DATE: Tuesday, July 22, 1997                TAG: 9707210248

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, ENTERTAINMENT WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   76 lines

CATCHY TUNES THE MUSICAL, "CATS," WHICH OPENS TONIGHT AT CHRYLER HALL, HAS DEFIED CRITICS WITH ITS LONGEVITY.

``CATS,'' QUITE literally, is famous for being famous.

Before it opened on Broadway on Oct. 7, 1982, it had the largest advance ticket sales on record. It won seven Tony Awards. Early on, a sign reading ``Now and Forever'' was placed outside New York's Winter Garden Theater, where the musical is still playing.

Despite lukewarm reviews and condemnation from theater purists who considered it as all flash and no substance, it has sold $2.2 billion in tickets, more than ``E.T.'' and ``Jurassic Park'' combined.

Tonight, ``Cats'' returns to Chrysler Hall after clawing its way to the top of the heap. On June 19, at the conclusion of its 6,138th performance, it became the longest-running show in Broadway history, topping the record held by ``A Chorus Line.''

Talk about nine lives!

Those with long memories will recall that ``Cats'' was once regarded as a risky venture, even a bit daring. Its historic run aside, it is easy to find people who still don't like the musical. The complaint? It opened the door for Broadway to become a theme park where sales of T-shirts and coffee mugs have replaced creativity.

Indeed, ``Cats'' launched the Great White Way's British invasion - theatrical spectacles that have made it difficult for any musical with a plot to succeed. It was followed by ``Phantom of the Opera'' (the ``chandelier show''), ``Miss Saigon'' (the ``helicopter show'') and ``Les Miserables'' (the ``barricade show.'')

Webber became a legendary composer - arguably the most popular of all time even though critics regarded the poignant ballad ``Memory'' as the show's only memorable tune. (And some said that was borrowed from Puccini). Cameron Mackintosh became a superpower producer, maintaining big production values even in touring versions of ``Les Miz,'' ``Phantom'' and ``Cats.'' Trevor Nunn, who had never directed a musical before, won a Tony.

Based on T.S. Eliot's ``Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats,'' the show has no plot. Instead, it is a variety show of varied cat tunes. The story goes that when it was suggested to Webber that he choose another subject because half the world hated cats, he said, ``I will be quite content to play to half the world.''

The New York Times dismissed it as ``a collection of anthropomorphic variety turns'' lacking in emotional power and devoid of ideas. But the paper also predicted a long run. ``Whatever the other failings and excesses, even banalities of `Cats,' it believes in purely theatrical magic.''

It took ``Cats'' nearly 14 years to catch ``A Chorus Line.'' While ``Les Miserables'' could become top dog eventually, a more likely contender is ``Phantom of the Opera,'' which is playing to 98 percent capacity compared to ``Cats' '' 68 percent. At that rate, ``Phantom'' would become No. 1 in 2002.

In the Did You Know? category, ``Cats'' lost two of the nine Tonys for which it was nominated. Choreographer Gillian Lynne lost to Tommy Tune and Thommie Walsh (``My One and Only''). A bigger surprise was that it did not win for its famous junkyard set. The Tony went to the mountain-climbing set for ``K2.''

However, ``Cats'' did win for best musical, best director and just about everything else. Betty Buckley was the only performer to take home an award. As the frazzled Grizabella, she sang ``Memory.'' (By the way, Buckley will appear in concert at Hampton University's Ogden Hall on April 25, 1998.)

Perhaps the enduring appeal of ``Cats'' is multigenerational and multinational. When a show plays this long to this many people, it has to be for other reasons than marketing and herding.

Despite what theater purists say, ``Cats'' seems to be pure catnip. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

Performers from the show 'Cats"

When it was suggested to Andrew Lloyd Webber, above, ...

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