Drawing Parallels Between “Ride the Cyclone” and “Cats”
Image Courtesy: Broadway Licensing
Whether or not you’re a fan of musicals, you’ve likely heard of the musical Cats. Originally premiering at the London theater in 1981, the musical received both critical and commercial success, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, among various other awards and positive reception. While Cats has always been successful, it has always had its own group of naysayers. Critics of the musical will look at its lack of an overarching plot and over-the-top cat costumes, and write it off as too weird or obscure. The 2019 film adaption didn’t help the musical’s case either. With terrible animation and a questionable adaption of the story, the film only further confirmed people’s beliefs that the musical was nothing but weird. For some, the film adaptation is their only knowledge of the musical, which has not helped its reputation.
Image Courtesy: Polygon
The reputation of Cats has become well known, even reaching outside of the circle of those who enjoy musicals. Unlike Cats, the musical Ride the Cyclone has not reached a fraction of its level of success. Originally premiering in 2008 at the Atomic Vaudeville, Ride the Cyclone has seen various production across both Canada and America, receiving an Off-Broadway run in 2018. Considering the Off-Broadway production only lasted for about three weeks in 2016, it’s safe to say the musical does not have the fanbase and buzz around it that Cats does. That being said, Ride the Cyclone has created its own community of fans who continue to support it and listen to the soundtrack, keeping it alive across North America.
But why are we talking about both of these musicals? On the surface, the two don’t appear to have much in common. Cats is an abstract story about the made-up Jellicle Cats, as they introduce themselves and prepare for the Jellicle Ball. Ride the Cyclone is about six high school choir students who die in a roller coaster accident. While hearing a description with the most basic of terms may not lead you to believe the two explore extremely similar themes and follow an almost identical plot line just with a different coat of paint, once we take a closer look at each musical it will become clearer.
Image Courtesy: Playbill
Ultimately, both stories are about the same thing: redemption and forgiveness through a second chance at life. In Cats the cats all fight to be reborn at the Jellicle Ball. In the end, one lucky cat is chosen by the leader, Old Deautoronomy, to be sacrificed and begin their new life. In Ride the Cyclone the children find themselves in a sort of purgatory after their accident. The Amazing Karnak explains to them that they must vote for one single member to return to the world and live again. From this point forward, both musicals become all of their characters singing about the reason why they should be chosen to get a second chance. Both stories break the conventional structure of a musical, with the usual pacing and progression being thrown out in order to allow each character to get their own solo song (The Rum Tum Tugger from “Cats” and What the World Needs from Ride the Cyclone are popular examples, amongst other songs). This continues for the majority of the musical. Everyone makes their case for a second chance, and we aren’t given any clear indication of who will be chosen.
Eventually, another character comes forward to throw off the vibe of the musical. In Cats, it is Grizabella, an old and disgraced cat that the others are afraid to touch or interact with. In Ride the Cyclone, it is Jane Doe, a member of the choir that lost her head in the accident, causing her to forget her own name and history. None of the students can remember who she is either and are off-put by her uncomfortable mannerisms, keeping their distance as much as possible. We see how both of these characters disrupt the vibe of the group and are not welcomed by everyone else. After several instances of being rejected by the group, both Grizabella and Jane Doe sing their own song about desiring to be accepted and getting their own second chance (Memory from “Cats” and The Ballad of Jane Doe from “Ride the Cyclone”). Through this vulnerable moment, the rest of the cast is able to understand their pain, and begin to accept them again.
Image Courtesy: Time Out
Once each outsider has been let in again, the rest of the group makes the decision to let them be the ones to become reborn. Despite everyone originally having selfish intentions, they are able to see someone who is more in need of this opportunity than themselves and is able to be selfless and give up something that they truly want for someone else. We don’t see anyone regret giving up their chance, instead, they are shown being accepting of their own circumstances and grateful for what they have (The Journey To The Heaviside Layer from “Cats: and It’s Not a Game/ It’s Just a Ride from “Ride the Cyclone”).
Image Courtesy: Cats Musical Wiki
Cats has always been seen as obscure, but when the same themes are put into a more palatable story such as Ride the Cyclone, we are able to better understand its universal themes. Both stories provide a unique experience, with Cats being a more dance-focused show and Ride the Cyclone going the more comedic route, their similarities are still undeniable. Ride the Cyclone even seems to pay tribute to Cats with the song Space Age Bachelor Man. In the song, we see the character Ricky dressed up as a fantastical cat from space, wearing a costume extremely similar to those seen in productions of Cats. While it is unclear if this reference is purposeful, it’s fun to observe and theorize regardless. Through these shows, perhaps we should look at our own lives and consider if we are seeing everyone for who they truly are. It’s important to allow yourself both moments of vulnerability and selfless acts, in order to get the most out of the life you are given.
Strike Out,
Writer: Dana Liberto
Editor: Addy Crosby
Tallahassee