Jellicle cats
Encyclopedia
Felidae
Felidae is the biological family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the strictest carnivores of the thirteen terrestrial families in the order Carnivora, although the three families of marine mammals comprising the superfamily pinnipedia are as carnivorous as the...
mentioned in T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot
Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot OM was a playwright, literary critic, and arguably the most important English-language poet of the 20th century. Although he was born an American he moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and was naturalised as a British subject in 1927 at age 39.The poem that made his...
's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats is a collection of whimsical poems by T. S. Eliot about feline psychology and sociology, published by Faber and Faber. It is the basis for the record-setting musical Cats....
.
Introduced in his poem Song of the Jellicles, they were originally depicted by Eliot as common black-and-white
Bicolor cat
A bicolor cat has white fur combined with fur of some other color, for example black or tabby. There are various patterns of bicolor cat. These range from Van pattern through to solid color with a throat locket...
cats whose daytime nature is peaceful, pleasant and restful — but who possess an active love of nightlife
Nightlife
Nightlife is the collective term for any entertainment that is available and more popular from the late evening into the early hours of the morning...
. Specifically, Eliot mentions that they like to gather at an event called the "Jellicle Ball".
They are featured in Cats
Cats (musical)
Cats is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot...
, the Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
musical based on Eliot's work, in which a subplot surrounds the disappearance of the Jellicle patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
Old Deuteronomy
Old Deuteronomy
Old Deuteronomy is a character in T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and its musical adaptation, Cats.In Eliot's original poem, Old Deuteronomy is described as an ancient, wise cat who has "lived many lives in succession" and is respected by the other cats and humans in his...
. The names are taken from T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot
Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot OM was a playwright, literary critic, and arguably the most important English-language poet of the 20th century. Although he was born an American he moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and was naturalised as a British subject in 1927 at age 39.The poem that made his...
's poem "The Naming of Cats"
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats is a collection of whimsical poems by T. S. Eliot about feline psychology and sociology, published by Faber and Faber. It is the basis for the record-setting musical Cats....
, and are used for many of the ensemble characters in the musical. In contrast with the poem, Lloyd Webber's Jellicles possess many kinds of coat-patterns, diverse personalities and individual talents. Also detailed on this page are Chorus characters from the musical Cats whose names are from other works by T. S. Eliot, or not directly derived from the poems.
The name jellicle comes from a previously unpublished poem by Eliot entitled "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats", where jellicle cats is a corruption of dear little cats and pollicle dogs of poor little dogs. It also appears in the musical Cats in the song "Jellicle Song for Jellicle Cats".
Characters in the musical
The ensemble characters in Cats are very fluid, non-specific roles. None are named in performance specifically, although the performer may choose to react to their name if mentioned in reciting "The Naming of Cats". The original London production in 1981 chose to not name the ensemble kittens, however these roles soon developed into distinct characters with their own personality and costume design. The Broadway production in 1982 made many different choices with assigning names to roles. This has led to several roles which are essentially the same Cat being given different names, subtly different costume designs and character traits. Most productions will therefore include one or the other option, but larger productions have expanded their cast by including all the variations. Smaller productions often omit some of these ensemble roles.Cats is becoming increasingly popular in regional and amateur performance. Due to the very flexible nature of these characters' roles, each director makes their own choices as to what their ensemble will do, and it seems often these names and appearance are assigned to roles arbitrarily.
Admetus
"Admetus" is used primarily in the London production, replaced by "Plato" in Broadway and subsequent productions. His costume is ginger and white, and specifically includes a simple make-up design that the actor transforms into the elaborate Macavity makeup, and then re-applies after the featured scene. He is also often recognisable as being one of the tallest cast members, as the fight scene between Macavity and Munkustrap requires him to be able to lift other male dancers. The actor who plays Plato will also play MacavityBill Bailey
Bill Bailey is a London-based character, replaced by Tumblebrutus in Broadway-based productions. He is a playful young kitten, often performing acrobatics as well as being a strong dancer. His costume is patchy browns on a white base, suggesting he is a Bi-colourBicolor cat
A bicolor cat has white fur combined with fur of some other color, for example black or tabby. There are various patterns of bicolor cat. These range from Van pattern through to solid color with a throat locket...
tabby and white.
BombalurinaBombalurina (cat)Bombalurina is a fictional character in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. She's a flirtatious red Queen with a white chest and black spots.Bombalurina plays a large role in the musical, dancing and singing several solo and duet parts...
Bombalurina is a sassy red queen. She is very flirtatious with the other toms especially Rum Tum Tugger, and is very close to another queen, Demeter. She sings parts of the song "Macavity: the Mystery Cat" with Demeter.Carbucketty
Carbucketty was one of T. S. EliotT. S. Eliot
Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot OM was a playwright, literary critic, and arguably the most important English-language poet of the 20th century. Although he was born an American he moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and was naturalised as a British subject in 1927 at age 39.The poem that made his...
's ideas for cat names, for a "knockabout cat". His role is primarily that of a dancer and acrobat, or what was known in the Broadway cast as one of the "acro-cats".
Carbucketty appeared in both the original London
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
and Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
shows. In London, the name was spelled 'Carbucketty', and originally played by David Baxter. On Broadway, it was spelled 'Carbuckety', and originally played by Steven Gelfer. In the Broadway production, the actor playing Carbuckety also played "Genghis", the leader of the Siamese who swarm the ship during "Growltiger's Last Stand".
In 1984, when the first national U.S. touring company was formed, the role of Carbuckety was replaced in that cast by Mungojerrie, a role that only appeared in the original Broadway cast during the "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" song (which was sung by Mr. Mistoffelees). Ray Roderick, the actor who had played Mungojerrie in the national tour, joined the Broadway company as Carbuckety when Steven Gelfer left the show, and in 1987, the Broadway show was reworked, the song was given back to the actors playing Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, and the character of Carbuckety was renamed Mungojerrie
Mungojerrie
Mungojerrie is a fictional character in T. S. Eliot's book, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats which was adapted into the musical Cats.-Characteristics:Mungojerrie and his partner in crime, Rumpelteazer, specialize in petty theft and mischief...
.
Carbucketty's costume suggests a Bi-colour
Bicolor cat
A bicolor cat has white fur combined with fur of some other color, for example black or tabby. There are various patterns of bicolor cat. These range from Van pattern through to solid color with a throat locket...
tabby and white kitten. He has defined stripes as well as spots on a white base. A short fluffy wig and chunky warmers give the impression of a young, fluffy kitten.
For the filmed version
CATS (film)
Cats is a 1998 direct-to-video film of the long-running West End production of Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. Lloyd Webber himself personally oversaw orchestration for the film and called on Gillian Lynne, the original show's...
of the show the costume and role of Carbucketty was named Pouncival, as it was deemed more sensible for an international market to use the names used internationally. For the entire record breaking 21 year run of Cats in London the part was named Carbucketty.
In the Japanese production of CATS, Carbucketty appears alongside Mungojerrie as a separate character.
Cassandra
A brown and cream queen, with a short wig and braided tail. She is aloof and somewhat mysterious, a very elegant and dignified queen. She is often assumed to be AbyssinianAbyssinian (cat)
The Abyssinian is a breed of domesticated cat with a distinctive ticked coat. There are many stories about its origins, often revolving around Ethiopia, but the actual origins are uncertain...
, given her unusual markings and exotic short-haired appearance. Her costume is very smooth and sleek, without warmers or fluff on her shoulders.
In the Japanese production of CATS, the character matching this description was named Tantomile. The name of Cassandra was given to the female half of the twins, alongside Tumblebrutus. This Cassandra has black and gray stripes along her legs and arms, and a distinct white belly. She also has down-played orange markings along her body.
Coricopat and Tantomile
The psychic twins. Coricopat and Tantomile are inseparable, identical twins, who move with choreographed, perfect unity. Their costumes are striped and hatched to suggest tabby markings, but they also echo the clouded moon featured on the set. They are the first to notice any changes to their world, the arrival of a new cat.In the Japanese production of CATS, Tantomile is the name given to the character of Cassandra, leaving Coricopat a solo act. The twin act in this version was given to Cassandra and Tumblebrutus.
Electra
Electra is one of the youngest female kittens in the tribe. She is striped and dark, perhaps a dark tabby or tortoiseshell. She may be a big fan of the Rum Tum TuggerRum Tum Tugger
Rum Tum Tugger is one of the many feline characters in the poetry book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, published in 1939, and in the musical Cats which was based on Eliot's book....
like Etcetera, but unlike Etcetera, she is not as excitable. She is a solemn, quiet kitten, often fading into the background and only featuring in group dances. She looks quite similar to Etcetera, but tends to be darker coloured. Unlike Victoria and Jemima, she does not have a signature song or dance, but she is in the group dances and in a few tours she has been in 'Macavity the Mystery cat' as a dancer.
As a chorus kitten, she is often omitted from smaller productions such as tours.
She shares her name with a far more prominent character in Lloyd Webber's stable, Electra the Electric Train
Electra the Electric Train
Electra the Electric Engine is a fictional character from the rock musical Starlight Express.Electra is the newest train to enter the yard and, therefore, Control's newest toy. He comes with his own line of components that are loyal to him. He's rich, self-centered and sexy. His eyes are set on...
from Starlight Express
Starlight Express
Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber , Richard Stilgoe and Arlene Phillips , with later revisions by Don Black and David Yazbek . The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life; famously the actors perform wearing roller skates...
EtceteraEtcetera (cat)Etcetera is a fictional character in Cats, the musical play based primarily on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. Primarily a dancer, she is one of the chorus line kittens in the tribe of the Jellicle cats.-Origins:...
Etcetera, along with the other kittens, is a huge fan of The Rum Tum TuggerRum Tum Tugger
Rum Tum Tugger is one of the many feline characters in the poetry book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, published in 1939, and in the musical Cats which was based on Eliot's book....
, though she is much too young to be romantically linked with him. She is good friends with the other female kittens, Victoria
Victoria the White Cat
Victoria is the white cat from the musical Cats, and one of the show's principal characters as well as a starring dance role. She was named after T. S. Eliot's favorite queen, Queen Victoria. As this is a very demanding role, requiring extensive ballet training, the actor enacting the character of...
, Electra, and Jemima
Jemima (cat)
Jemima is a principal character in the musical play Cats, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber using the poetry of T. S. Eliot. She is the youngest member of the tribe of Cats, the voice of innocence and wonder.-Character:...
. Of all of the kittens, she looks most similar to Electra, although Electra tends to be quieter and less excitable.
Her role developed from an unnamed chorus kitten in the original production, soon given a name and definite character. However as a minor character, unnecessary to the plot, she is often cut from smaller productions. When Etcetera is cut, her parts are usually given to Rumpleteazer
Rumpleteazer
Rumpleteazer is a character in T. S. Eliot's book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats.-The Poem:...
instead. In the original Broadway production, Etcetera was included and she played the role of Rumpleteazer in a puppet show put on to entertain Bustopher Jones
Bustopher Jones
"Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town" is a poem from T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and a song from the Cats musical which is based on that poem....
. However when the production was brought into line with other productions worldwide, Etcetera became Rumpleteazer full-time, and the role of Etcetera was cut.
Etcetera is mainly a dark white, with black, gray and gold stripes on her sides. She is usually the one who swings on the trapeze during the prologue.
Exotica
A female character who first appeared in the filmed version, and was a role initially created specially for Femi TaylorFemi Taylor
Femi Taylor is a British dancer and actress best known for portraying Jabba the Hutt's Twi'lek slave dancer Oola in the 1983 motion picture Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. She reprised the part fourteen years later, filming new scenes for the 1997 Special Edition rerelease, and was the...
. The character also appears in the South African and World Tour. She appears similar to Cassandra but in a darker palette, blending into the background so well she is often hard to see.
She has no singing parts, and does not appear in the end of 'Macavity the Mystery Cat' song like most of the other kittens. She is said to be the least important cat of all of them right next to Gus The Theatre Cat.
George
George is a male chorus cat specific to the London production. He is a patchy, hatched kitten, with a distinctive makeup design of patches over both eyes. George played the Rumpus CatRumpus Cat
The Great Rumpus Cat is a fictional character from T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, Cats. In Cats, the Jellicles put on a small play when their leader, Old Deuteronomy, arrives. The story is about how Rumpus Cat stopped two neighboring dog...
in the junkyard performance of "Pekes and Pollicles". George was also featured as part of Growltiger
Growltiger
"Growltiger's Last Stand" is a poem from T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, as well as a song from the musical derived from that book....
's "Raffish Crew".
George was played by Steven Wayne for most of the entire 21 year run of the Original London production of Cats. He left the cast in 2001, and the character of George was retired with his departure. Alonzo took over as Rumpus Cat, and the Raffish crew was reduced in number from six to five. However on occasion George's distinctive makeup design was used by a swing covering the role of Bill Bailey, leading to the fan nickname "George Bailey" for this blend of characters.
In the Broadway cast, the role of George was eliminated, but designer John Napier assigned the George costume and make-up design to actor Steven Hack, one of the original swings, who wore the costume when he would appear as Carbuckety, Pouncival or Tumblebrutus. George also visibly appeared in the 2005 Russian production of Cats.
Plato
Plato replaced "Admetus" in Broadway and subsequent productions. His costume is ginger and white, and specifically includes a simple make-up design that the actor transforms into the elaborate Macavity makeup, and then re-applies after the featured scene. He is also often recognisable as being one of the tallest cast members, as the fight scene between Macavity and Munkustrap requires him to able to lift other male dancers. The actor often has a background in ballet as Plato does a pas de deux with Victoria during the Jellicle Ball.Pouncival
Pouncival is the Broadway equivalent of "Carbucketty", a playful, bouncy young tom kitten. Pouncival uses the trapeze frequently during the show, and often joins Tumblebrutus in most dance routines. He is a brown, white and grey tabby colour with a triangular brown mark around his left eye.Sillabub
Sillabub is the Broadway equivalent of Jemima, and the name is also used for Australian and Japanese productions. Sillabub seems to be good friends with Victoria, Etcetera, Electra and Jemima. Her costume tends to be black, brown and red with a mainly white wig. Sillabub means "silly devil", and the character tends to be more jumpy and excitable than her counterpart, Jemima. The actress usually doubles for Victoria or Rumpleteazer, and is comfortable in a soprano voice.Tumblebrutus
Tumblebrutus is the Broadway equivalent of Bill Bailey, similar to Pouncival in being a mischievous, energetic kitten. The name however is from "Growltiger's Last Stand", the Bosun of the Pirate crew. However the ensemble character was not part of the pirate crew. Originated on Broadway by Bob Hoshour, he was known as one of the "acro-cats", and specifically "the cat on the flying trapeze", who swung above the heads of the cast during the opening number. In the 2009-2010 International Tour, Tumblebrutus (Jason Wise) did an acro-pass across the stage, as the trapeze was cut.In the Japanese version of CATS, Tumblebrutus was paired with Cassandra as the twin cats rather than Coricopat and Tantomile.