Sophia Ragavelas plays Grizabella for a second time. Photo/supplied
Sophia Ragavelas plays Grizabella for a second time. Photo/supplied
Cats is once again heading Down Under and given this city's high number of musical fans, it's bound to get a troop of Tauranga locals pouncing on tickets, and heading to Auckland in September.
One of the show's most pivotal figures, Sophia Ragavelas, however, may be heading in the oppositedirection during her time in New Zealand. She is a big fan of the country and hopes to explore some of the Bay of Plenty during her time off.
Ragavelas plays Grizabella, and she came to the country about six years ago as part of her OE. "New Zealand was one of the first countries on my list to see, so when I was asked if I was available for the role here, I was happy to come back and I hope to bring my family so we can explore more of the country."
It's not the first time Ragavelas has played Grizabella - the withered but once glamorous cat. She played the role during a 2014 European tour of the production and Ragavelas says the first time she was offered the role she was massively daunted, honoured and excited.
Grizabella is a central figure in the production and the song Memory was turned into a global hit by the Grizabella original, Elaine Paige.
So, how do you make such an iconic role, your own?
"I 100 per cent attack it from a very different way. It is such an iconic role you have to come in and put your own interpretation on it. Everybody has a very different sound anyway, but I draw on my own experience and look at Grizabella's back story to see if there is some similar experiences we share. You have to be careful you don't become self-indulgent though."
As Grizabella is such an emotional role, does she become emotional on stage?
"Oh gosh yes. But you can't break down in the middle of a song. You leave that to the audience. The pay-off is seeing their emotions - watching them break down as you play a role."
The hit revival has been reworked by the original creative team and received excellent reviews for its most recent season in the West End.
Sophia Ragavelas plays Grizabella. Photo/supplied
New Zealand audiences will see changes include a rapping "street cat" in the famous Rum Tum Tugger role.
"I've come to the conclusion that having read Eliot again, maybe Eliot was the inventor of rap," says Lloyd Webber.
The fine print What: CATS The Musical Where: The Civic, Auckland When: From September 11 2015. Tickets: 0800 111 999
