Andrew Lloyd Webber says Cats flop left him needing a therapy dog
“Because of the appalling Cats movie, I went out and bought myself a little Havanese puppy,” Andrew said on CBS Sunday Morning
By Eve Ellis
Andrew Lloyd Webber has called the live-action movie version of Cats “appalling”, saying the only good thing that came of it was his therapy dog, Mojito.
The musical theatre composer had some harsh opinions on the 2019 movie while promoting the new Broadway revival of his classic musical.
“Because of the appalling Cats movie, I went out and bought myself a little Havanese puppy,” Webber said.
“I just write a note to the airline saying, you know, ‘Reason for dog on plane: Cats movie'” – Andrew Lloyd Webber on buying his Havanese puppy
In an interview on CBS Sunday Morning, journalist Mo Rocco replied, “To recover from the trauma of the Cats movie?”
Webber responded, “Well, yes. I mean, it’s my therapy dog on planes. I just write a note to the airline saying, you know, ‘Reason for dog on plane: Cats movie.’ And they always come back saying, ‘No doctor’s certificate required.”
The live action movie version of Cats featured a star-studded cast with the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, James Corden, Ian McKellen, Rebel Wilson and even Taylor Swift.
The Tom Hooper-directed film earned a damming 19% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Now, the musical is back on Broadway reimagined with choreography from the New York City Ballroom Scene.
When asked what he didn’t like about the movie, Webber said, “Well is this a very, very long interview we’re doing? Because it could be a very, very long list.”
Who is Andrew Lloyd Webber?
Webber is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre – with several of his musicals running for more than a decade in the West End and Broadway. Some to note are The Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and of course, Cats.
What is Cats?
Cats is a musical composed by Webber, based on T.S Elliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. The story follows a tribe of “Jellicle” cats in a junkyard who meet for the annual Jellicle Ball. The Broadway show is often regarded as the most famous pieces of theater in recent history.
In 2019, there was a film adaption made that faced immense backlash with critics and audiences largely panned for its confusing plot and bizarre “horny” tone.