cats

This article is about ''Cats'', the musical. For the animal, see cat. For other uses, see cat (disambiguation).''----''CATS The Musical'' is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber (ALW) in 1981 based on ''Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats'' by T. S. Eliot, adapted by Richard Stilgoe.''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 in Broadway theaterBroadway on October 7, 1982 at the Winter Garden Theatre. It played 8,949 performances in London and 7,485 in New York, making it the longest-running musical in both Broadway and London history. On Broadway, it is the longest running show, musical or non-musical (although ''en.wikipedia.org - The Phantom of the Opera'' is expected to surpass it by the end of 2005). In London, it is surpassed by ''The Mousetrap'', which opened in the 1950s and is still running as of 2005. The first night of the German (language)German-speaking world premiere of the musical ''Cats'' took place in Vienna, Austria, in the Theater an der Wien, on September 24, 1983. 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''fn1 , who have convened at a junkyard to decide which of them will be reborn. Each cat "auditions" with a different song or dance number, and 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 (song)Memory." (The show's best-known song, it has been recorded by over 150 artists. 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, and John Partridge (performer)John Partridge, 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 PBS in the United States.The show's popularity comes despite never being critically 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. It is still playing in a tour across The United Kingdom and in several tours around the world.At the time ''Cats'' was running, several other Broadway plays 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, and was usually used mockingly: the idea was that a given movie/play/product wasn't just merely good, but surpassed even the wonder that is ''Cats'' (the irony lying in the evaluation that ''Cats'' wasn't really a standard of excellence).

Characters - The following are the characters in the show:

Admetus, a young cat, he plays the Great Rumpus Cat in "The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles".

Alonzo, a black and white tom cattom, although in some productions he is depicted as a tortoiseshell. He is usually a chorus cat though he takes on Macavity himself. He rescues Demeter from the criminal cat, leaving Munkustrap to face his foe. After Munkustrap is defeated, Alonzo steps up. In the video, Alonzo is played by Jason Gardiner.

Asparagus "Gus", the theatre cat. Notably played by John Mills.

Bombalurina, a rather amazingly beautiful female, good friend and possibly sister of Demeter. Popular with the males.

Bustopher Jones, a fat cat, a '25 pounder.' He is quite formal.

Carbucketty is another name for Pouncival. The name was one of T.S. Eliot's ideas for cat names; this one was "a kock-about cat".

Cassandra, a mysterious female, possibly a Siamese, or an egyptian cat.

Coricopat, partner of Tantomile. Both of them are thought to have been owned by a witch, and gifted with magic.

Demeter, good friend and probably sister of Bombalurina.

Electra, a brown kitten who is friends with Etcetera as well as a fan of Rum Tum Tugger.

Etcetera, a happy, energetic kitten who is Rum Tum Tugger's biggest fan.

Exotica, a dark brown female character created solely for the VHS and DVD.

Grizabella, glamourous old female.

Griddlebone, Jellylorum's theatrical alter-ego for "Growltiger's Last Stand." She is a very fluffy white queen who is Growltiger's lover.

Growltiger, Gus's theatrical alter-ego for "Growltiger's Last Stand." He is a well-known, ferocious pirate feared by all.

Jellylorum, a female who watches out for the kittens, along with Jennyanydots. She has a close relationship with Gus and is possibly his daughter.

Jemima, one of the kittens, a pretty gifted singer.

Jennyanydots, the Gumbie cat, who sits around until the family is asleep. She helps the mice and bugs be less...messy.

Macavity, an evil, notoriously criminal cat that attempts to kidnap Deuteronomy and appears to have had prior experiences with Demeter.

The Magical Mr. Mistoffelees, the Original Conjuring Cat (a feline empowered with magic (paranormal)magic). In most productions, he has a less flashy alter-ego known as Quaxo.

Mungojerrie, companion of Rumpleteazer,together they steal things and are notorious for it.

Munkustrap, the leader and also a storyteller of sorts. A grey tom who opens the show and narrates such numbers as "The Pekes and the Pollicles".

Old Deuteronomy, the patriarch, who is captured. First played on Broadway by Ken Page, who also assumed that role in the video.

Plato, a younger tomcat who does the Mating Dance with Victoria in the Jellicle Ball.

Pouncival, a mischievous kitten who is friends with Tumblebrutus.

Quaxo, a young black tom whose alter-ego is Mr. Mistoffelees. He is portrayed in the movie wearing a tuxedo. Quaxo is also believed to be a different character all together, but was never fully confirmed as such.

Rumpleteazer, companion of Mungojerrie, his 'partner in crime.' Her name can also be spelled 'Rumpelteazer'. Most productions use this spelling, as it was the spelling originally used by T.S. Eliot.

Rum Tum Tugger, a handsome tom the girls love. Most productions depict him as a parody of Elvis.

Sillabub, Sillabub is the same cat as Jemima. Jemima is the name used in most international productions, plus the video. Sillabub was a name created for the American opening of the play, and is still the name used in American productions. However, Japanese casts include both Sillabub and Jemima as different characters.

Skimbleshanks, the railway cat. An active cat who lives on a train and acts as an unofficial chaperone.

Tantomile, partner of Coricopat. Both are thought to have been owned by a witch, and gifted with magic, as the name Tantomile reminded T.S. Eliot of "a witch's cat".

Tumblebrutus, a mischievous kitten who is friends with Pouncival.

Victoria, a white kitten extremely gifted in dancing. The "official" Jellicle Ball begins with her solo dance.

Musical Numbers - The following is a complete list of songs from the show (the DVD and VHS versions do not include "Growltiger's Last Stand", and "The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles" is rarely seen nowadays except the UK Tour and German productions, among others but not in the USA): 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''

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

''The Moments of Happiness''

''Gus - The Theatre Cat'': Gus' reminiscience takes us back to a performance of ''Growltiger'', the role for which he is most famous; "but his greatest creation, as he loves to tell, is Frierfrorefiddle: the Fiend of the Fell."

'''''Growltiger's Last Stand''

''Skimbleshanks - The Railway Cat''

''Macavity - The Mystery Cat''

''Mr. Mistoffelees''

''Memory''

''The Journey to The Heaviside Layer''

''The Ad-Dressing of Cats''''The mystical divinity of unashamed felinity round the cathedral rang, VIVAT''': life to the everlasting cat!''

Notes - fnb1 The name "Jellicle cat" is derived from an attempt by T.S. Eliot's infant niece to say "dear little cat".fnb2 The name "Pollicle Dog" is derived from an attempt by T.S. Eliot's infant niece to say "poor little dog".

External links -

!http://www.catsmusical.com/

reallyuseful.com - Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group

ibdb.com - IBDb page for the Broadway production

eir.library.utoronto.ca - "Rhapsody on a Windy Night" (text and notes)

eir.library.utoronto.ca - "Preludes" (text and notes)Category:Musicals!Catsde:Catses:Catsja:キャッ ツ? !(ミュージカル)nl:Catssv: Catszh:猫? (音乐剧)

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