Cats (musical)

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Cats
Now and Forever
MusicAndrew Lloyd Webber
LyricsT.S. Eliot
BookT.S. Eliot

Cats is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and other poems by T. S. Eliot. Cats is one of the most popular musicals of all time having been performed around the world in numerous productions (the show has been translated into over 20 languages).

Production History

File:Cats South Africa World Tour.jpg
The cast of the 2002 South African CATS production.

Cats was first shown in London's West End, at the New London Theatre, on May 11, 1981. It was originally produced onstage by Cameron Mackintosh and Lloyd Webber's The Really Useful Theatre Company. It was directed by Trevor Nunn, associate director and choreographer Gillian Lynne, designed by John Napier with lighting by David Hersey. The show then made its debut on Broadway on October 7, 1982 at the Winter Garden Theatre with the same production team. On June 19, 1997, Cats became the longest running musical in Broadway history with 6,138 performances. It played a total of 8,949 performances in London and 7,485 in New York. Its New York record was surpassed on January 9, 2006, by The Phantom of the Opera, which was also composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Cats' final performance on Broadway was on September 10, 2000. Its final performance in London's West End was on its 21st birthday, May 11, 2002 and broadcast on a large screen in Covent Garden to the delight of fans who could not acquire a ticket for the final performance.

In 1998, Andrew Lloyd Webber produced a video version of Cats, based upon the stage performance (augmented for the media of film), starring Elaine Paige, who originated the role of Grizabella in London, Ken Page, who originated Old Deuteronomy on Broadway, Sir John Mills, Michael Gruber, and John Partridge, among other dancers and singers drawn largely from stage productions of the show. It was directed for film by David Mallet, with choreography and musical staging by the show's respected original creator Gillian Lynne in London's Adelphi Theatre, and was released on VHS and DVD, as well as broadcast on Television worldwide.

As of 2006, the show is currently touring the UK again.

Plot

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Act 1 The musical starts out with an overture. The cats then start to gather on stage and explain the Jellicle tribe and their purpose (Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats). The cats then give details on how the different cats of the tribe are named (The Naming of Cats).

Afterwards, Munkstrap appears and introduces the first cat named Jennyanydots (The Old Gumbie Cat). She "sits and sits and sits" all day and rules over the mice and teaches various activities to them. Jennyanydots finishes, greets the other cats, but is interrupted.

The music instantly changes and The Rum Tum Tugger makes an extravagant entrance (The Rum Tum Tugger). The Rum Tum Tugger is a tom with a wild mane and leopard spots on his chest. He is very fickle and unappeasable, "for he will do as he do do and there's no doing anything about it".

The Rum Tum Tugger stops and backs off the stage. An old grey cat stumbles out and looks around. It is Grizabella. All the cats back away and glare at her with resentment. The cats sing of her saddened, unfortunate state (Grizabella: The Glamour Cat).

Grizabella leaves and the music becomes upbeat. Bustopher Jones, a fat cat in "a coat of fastidious black", appears (Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town). Bustopher Jones is among the elite of the cats, owning many clubs and making many speeches at various events.

It is silent and two black and orange calico cats sneak out. They are petty thiefs, very mischievous, and enjoy causing trouble for human families (Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer).

Finally, the Jellicle Patriarch, Old Deuteronomy, shows up (Old Deuteronomy). He is a large old cat that “has lived many lives” and “buried nine wives”. He is the one who will choose which Jellicle cat will go to the Heaviside Layer.

Munkstrap once again states why the cats are there and the celebration begins (The Jellicle Ball).

Grizabella shows up once again refusing to be left out of the festivities. Once again, she is shunned by the other cats, but that does not stop her from singing (Memory).

Act 2 Grizabella leaves and the cats sing of “what happiness is” (The Moments of Happiness).

Gus, or his full name, Asparagus, shuffles forward (Gus: The Theatre Cat). He is the cat that once was a famous actor but now he is old and “palsy makes his paw shake”. He is accompanied by Jellylorum.

We then see a sleeping cat in the corner (Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat). Skimbleshanks is unofficially in charge of the railway train. He is very clever and very important because if he is gone “the train can’t start”.


Lights start to flash and we hear an evil laugh (Macavity: The Mystery Cat). It is the most wanted cat, Macavity. He is a “master criminal” and never is found at the scene of the crime. He is a horrifying looking cat and a “villain” of the Jellicle Tribe.

Macavity shows up and captures Old Deuteronomy, but not before he fights with Munkstrap. None of the cats know what to do. The Rum Tum Tugger suggests they find Mr. Mistofolees (Mr. Mistofolees: The Conjuring Cat). Mr. Mistofolees is black and small and can perform many feats of magic that no other cat can do. The magical cat succeeds in bringing back Old Deuteronomy. He is praised by all the cats. The Jellicle choice can now be made.

Old Deuteronomy sits down and Grizabella appears for the final time. Old Deuteronomy allows her to have a chance to address the cats. Her faded appearance and lonely disposition have little effect on her song (Memory).

The appeal succeeds and she is chosen to be the one (Journey to the Heaviside Layer). A large tire rises up with Old Deuteronomy and Grizabella. Once at the top Grizabella finishes the journey herself. Old Deuteronomy gives his last speech to the cats (The Ad-dressing of Cats) and the show ends.

Characters

The following are the characters in the show:

  • Admetus - A young cat, who in many productions, also doubles as Macavity or Rumpus Cat. Omitted from some productions.
  • Alonzo - A black and white tom in most productions; in the US and the first German productions, he is depicted as being black and gold. Often considered the 'second-hand-man' to Munkustrap.
  • Asparagus (nicknamed Gus) - The theatre cat. In the filmed version, Gus and Asparagus are two separate characters; whereas on stage the same actor usually plays Asparagus as a general chorus cat, and a younger version of Gus, up to the song "Gus the Theatre Cat", in which he portrays an older Gus, and Growltiger, then afterwards continues to play younger Gus, "Asparagus."
  • Bill Bailey - A young black, white, and brown male. Sometimes interchangeable with the character of Tumblebrutus. Omitted from some productions.
  • Bombalurina - A saucy red female, often believed to be the leader of the female "queen" cats. She is close friends with Demeter, and seems to have a thing for Rum Tum Tugger.
  • Bustopher Jones - A fat cat, a '25 pounder.' Dresses in a snappy tuxedo and spats. Respected by all, as the upper class "St James' Street Cat". In most productions, the actor playing Gus also plays Bustopher, though in early productions the part was handled by the actor playing Old Deuteronomy.
  • Carbucketty - The name was one of T.S. Eliot's ideas for cat names for a "knockabout cat". Sometimes interchangeable with the character of Pouncival. Omitted from some productions.
  • Cassandra - A brown and cream Burmese female, with a braided tail and rolled wig. Unique and somewhat mysterious. In some Japanese productions, Cassandra is known as Tantomile.
  • Coricopat - Male twin to Tantomile. Both of them are intuitive or even psychic. Omitted from some productions.
  • Demeter - She is very skittish; many of the CATS fan community believe this is due to a bad relationship in her past, perhaps a run-in with Macavity. She is close friends with Bombalurina.
  • Electra - An orange and black tabby kitten who seems to be friends with Etcetera as well as a fan of Rum Tum Tugger.
  • Etcetera - A happy, energetic kitten who is a big Rum Tum Tugger fan. Omitted from some productions.
  • Exotica - A female character who only appears in the filmed version, and was a role created specially for Femi Taylor.
  • George - A young male kitten, omitted from most productions.
  • Ghengis or Gilbert - The leader of the crew of Siamese cats who lead to Growltiger's demise. Usually played by the actor who portrays Mungojerrie, Tumblebrutus, or Coricopat.
  • Grizabella - The former Glamour Cat who has lost her sparkle and now only wants to be accepted.
  • Lady Griddlebone - A fluffy white Persian cat, and Growltiger's lover in "Growltiger's Last Stand", where she sings "The Ballad of Billy McCaw" or the mock Italian aria "In una tepida notte", (depending on production) with Growltiger. Almost always played by the actress playing Jellylorum. Does not appear in productions which omit "Growltiger's Last Stand".
  • Growltiger - A theatrical character Gus recalls playing in his youth, and who appears in Gus' memory of the production of "Growltiger's Last Stand". In some productions he is portrayed as a vicious pirate; in others he's more of a parody of a pirate. Does not appear in productions which omit "Growltiger's Last Stand"
  • Jellylorum - Named after T.S. Eliot's cat. A female who watches out for the kittens, along with Jennyanydots. She has a close relationship with Gus.
  • Jemima - Can be used interchangeably with Sillabub. Jemima is used in most international productions including the video. Sillabub was a name created for the American productions. However, Japanese casts include both Sillabub and Jemima as different characters.
  • Jennyanydots - The old Gumbie cat. She sits all day and rules the mice and cockroaches at night.
  • Macavity - He is the show's only real villain. The character is a literary allusion to the Sherlock Holmes character Professor Moriarty. Usually played by the same actor as Plato.
  • The Magical Mr. Mistoffelees - A young tom who has magical powers including the ability to create flash explosions. His signature dance move is "The Conjuring Turn", which is approximately twenty-five spins on one foot. In most productions, Mistoffelees has an alter-ego named Quaxo, who appears as a general chorus cat throughout the show, and is dressed slightly differently.
  • Mungojerrie - Half of a pair of notorious "cat-burglars", Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer. Usually plays Ghengis/Gilbert.
  • Munkustrap - A black and silver tom who is leader and protector of the Jellicle tribe. He also narrates "The Pekes and the Pollicles." Considered the storyteller of the tribe.
  • Old Deuteronomy - The lovable patriarch of the Jellicle Tribe. He is very old and usually slow-moving.
  • Plato - Sometimes used interchangeably with George or Admetus. He does a pas de deux with Victoria during the Jellicle Ball. Omitted from some productions. The actor usually also plays Macavity.
  • Pouncival - A playful tom kitten, generally interchangeable with Carbucketty.
  • Rumpleteazer - Female half of a pair of notorious "cat-burglars", Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. Her name can also be spelled 'Rumpelteazer,' the spelling originally used by T.S. Eliot; this is the spelling used by most productions.
  • The Rum Tum Tugger - The ladies' tom. His temperament ranges from clownish to serious, and often sexual depending on the production; however, he is always flirtatious, and usually portrayed as a feline equivalent of Mick Jagger or Elvis Presley, and noticeable by his wild mane.
  • Rumpus Cat - The great spiky haired brave cat with glowing red eyes, as mentioned in 'The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles', seen as a super hero figure amongst the Jellicles. Does not appear in productions which omit the song "The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles". Usually played by Alonzo or Admetus.
  • Sillabub (see Jemima), The Broadway version's Jemima, although the Japanese version contains both.
  • Skimbleshanks - The railway cat. An active orange tabby cat who lives on the trains and acts as an unofficial chaperone.
  • Tantomile - Female twin of Coricopat. Both of them are perceived as intuitive or even psychic.
  • Tumblebrutus - US counterpart for Bill Bailey.
  • Victor - A young male. Sometimes known as part of the "Cats chorus". Omitted from some productions.
  • Victoria - A white kitten extremely gifted in dancing. The "official" Jellicle Ball begins with her solo dance.

Musical numbers

File:Catsalbumcover.JPG
Original London Cast Recording

The following is a complete list of songs from the production. The DVD and VHS versions do not include "Growltiger's Last Stand" or "The Ballad of Billy McCaw." In some productions, "The Old Gumbie Cat," "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer," and "The Jellicle Ball" are slimmed down or even removed due to time restrictions, as is often the case for "The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles" in US productions. Another song, "The Ballad of Billy McCaw", was originally sung by Growltiger and Lady Griddlebone, and appeared during "Growltiger's Last Stand". This song disappeared from the show in the mid-1990s, only to be re-instated in the UK and US tours, to the approval of both the public and Andrew Lloyd Webber himself. The filmed performance is the only version with a short part of "Rule Britannia" during "The Old Gumbie Cat".

ACT ONE: When Cats are Maddened by the Midnight Dance

  • Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats
  • The Naming of Cats
  • Invitation to the Jellicle Ball
  • The Old Gumbie Cat
  • The Rum Tum Tugger
  • Grizabella - The Glamour Cat
  • Bustopher Jones
  • Mungojerrie And Rumpelteazer
  • Old Deuteronomy
  • The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles
  • The Jellicle Ball
  • Memory

ACT TWO: Why will the Summer Day delay? When will time flow away?

  • The Moments of Happiness
  • Gus - The Theatre Cat
  • Growltiger's Last Stand (including either "The Ballad of Billy McCaw" or "Una Tiepida Notte" depending on production)
  • Skimbleshanks - The Railway Cat
  • Macavity - The Mystery Cat
  • Mr. Mistoffelees
  • Memory (reprise)
  • The Journey to The Heaviside Layer
  • The Ad-Dressing of Cats

Awards

Cats was nominated for, and WON the following Tony Awards in 1983:

Trivia

  • As time went on, many of the adaptations of the show used an Italian Aria which was written for the Broadway production rather than the original "Ballad of Billy McCaw". (An exception includes the Hungarian production at the Madách Színház in Budapest which opened in 1983 and is still running in repertory as of late 2006. Production in Helsinki and Prague also used the song.) The Ballad remained in the London production until sometime in the the early 1990's when it was replaced with the Italian Aria, however, much to the pleasure of Andrew Lloyd Webber and many fans, the Ballad has been re-instated for the UK Tours of the show following the show's closure in London
  • In the filmed version, there is a car in the junkyard with the license plate number of "TSE 1", TSE being the initials of T. S. Eliot. In most productions the license plate reads "NAP" followed by the number of the production, the "NAP" stands for John Napier, the set and costume designer.
  • To be politically correct, in recent times a lyric was changed in 'Growltiger's Last Stand', which changed from "with a frightful burst of fireworks the Chinks they swarmed aboard!" to "with a frightful burst of fireworks, the Siamese swarmed aboard!"
  • In the TV situation comedy Caroline in the city, Caroline's across the hall neighbor and friend, Annie Spadaro (played by Amy Pietz), was a dancer in the Broadway production of Cats. The underlying joke was that Cats ran so long on Broadway, that performing in it could be a regular job.
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber met his former wife, Sarah Brightman, whilst she was in the Original London Cast of Cats.
  • The musical is in someway's similar to the Disney's filme, The Aristocats.

International Productions

External links

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