Anastasia Lange comes from a long and distinguished litter-line of pretty kitties to play Grizabella in “Cats,” the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with apparently 999 lives.
Lange follows the likes of Elaine Page and Betty Buckley to play the former glamour cat now reduced to an aging alley cat.
Griz ran away to see the world for herself, saw its harshness for herself and came back a pariah.
But at least she gets to sing the best song — “Memory.”
We asked Lange about the longevity of the production, which ran on Broadway for 18 years and visits Denver (again!) Wednesday through Jan. 17 at the Buell Theatre.
Denver Post: Yes, “Cats” is one of the most popular musicals in the history of the world but . . . it’s got dense T.S. Eliot poetry, no spoken words, not much of a plot and no human presence. Why in the world did it ever work on stage in the first place?
Anastasia Lange: One word: Spandex.
Post: Who’s the real-life, movie-star equivalent of Grizabella?
Lange: Elizabeth Taylor. Griz is going to start her own perfume line any day now . . .
Post: It has always bugged me how these young kitties are all so respectful of their old fat-cat male elders, but they treat Griz like she reeks of sardine-flavored Purina. Doesn’t that perpetuate the same gender double-standard that still plagues pop culture today? Men can grow old gracefully, but women can’t?
Lange: Little-known background story: Grizabella had a few rough years and made a lot of enemies in the tribe, including former flame Munkustrap. It’s not a gender thing in her case — it’s personal.
Post: Everyone from Sarah Brightman to Barry Manilow to Petula Clark to Barbra Streisand to Celine Dion to Howard Keel to Susan Boyle has covered “Memory.” Who does it best?
Lange: Go to YouTube and find the Celine Dion version from a TV special early in her career. Just trust me on this!
Post: This whole thing about tonight being the night when Old Deuteronomy will choose one cat to take the stairway to heaven and be reborn into a new life has always been a bit murky to me. I know it’s all a metaphor for something, but . . . what?
Lange: It’s all about perception. Like the Rorschach test of musical theater. Everyone takes away a little something different.
Post: So why are the teenage girls all so hot for Munkustrap, anyhow?
Lange: It’s a mystery, but “Twilight’s” got nothing on us! We’re actually printing the Team Rum Tum Tugger T-shirts as we speak.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
“Cats”
Musical. Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex. Based on T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Directed by Trevor Nunn. Wednesday through Jan. 17. 2 and 8 p.m. Wednesday, 8 p.m. Jan. 14-15; 2 and 8 p.m. Jan. 16, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17. $15-$100, 303-893-4100 (800-641-1222 outside Denver), at all King Soopers or
This weekend’s theater openings
“Annie” Musical about the Depression-era orphan who solves all of America’s problems with that hopeful smile and bright red hair. Through Feb. 14. Carousel Dinner Theatre, 3509 S. Mason St., Fort Collins, 970-225-2555 or
“The Glass Menagerie” In Tennessee Williams’ disturbing classic, Tom Wingfield recounts his haunted life with his timid, sickly sister and their domineering mother. Through Jan. 30. OpenStage, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins, 970-221-6730 or
“Home By Dark” A state patrolman woke Terry Dodd with a pounding on his door at 5 o’clock on the morning of a 1974 Boulder blizzard. More than 30 years later, this charged confrontation between father and son, both harboring secrets, is the basis for Dodd’s “Home by Dark,” a new play opening Saturday at Curious Theatre. Through Feb. 13. Curious Theatre, 1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or and here’s
“My Fair Lady” Musical about the Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from a professor so she can pass as a lady. Through Feb 14. E-Project, 9797 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, 303-232-0363 or
“The Odd Couple” Neil Simon’s classic comedy about two divorced men who could not be more different sharing an apartment. Through Jan. 16. Curtain’s Up, 3900 W. 32nd Ave., 720-308-2920 or
“A Picasso” The Miners Alley Playhouse brings its 2009 award- winner to the Mercury Cafe for a short revival, Fridays only throughout January. Chris Kendall and Paige Lynn Larson again star as the famous artist who is confronted in 1941 Paris by a “cultural attache” from the German secret police. Through Jan. 29. 2199 California St., 303-935-3044 or
“Senior Moments” Five short, slightly raunchy playlets performed by veteran stage couple Timothy Englert and Ellen Ranson. Through Sunday. Theatre Company of Lafayette, 300 E. Simpson St., 720-209-2154 or
“Sylvia”A stray mutt comes between a restless middle-aged man and his uptight wife. Through Jan. 31. Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-794-2787 or
“Too Sexy for the Stock Show” A western-themed burlesque variety show that plays Thursdays only throughout January, changing each week. Through Jan. 28. Black Box Burlesque at Bender’s Tavern, 314 E. 13th St., 720-308-5091 or
“Voices in the Dark” In this thriller by John Pielmeir (“Agnes of God”), a celebrated talk-show host is vacationing with her husband in a remote cabin in the Adirondacks. Only her husband doesn’t show up — an unwanted guest does. Through Feb. 20. Victorian Playhouse, 4201 Hooker St., 303-433-4343 or
Complete theater listings
Go to our complete list of in Colorado, including summaries, run dates, addresses, phones and links to every company’s home page. Or check out our listings or
The Running Lines blog
Catch up on John Moore’s roundup of theater news and dialogue:
