SEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE, SEATTLE, WA :: Kristie and I were looking forward to a show featuring a troupe of specially trained cats. The Moscow Cats Theater website says the following:
“35 cats! 1 dog! 5 clowns! Death defying Balancing Acts! Dancing! Acrobatics! The only entertainment of its kind in the World-features non-stop action by a group of talented felines performing original and astounding acrobatic feats, integrated into a non-verbal, colorful and fun-filled family show.”
The reality, we discovered, is you can only train a cat to do so much (thus the large number of them). While the cats were cute and entertaining as they took turns performing their simple tricks, the one dog upstaged the cats everytime. I’m not even sure why he was a part of the Moscow Cats Theater. It would have been neat to see the cats and the dog interact, but they were never onstage together. A couple cats would run across the floor, hopping over a couple obstacles, if they were in the mood. Then out comes the Chow Chow, dancing, prancing, flipping, and doing a series of tricks perfectly everytime, right on cue.
I dislike clowns, so I thought the five in the show were more annoying than funny. Between the “death-defying … and astounding acrobatic feats,” the clowns would perform mediocre juggling, tap dance, or mime acts! Yes, mime! Again, why is this in the Moscow Cats (emphasis on cats!) Theater? If you added up the stage time of the cats, it would account for barely 15 minutes out of the 60 minute show. Not a big deal if expectations were properly set and tickets were $15 each, but they cost more than three times that.
Oh well, at least we were able to go home without thinking our own cats are inadequate. Most of the “tricks” were things our cats and others would naturally do on a daily basis. The night was redeemed when we encountered fellow cat fanciers, David, Lorra, Mark and Mary. We enjoyed a nice dinner and drinks together at McMenamins Pub, where the tater tots are to die for!
“35 cats! 1 dog! 5 clowns! Death defying Balancing Acts! Dancing! Acrobatics! The only entertainment of its kind in the World-features non-stop action by a group of talented felines performing original and astounding acrobatic feats, integrated into a non-verbal, colorful and fun-filled family show.”
The reality, we discovered, is you can only train a cat to do so much (thus the large number of them). While the cats were cute and entertaining as they took turns performing their simple tricks, the one dog upstaged the cats everytime. I’m not even sure why he was a part of the Moscow Cats Theater. It would have been neat to see the cats and the dog interact, but they were never onstage together. A couple cats would run across the floor, hopping over a couple obstacles, if they were in the mood. Then out comes the Chow Chow, dancing, prancing, flipping, and doing a series of tricks perfectly everytime, right on cue.
I dislike clowns, so I thought the five in the show were more annoying than funny. Between the “death-defying … and astounding acrobatic feats,” the clowns would perform mediocre juggling, tap dance, or mime acts! Yes, mime! Again, why is this in the Moscow Cats (emphasis on cats!) Theater? If you added up the stage time of the cats, it would account for barely 15 minutes out of the 60 minute show. Not a big deal if expectations were properly set and tickets were $15 each, but they cost more than three times that.
Oh well, at least we were able to go home without thinking our own cats are inadequate. Most of the “tricks” were things our cats and others would naturally do on a daily basis. The night was redeemed when we encountered fellow cat fanciers, David, Lorra, Mark and Mary. We enjoyed a nice dinner and drinks together at McMenamins Pub, where the tater tots are to die for!
Actually, this was not THE Moscow Cats Theater, but a poor imitation of it. Being Russian, I can confirm that the REAL Cats Theater was founded and run by Yuri Kuklachev and is 10 times more entertaining than this bogus troop.
We are attempting to get our money back as we speak…..but the Repertory Theater wants us to try and get it back from the producer in NYC (Gelfman Enterprises). The Rep does not seem too concerned about customer service in this matter, nor the accuracy of their promotional adv for this show (they even had a photo of Kuklachev on their website, which is what led us to believe that it was the real theater!).
If anyone who saw this poor show wants their money back, we suggest you start contacting the Rep Theater like we have.
It is the truth theatre swindlers and impostors