What I liked
The performances were stellar. Every actor brought an energy and physicality to their role that was unmatched, save by each other. They made the most convincing 12-14 year-olds that I have ever seen. And as always, Mandy and Silas utilized their space with excellent restraint. The blocking, lights, sound, and props all came together to enhance the performance, never once distracting from it.
Oh, yeah. Also it was REALLY funny.
What I didn't like
Honestly, it was a great show, and I was engaged through and through. But if you held a firework to my head and told me I had to give a note, any note, it would be that the pacing dragged slightly in the second half, particularly in the “other place” (trying to avoid spoilers in my review!). A few of the conversations here started to feel cyclical, so a dialogue pass might be something that could be done. If you absolutely had to.
My overall impression
Mandy has proven for the third year in a row that she possesses a fundamental understanding of the relationship between trauma, growth, and humor. All Cats is hilarious, moving, and messy in that way that only life can be. And it never strays so far into one mood that it forgets the others, which is truly an accomplishment.
