supposedly conflated with Tumblebrutus), or - because he sometimes also plays Macavity - Admetus / Plato. However, other than that, there is no other proof either way, neither in personality nor role.
- Brali Dalej may be conflated with George, as with the Warsaw production. Regardless, it is unclear whether he is actually the same character, so he may as well be treated like an original background cat, considering the lack of name similarity.
Cast[]
| Character | April-July Season 2022 | September Season 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Nestor | Tomasz Jedz | |
| Grizabella | Wioletta Białk | |
| Myszołap | Karol Drozd Maciej Kulmacz | |
| Ram-Tam-Tamek | Tomasz Wojtan Piotr Brodziński | |
| Plameczka Pac | Joanna Możdżan | |
| Galaretka | Barbara Ducka | |
| Semaforo | Marek Chudziński | |
| Gus | Mirosław Książek | |
| Bywalec | Dominik Koralewski | |
| Mefistofeliks | Patryk Rybarski Kacper Mucha (understudy, normally plays Filutek) | |
| Tymoteusz | Dawid Pilszek | |
| Tamtamil | Daniel Dąbrowski | |
| Bombalurina | Magdalena Wojtacha | |
| Demeter | Izabela Pawletko | |
| Kasandra | Zuzanna Marszał | |
| Alonzo | Patryk Maślach Michał Gucma (cover, normally in the offstage vocal ensemble)| | |
| Wiktor | Rafał Talarczyk | Alicja Witomska* (cover, normally in the offstage vocal ensemble) |
| Karakotek | Bartłomiej Kuciel | |
| Mungo Jerry | Beata Wojtan | |
| Pumpernikiel | Aleksandra Dyjas | |
| Wiktoria | Maria Pitera | |
| Promyczek | Karolina Sypniewska | |
| Dyzio | Łukasz Majowski | |
| Klaps / Tumblebrutus | Sebastian Chwastecki | |
| I Tak Dalej / Etcetera | Agnieszka Saletra | |
| Elektra / Electra | Sofiia Popova | |
| Makiawel / Macavity | Marek Szajnar* Wojciech Stawiarski | |
| Młody Gus "Young Gus" / Raptus Zuch | Tomasz Wojtan Piotr Brodziński | |
| Kocik Le Miau | Małgorzata Mazurkiewicz | |
| Bili Dalej | Wojciech Stawiarski | |
| Brali Dalej | Paweł Majewski | |
| Fantazja | Aleksandra Karch | |
| Fraszka | Katarzyna Osuch | |
| Sierściuch | Krzysztof Konopka | |
| Małyszek | Weronika Zięba | |
| Filutek | Kacper Mucha | |
- While Rafał Talarczyk is still listed in the September run, Alicja is written in for every single date.
- While Wojciech Stawiarski is still listed in the September run, Marek is written in for every single date. Considering Wojciech also plays Bili Dalej and that the information whether Bili Dalej/Macavity is a split role is no longer available, he may be an understudy who simply didn't get to go on.
Offstage Vocal Ensemble: Ewa Grysko, Anna Surma, Alicja Witomska, Dagmara Żuchnicka, Aleksandra Blanik / Anna Maślanka, Sławomir Banaś, Michał Gucma, Paweł Stefan, Przemysław Witkowicz
With the Rozrywka Theater orchestra conducted by Michał Jańczyk / Mieczysław Unger.
Gallery[]
