Broadway Cats had to drop a 'racist' song for a Leona Lewis production. There are reports that the Andrew Lloyd Webber show took the decision to drop the song, 'Growltiger's Last Stand.' This song was deemed to have 'inappropriate' content which could have hints of stereotype.
The Broadway Cat's so-called racist song saw the cast utilizing stereotyped Asian accents. This was used to recount an invasion of Growltiger's barge by the Siamese cats. Growltiger was eventually made to walk the plank.
Broadway's Cats are definitely not the oldest production on the famous stage. They premiered in 1981. However, they have to keep things moving according to the time. Racist content is no longer appropriate and never will it be appreciated too. Cats removed the song because of the same reason, reported The Independent.
The show had already seen a lot of alterations in the past. The original song used by Broadway Cats includes racist language and this posed a problem for the production. There is a line in the song which goes: "with a frightful burst of fireworks, the ch**ks they swarmed aboard" which was previously altered to "with a frightful burst of fireworks, the Siamese they swarmed aboard".
It is reported that "Growltiger's Last Stand" will no longer feature in the Broadway staging of the show. This is the first change that we can see in the last 16 years. "It was one of the most notable changes in the new production and shows how much attitudes have changed since it first opened in 1981," a source said.
Leona Lewis, the three-time Grammy nominee, takes in the iconic role of Grizabella in the revival. Se would act as a late stand-in for Nicole Scherzinger. Nicole had led the London cast of the musical previously, reported The Sun.
Grizabella's is a widely acclaimed role and is best known for the performance of the musical's lead song, "Memories." Leona Lewis' performance has won her many praises by critics.
