The 2019 adaptation of the stage play Cats received a lot of publicity. Most of it wasn’t good. Like, at all. You know what they say, though – all publicity is good publicity – though I just don’t know if that’s always true.
There were actual fans of the play and of the actors who signed on for the movie (so many stars!) who were excited to check it out.
One such person is Australian Brydie Lee-Kennedy, who has to try so hard to check the film out at an open air screening it seemed like the movie was trying to save her from herself.
https://twitter.com/BrydieLK/status/1220250468711952385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1220250468711952385&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgod.dailydot.com%2Fcats-open-air-screener%2F
When she first arrived, no one else was there.
Three people did eventually show up, along with…more bats than that.
It is Australia, though, so creepy wildlife is expected and, I imagine, planned for.
Update: 3 people and many many bats have joined us pic.twitter.com/teiiRSk2Ev
— Brydie Lee-Kennedy (@BrydieLK) January 23, 2020
The spot where they were viewing the film (or trying to) usually sells out, so everyone seemed a bit confused about what was going on.
An employee suggested it was because the film was for children (it’s the opposite of that), but Brydie and her friends soldiered on.
A few more people have arrived but really not many (this cinema pretty much always sells out) and a staff member suggested to me that it’s because it’s a kids movie. Is…is it?
— Brydie Lee-Kennedy (@BrydieLK) January 23, 2020
5 minutes into the movie and my very not online friend has googled “What is Cats about” and loudly asked me “is that the cat with the big d%ck?” (It was)
— Brydie Lee-Kennedy (@BrydieLK) January 23, 2020
Then, the sound went out.
Oh my god they’ve stopped the movie because apparently the sound wasn’t working properly? We couldn’t hear the music at all but we assumed it was intentional, like Rebel Wilson was supposed to be just…scatting (sCATting)
— Brydie Lee-Kennedy (@BrydieLK) January 23, 2020
And a thunderstorm showed up, much to the delight of some.
The sound came back on in time for James Corden’s big number and it’s just started absolutely pissing it down. Act of god??? The guy in front of us is yelling “YES LET IT RAIN”, he’s not wrong.
— Brydie Lee-Kennedy (@BrydieLK) January 23, 2020
The employees at the outdoor theater eventually canceled the showing, even though the audience had been there for two hours and had only seen (but not necessarily heard) about 15 minutes of the movie.
I’m not kidding guys…they just cancelled the screening. Because of the rain. We sat in a mostly empty amphitheatre for 2 hours then watched 15 minutes of Cats without proper sound and now we’re being sent home. Everyone is just sitting in the rain clapping nothing.
— Brydie Lee-Kennedy (@BrydieLK) January 23, 2020
Kennedy said that even though she was actually looking forward to the movie, she thinks that the apocalyptic nature of the showing was appropriate and exactly how T.S. Eliot would have wanted it.
“Well, cats hate rain”- my very philosophical friend who just woke up from a nap
— Brydie Lee-Kennedy (@BrydieLK) January 23, 2020
I really can’t stress enough how much I’ve been looking forward to this movie and yet…this feels right. Pure. We didn’t even see Taylor Swift or hear Memory. It’s how TS Elliot would’ve wanted it.
— Brydie Lee-Kennedy (@BrydieLK) January 23, 2020
And that’s how a woman from Australia came to give one of the best non-reviews of Cats at a time when bad reviews of Cats were something of a contact sport.
Cursed movie. Greatest night of my life.
— Brydie Lee-Kennedy (@BrydieLK) January 23, 2020
Did you see the film? Did you want to? Tell us about your experience at the theater, as well!
Drop those comments, fam!