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--> as Jemima]]'' is a Musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber (ALW) in 1978/1979 based on '' Old Possum's Book Of Practical Cats '' by T. S. Eliot .
''CATS'' was first shown in London 's West End, at New London Theatre , on May 11 , 1981 . It was originally produced onstage by Cameron Mackintosh and ALW's The Really Useful Theatre Company . The show then made its debut on Broadway on October 7 , 1982 at the Winter Garden Theatre . 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 , 2001 and broadcast on a large screen in Covent Garden to the delight of fans who could not acquire a ticket for the final performance.
While ''CATS'' is often criticized for its lack of plot, it does have a minimal story used to string its musical numbers together. ''CATS'' tells of a particular English feline tribe, the '' Jellicles '', who have come together for their annual Jellicle Ball at a junkyard to make the Jellicle Choice and announce the cat who can be reborn.
Each cat "auditions" with a different song and/or dance number. Some minor complications involving the abduction of the Jellicle patriarch, '' Old Deuteronomy '' occur before a cat is chosen.
It turns out to be '' Grizabella '', "the Glamour Cat," whose now-faded charms do not prevent her from singing " Memory ," the show's best-known song. It has been recorded by over 150 artists, and is considered by some to be Webber's signature tune. The Lyrics are based on Eliot's poems "Rhapsody on a Windy Night" and "Preludes."
In 1998 , ALW 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 Jacob Brent , among other dancers and singers drawn largely from stage productions of the show. It was directed for film by David Mallet in London's Adelphi Theatre , and was released on VHS and DVD, as well as broadcast on Television worldwide.
The show's popularity comes despite never being Critic ally acclaimed. Many argue it has a mainstream, family appeal that many other more "prestigious" musicals are lacking. It is and has been one of the most-loved musicals of all time, being translated into over 20 languages.
At the time ''CATS'' was running, several other Broadway productions were promoted with a series of television commercials in which audience members gave bland endorsements; one of these included the phrase "I laughed, I cried... It was better than ''CATS''!" which entered common parlance, usually being used mockingly.
The following are the characters in the show:
- , a young cat, who in many productions, also doubles as Macavity. Does not exist in every production.
- , 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.
- (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".
- , a young black, white, and brown male. Sometimes interchangeable with the character of Tumblebrutus; does not exist in every production.
- , a flirtatious red female, often believed to be the leader of the female "queen" cats. She is close friends with Demeter.
- , a fat cat, a '25 pounder.' Dresses in a snappy tuxedo and spats. Respected by all, as the upper class "St James' Street Cat".
- The name was one of T.S. Eliot's ideas for cat names for a "knockabout cat". Sometimes interchangeable with the character of Pouncival; does not exist in every production.
- , a brown and cream female, with a braided tail and rolled wig. Very unique and somewhat mysterious.
- , male twin to Tantomile. Both of them are intuitive or even psychic. Does not appear in every production.
- , 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.
- , an orange and black tabby kitten who seems to be friends with Etcetera as well as a fan of Rum Tum Tugger.
- , a happy, energetic kitten who is a big Rum Tum Tugger fan. Does not exist in all productions.
- , a female character who only appears in the filmed version, and was a role created specially for Femi Taylor .
- 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.
- , the former Glamour Cat who has lost her sparkle and now only wants to be accepted. Ultimately, she is the one chosen to ascend to the "Heaviside Layer" and be reborn.
- , A fluffy white 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".
- , 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"
- , 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.
- 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. The first actress to play Jemima was Sarah Brightman .
- , the old Gumbie cat. She sits all day and rules the mice and cockroaches at night.
- is the show's only real villain. The character is a literary Allusion to the Sherlock Holmes character Professor Moriarty . He executes the kidnapping of Old Deuteronomy in the second act and also attempts to abduct Demeter.
- , a young tom who has magical powers including the ability to create flash explosions (or bolt lightening in the filmed version, thanks to computer technology). 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.
- , half of a pair of notorious "cat-burglars", Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer.
- , 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.
- , the lovable patriarch of the Jellicle Tribe.
- , sometimes used interchangeably with George or Admetus. He does a Pas De Deux with Victoria during the Jellicle Ball. Does not exist in every production.
- , 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 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.
- , 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 heroic figure amongst the Jellicles. Does not appear in productions which omit the song "The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles".
- , The Broadway version's Jemima, although the Japanese version contains both.
- , the railway cat. An active orange tabby cat who lives on the trains and acts as an unofficial chaperone.
- , the "Witch's Cat," female twin of Coricopat. Both of them are perceived as intuitive or even psychic.
- , US counterpart for Bill Bailey. Usually plays "Genghis" (aka "Gilbert") in "Growltiger's Last Stand".
- , a young male. Does not appear in most productions; sometimes known as part of the "Cats chorus".
- , a white kitten extremely gifted in dancing. The "official" Jellicle Ball begins with her solo dance.
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".
- ''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''
- ''Grizabella''
- ''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 ''
- ''The Journey to The Heaviside Layer''
- ''The Ad-Dressing of Cats''
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