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A Cat Is Born

by Linda Cuckovich | Feb 28, 2007 9:53 am

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Posted to: Arts

GreyWhiteTexture%20%28Eye%29.jpg At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Christopher Sidoli was still unassuming in a rumpled grey t-shirt, betrayed only by a silver chain and an errant tuft of chest hair. By 7:30 when the lights came up in the Shubert Theater, he had become something else entirely—one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats.

p(clear). The perennial Broadway favorite has come to New Haven this week during its 25th anniversary tour.

p(clear). Sidoli, an opera singer who joined the cast two years ago, has an immediately palpable work ethic, cheerfully granting an interview in his dressing room as he prepared to take the stage in last night’s performance. Like all the cast members, he was trained to apply his own elaborate stage makeup by assistant director Suzanne Viverito.

p(clear). Applying%20Eye%20Makeup.jpg Ever solicitous, he traced fine lines above his upper lip while sharing charming memories of his local origins. “One of my drama teachers at Weston High School is coming to see the show. I remember she used to say ‘As an actor, if you go home at night and you’re not totally exhausted, you’re not doing your job.’”

p(clear). Mirrored%20Cat.jpg It seems that Sidoli has proudly taken this advice to heart. Even his makeup is a complicated, several hour process. Before the show he applies layers of gray, white and black, blotting out his human features with a starkly feline visage. But since he plays three distinct characters, he undergoes several makeup and costume changes during the show. Throughout the night, he explained, “If I’m not on stage, I am backstage changing costumes and makeup.”

p(clear). Sidoli explained that he was particularly thrilled to be performing close to home. “This is truly very special for me. It’s hard work, but it can be very rewarding.” Cats is at the Shubert through Sunday, March 4th.