Christopher Walker reviews musical Killing The Cat

Eat, pray, love and Shirley Valentine were both immensely successful because they tapped into something many women experience. A mid-life crisis that finds resolution abroad.

‘Killing The Cat’ mines this same rich seam, but gives it a very distinctive twist.

We’re still in Mediterranean sunshine, but what if the woman is a brilliant scientist and her love interest a dedicated religious zealot? Oh and it’s a musical.

The production at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith is the world premiere, before it heads to New York for an off-Broadway run. Quite a coup for the Studios.

It is a transatlantic collaboration between an Anglo-American writing and producing team.

The book and lyrics are by Warner Brown (who wrote the BBC’s ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’) while the music is by American composer Joshua Schmidt.

It is a strange piece. The oddest moment of which is when the ensemble do a weird number about the purity of brain chemistry.

But if you’re still interested I can report that is largely saved by the superb performance of Madalena Alberto, musical royalty.

She has played everything from Evita to Velma Kelly in Chicago, and here she totally inhabits the role of Maggie, the scientist.

Her New York accent and mannerisms are just perfect, and I had to check whether or not she really is American.

She’s actually Portuguese and living in London.

Having written a hugely successful science bestseller, Maggie goes through a divorce and is dragged off by her ex-sister-in-law for some sun and fun.

Kluane Saunders is a very fun sister act.

They come across Luke (a well-cast Tim Rodgers) bizarrely selling cabbages, and Maggie immediately falls for him.

However, Luke is some kind of guru, who leads a mountain top retreat where he is giving spiritual enlightenment to Connor (Joaquin Pedro Valdes) and Heather (Molly Lynch).

The tension evolves into a struggle between Maggie, Luke, and Molly over Connor and his search for meaning in life.

The three of them representing science, spirituality, and the arts, respectively.

It’s certainly an ambitious piece, with some good music.

https://riversidestudios.co.uk/see-and-do/killing-the-cat-58461/

 

 

Picture: Killing The Cat Tim Rogers and Madalena Alberto. Photos by Danny Kaan.