| Dominique Hamilton, left, as Rumpleteazer in the 40th anniversary production of 'Cats' in Korea / Courtesy of S&CO |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
| Actress Dominique Hamilton / Courtesy of Dominique Hamilton |
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the show, opening last September at the Charlotte Theater, has been delivering Lloyd Webber's exuberant musical numbers as well as Gillian Lynne's energetic choreography portraying some 20 unique cat characters across the country from Seoul to Daegu and Busan.
Among actors of this production, Dominique Hamilton, who plays the mischievous burglar cat Rumpleteazer, has a special connection to the show as her mother Laura Bishop performed the same role in the popular show's Australian premiere in 1985.
Coming from a family of entertainers, Hamilton made her professional debut with Barbra Streisand at the age of 10. After graduating from Jason Coleman's Ministry of Dance, she played the lead role in the children's show "Dora the Explorer Live! Search for the City of Lost Toys" and toured the world including Egypt, Spain, Ireland and London's West End in 2013.
Hamilton first visited Korea for the 2014-15 Asia Tour of "Cats" playing Rumpleteazer, and returned last year in the same role while understudying for the skittish cat Demeter.
Hamilton enjoys playing Rumpleteazer, half of a notorious duo with her partner in crime Mungojerrie. Together they run amok on stage, disrupting the evening and being all kinds of naughty, cheeky, fun, flirtatious and effervescent.
The following are questions and answers from an email interview with Hamilton, sharing her thoughts on her family legacy of "Cats," the longevity of the show as well as performing amid the pandemic.
Q: What is your first memory of "Cats"?
A: Seeing photos of my mum as Rumpleteazer at my grandparents' house is my earliest memory of the show. She would tell stories about her time in "Cats" whenever we were there because of course I would see the pictures and want to hear all about it. I remember watching the 1998 version of the film and Rumpleteazer was immediately my favorite character. I would make my best friend watch it with me every weekend and we would then attempt the acrobatics in the backyard. It's a dream come true to for eight-year-old me to be a part of the production more than 20 years later.
Q: How supportive was your mother in your stage career, which started very early?
A: She has always been incredibly supportive of my career. It's been a blessing to have the guidance of someone with the vast experience and wealth of knowledge she does to help me navigate my early years in the industry.
I grew up touring with mum while she was on shows with Garry Ginivan Attractions, when I was very young, I would spend time in the rehearsal room and backstage watching the production come to life and learning how shows and characters were created. This carried on into my teenage years where I remember going to the State Theatre in Melbourne where I would sit in the green room and do my homework until whichever show mum was in at the time was finished.
All of these experiences gave me an incredible insight into the industry and paved the way for my career.
Q: Why did you audition for Cats and how did your mother react to the news of you joining the show she also performed once?
A: I have loved "Cats" for as long as I can remember. It has always been a dream musical to do and Rumpleteazer a dream character, so as soon as I was old enough, I was in the audition room. We were both overjoyed and ecstatic when I was offered the role. I was living in London at the time, so I got the message at about 3 a.m. and was awake for the rest of the day. It feels like we've created a family legacy because my auntie also worked on the show, in the wardrobe team in Australia. It's such a unique experience and to be able to share that with my mother is something we'll both always treasure.
Q: Did your mother gave any advice on playing Rumpleteazer?
A: She didn't tell me too much. She let me find my own version of Rumpleteazer which I am now very grateful for. At the beginning I wanted her to tell me everything but I'm glad she didn't as I was able to explore my version of Rumpleteazer along with my cast who were finding their versions of their characters.
| Laura Hamilton nee Bishop, right, as Rumpleteazer in the Australian premiere of the musical 'Cats' in 1985 / Courtesy of Dominique Hamilton |
Q: Why do you think "Cats" is such a long-running show, resonating with audiences 40 years after its premiere?
A: Cats is such a long-running show because there is something in the show for all audiences, whether that's Andrew Lloyd Webber's music, T.S. Elliot's poems, Gillian Lynne's stunning choreography or the oversized junkyard that the cats play in. Grandparents who have seen the show when they were a child come back with their grandchildren and share the magic of Cats with the younger generation who will continue to do the same with their children. It's a timeless story where the audiences get transported into a magical world and follow a story of forgiveness, redemption and deep emotion which is something we can all relate to.
Q: Gillian Lynne's choreography captures the grace of the feline movements. What is your key in becoming a cat on stage?
A: This is one of my favorite things about the show. I try to forget about being human for the whole time I'm on stage and completely immerse myself in the Jellicle world. I've had the guidance of two incredible directors during my time with "Cats," both Chrissie Cartwright and Jo Anne Robinson who have a rich knowledge of Gillian Lynne's vision behind each movement. I hear their voices every night on stage as I dance. It's the intentions behind the movements, the celebration of the music, athleticism of the dancing and our beautiful costumes and wigs all combining with Gillian's exquisite choreography to create the feline movements.
Q: The interaction with audiences especially during the interval and curtain call is one of the charms of "Cats," but had to be altered due to the COVID-19 safety measures. How do you try to connect with audiences now?
A: There are still moments where we come through the audience, but we must be wearing a make-up mask at all times. There are moments in the show where we are addressing the audience directly, "The Naming of Cats" for example, and this is a time where we can really connect with the audience. Throughout the show we have moments where we can crawl out onto the catwalks and "explore" a little further than the stage which is exciting because we can interact with the audience from a safe distance.
Q: You have been in other international touring productions in the past, but what is it like to be performing around the world during this unprecedented pandemic situation?
A: I feel so unbelievably blessed and grateful to be working and performing during this pandemic. It was quite a shock to be honest because theater had closed down in Australia and in most other parts of the world so to be traveling internationally to rehearse and open "Cats" seemed unbelievable.
I traveled from Melbourne and we had an unexpected change of our departure date due to COVID-19 events and had just under 24 hours' notice before our new flight time. Arriving into a quarantine and getting to know the other cast members via Zoom was a new and different experience. We had a daily Zoom Pilates class and some vocal rehearsals to prepare us for our rehearsal period.
Throughout rehearsals and the tour we have had to follow strict COVID-19 protocols and guidelines which is something that none of us had every experienced but now it is like second nature. I still pinch myself daily that I get to share this incredible show with Korean audiences again.
Q: How do you feel about Korean audiences' reception of the show?
A: Korean audiences are the best audiences! They're always so appreciative of our performances. Whether it's their first time seeing "Cats" or their 100th time, the smiles are just as big. It so beautiful to look into the audience and see familiar faces from when I toured in 2014-15. "Cats" has such an incredible fan base here in Korea. I'm so thrilled I've had the opportunity to experience the great and generous Korean audiences again!
Q: As a performing artist, what do you think art can bring to people in these hard times?
A: I think art can bring us together during this difficult time. There is an unspoken connection between performer and audience, and I think during this pandemic the human connection is more important than ever. Shared emotions are what connect us, and I think that live theater is an incredibly special way to experience this. With the varying lockdowns and restrictions there have been times of loneliness and isolation for us all. Theaters provide a place where people can come together to have a shared experience, one that can inspire and uplift us and calm the mind.