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">Cats is a musical composed
by Andrew Lloyd
Webber based on Old
Possum's Book of
Practical Cats by T. S.
Eliot. It introduced the song standard "Memory".
The musical first opened in the West End in
1981 and then on BroadwayTrevor
Nunn and choreographed by Gillian Lynne, it
won numerous awards, including
both the Laurence
Olivier Award and the Tony Award for Best
Musical. The London production ran for twenty one years and the
Broadway
production ran for eighteen years, both setting long-run records.
Actresses Elaine Paige and Betty
Buckley became
particularly associated with the musical. One actress, Marlene Danielle,
performed in the Broadway production for its entire run (from 1982 until
2000). in
1982.
Each time directed by
Cats has been performed around the world many times and has
been
translated into more than 20 languages. In 1998 it was also made into a
television video.
Detailed synopsis
Act I — When Cats are Maddened by the Midnight
Dance
After the overture, the Cats gather on stage and explain the Jellicle tribe and
their purpose ('Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats'). The Cats spot the
human
audience and explain how the different Cats of the tribe are named ('The
Naming
of Cats'). This is followed by a dance from Victoria the White Cat that
signals
the beginning of the Jellicle Ball and Munkustrap tells us that tonight
is the
night when Old Deuteronomy will choose a cat to be reborn into a new
life on the
Heaviside Layer.
Munkustrap appears and
introduces Jennyanydots ('The Old Gumbie Cat'), a large tabby cat. She "sits and sits and sits"
all day,
while at night she rules over the mice and cockroaches, teaching 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 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".
A shabby old grey cat stumbles out and looks around. It is Grizabella.
All the cats back away.
The cats sing of her saddened, unfortunate state ('Grizabella: The
Glamour
Cat'). Grizabella leaves and the music changes to a cheerful 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, and visits
prestigious
gentleman's clubs.
A loud crash startles the
tribe. Could this be Macavity? The
cats run off the stage in fright. Hushed giggling signals the entrance
of Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer,
a pair of near-identical cats. They are petty burglars, very
mischievous, and
they 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
(And
more, I am tempted to say – ninety-nine)â€. He is the one who will choose
which
Jellicle cat will go to the Heaviside Layer. In most productions, at
this point,
the cats perform a song ('The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the
Pollicles')
for Old Deuteronomy. It is a story about two dog tribes clashing in the
street
and subsequently being scared away by the Great Rumpus Cat, a cat
with flashing red eyes. After a
few words from Old Deuteronomy on the destiny of Jellicle Cats and
Pollicle
Dogs, a second loud crash, presumably from Macavity, sends the alarmed
cats
scurrying. But Old Deuteronomy calls them back and the main celebration
begins
('The Jellicle Ball'), in which the cats sing, dance and display their
"terpsichorean powers".
After the Ball, Grizabella reappears, 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 a short version of 'Memory'.
Act II — Why Will the Summer Day Delay — When Will
Time Flow
Away?
After the Jellicle Ball, Old Deuteronomy sings of “what happiness
isâ€,
referring to Grizabella. This message naturally goes over everyone's
heads, so
he sends the message again and Jemima (or Sillabub, depending on the
production)
sings it for everyone to hear, ('The Moments of Happiness'). Gus — short
for
Asparagus — shuffles forward ('Gus: The Theatre Cat'). He is the cat
that once
was a famous actor but now he is old and “suffers from palsy which makes
his
paws shakeâ€. He is accompanied by Jellylorum, who tells
of his exploits. Gus then
remembers how he once played the infamous Growltiger,
Terror of the Thames ('Growltiger's Last
Stand'). He tells the story about the pirate's romance with Griddlebone
and how
he was overtaken by the Siamese and forced to walk the plank.
Back in the present, after Gus exits, Skimbleshanks is sleeping in
the corner
('Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat'), a cat who is unofficially in charge
of the
night train to Glasgow. He is very clever and very important because if
he is
gone “the train can’t startâ€.
With a third crash and an evil laugh, the "most wanted" cat, Macavity
appears. 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. As the other cats try to follow
him, Demeter and
Bombalurina
sing what they know about Macavity, as they have had some sort of past
with him
('Macavity: The Mystery Cat'). When they are finished, Macavity returns
disguised as Old Deuteronomy. When revealed by Demeter, he fights with
Munkustrap and Alonzo.
Rum Tum Tugger suggests that the cats find Mr.
Mistoffelees ('Magical Mr. Mistoffelees').
Mr. Mistoffelees 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').
With encouragement from Jemima and Victoria accepting her always, the
appeal
succeeds and she is chosen to be the one ('Journey to the Heaviside
Layer'). A
large tyre rises up with Old Deuteronomy and Grizabella. Once at the top
Grizabella finishes the journey herself. Old Deuteronomy gives his
closing
speech to the human audience ('The Ad-dressing of Cats') and the show
comes to a
close.