North Rockland High School Players Present “Cats” Expertly with Large Cast

BY GEORGE J. DACRE

With a cast, orchestra, and production crew of more than 150 students and faculty, the North Rockland Players did very well with the very intricate Andrew Lloyd Webber show that has entertained millions of people over the years.

Webber’s great music and score was brought to fruition by the very talented North Rockland Players, the orchestra directed by John Bjorkman, the direction of Sol Bloch and Justin Boccitto, who also is the choreographer, and vocal direction of Jamie Santillo. This was a first rate production of “Cats” and had to demand many hours of rehearsal and planning to come off as smoothly and outstandingly as it did on the North Rockland High School Theatre stage.

The cats were all there, including the jellicle cats, Old Gumbie Cat, Rum Tum Tugger, Bustopher Jones, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, Grizzabella, Jemima, Gus, Shimbleshanks. Macavity, Old Deuteronomy and the rest. All of the stories of the cats were told and many outstanding performances including Sophia Cumento’s rendition of the haunting “Memories” and the encore by Sophia and Jennifer Brooks as Grizzabella. Jemima, a scruffy shabby cat, has a woeful life, but is finally exalted by Old Deuteronomy and rises up to a higher place.

“Cats” is lovable, enjoyable and a theatre classic. The North Rockland High School Players made it all of that and I rate this show a High School Four Out of Four.