BATH – The longest running show in the history of Broadway is making an appearance at Maine State Music Theatre in a performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats.” Unfortunately, for this real-life cat lover, here’s a show that is a bit less than “purr-fect.”

Here’s a classic case of an ensemble of performers who are much more entertaining and talented than the music and script could ever be. The show is what my theater-geek daughter dubs a “dance-ical,” a show that’s well worth seeing because of its spectacular choreography, as long as you realize that the musical numbers aren’t that inspiring and the story line is nonexistent.

The show is based on a work by poet T.S. Eliot called “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” an effort that falls flat on the theater stage. First, the cats start singing about being Jellicle cats, a phrase that you’ll hear dozens of times but never really know what it means. The story describes a variety of different cats and their quirks. There’s Rum Tum Tugger (James Patterson), a sexually charged cat who struts about the stage like Mick Jagger; Bustopher Jones (John-Charles Kelly), a fat cat; Grizabella (Christine Mild), an old and crippled cat who’s lost the vibrancy of her youth; and Old Deuteronomy (Michael Lindner), the patriarch of all cats who looks like an overstuffed Wookie from “Star Wars.”

Spectacular dancing

Then there’s lots of spectacular – and I mean spectacular – dance numbers like “Song of the Jellicles” and “The Jellicle Ball” (There’s that word again!), “Macavity: The Mystery Cat” and, best of all, “Magical Mr. Mistoffolees.” In that role, Jason Garcia Ignacio, though small in stature, is an amazing powerhouse of dancing wonder. Mind you, the show is worth seeing if for the dancing alone.

Then, in a final scene, it is time when the cats choose one of their own to be reincarnated. Predictably, it is Grizabella who takes a celestial journey on a Goodyear tire (you’ll see what I mean) that raises her to the heavens.

Boom. The play is over.

Did I miss something here? Even the stunning choreography, wonderful costumes, visually appealing set and extremely talented cast can’t save this skeleton of a script.

Musically speaking, this show is disjointed and suffers from some of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s more dissonant and forgettable tunes. Even the signature number, “Memory,” is a major disappointment with vocalist Christine Mild occasionally singing off-key and lacking the strength and control to make this number a showstopper.

The Rum Tum Tugger’

However, there are some amusing numbers especially in “Growltiger’s Last Stand/Italian Aria” with John-Charles Kelly and Joyce A. Presutti, “Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer” with Buddy Reeder and Minami Yusui, and James Patterson’s “Rum Tum Tugger.”

All the dancing in the world can’t erase the intrinsic problems of a musical that drifts from song to song with no particular momentum. There are simply too many long spells in which the temptation is to take a little catnap.

On another note, don’t miss the fun of Maine State Music Theatre’s annual silent auction that takes place during the run of “Cats.” Also, don’t miss the opportunity to vote for the shows you’d like to see in next year’s season. (My choices, in order of preference, are Elton John’s “Aida,” “West Side Story,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “South Pacific.”)

Dan Marois is an actor, writer, and producer and owner of Main Street Entertainment and Mystery for Hire. He can be reached at [email protected].