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Review of Gina Gionfriddo's 'Becky Shaw' and 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball' Adaptation

opinion-review · 2026-04-16

A review in The New Yorker covers two theatrical productions: Gina Gionfriddo's play 'Becky Shaw' and a ballroom-culture adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical 'Cats', titled 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball'. The review describes 'Becky Shaw' as a sex farce filled with sharp dialogue, while 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball' is noted as a celebratory take on the original musical, drawing from ballroom culture. Both productions are presented as offering cathartic experiences for audiences. The review was published on April 27, 2026, in The New Yorker magazine. No specific performance dates or venues are mentioned in the source material, focusing instead on the critical assessment of these works.

Key facts

  • Gina Gionfriddo wrote the play 'Becky Shaw'
  • 'Becky Shaw' is described as a sex farce with zinger-filled dialogue
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber composed the musical 'Cats'
  • 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball' is an adaptation of 'Cats' incorporating ballroom culture
  • The review was published in The New Yorker on April 27, 2026
  • Both productions are characterized as cathartic
  • The review covers two distinct theatrical works
  • The source is a theatre review article

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • The New Yorker

Sources