Jemima (cat)
Encyclopedia
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.
, Jemima is a kitten and, while usually a chorus cat, plays a role in accepting Grizabella
; she is among several kittens (the others being Victoria
, Electra
, and Etcetera
) who trust Grizabella and are pulled away in efforts to reject the aging cat. A wide-eyed beautiful innocent
cat with an ethereal voice, she truly hears Grizabella's plea for re-acceptance and encourages the older cat for a chorus in "Memory". Her coat is a rich satin red with black, brown and white tinges and a white chest. Her gloves/leg warmers are black and white, and the actress portraying her often has large eyes to make the character seem more innocent.
She is the youngest kitten, and is attracted to the charismatic Rum Tum Tugger
; in particular, Tugger seems to have a soft spot for her as well. She also seems attracted to Alonzo
, Tumblebrutus, Pouncival, and Plato and arguably some others and may have a relationship with one of them. She separately dances with the first, and snuggles with Plato during Old Deuteronomy's entrance and also with Tumblebrutus after the Mating Dance, even though she is very close to Pouncival and they are seen often with each other.
Jemima is very close to Victoria
, and the two seem to be best friends. She seems to be the most mature kitten in the tribe. She may also have a rare relationship with the moon, the symbol of life for the Jellicles, because she sings to the moon several times and sings of the happiness and new lives that it gives. She might have seen into the past of Grizabella, which could be why she is one of the only cats to accept her. She also tries to help her when she shows up at various moments, when all of the other cats (except Victoria) turn away from her, and do not accept her. She and Victoria seem to be the only cats who always fully accepted Grizabella.
She also has a connection with the leader, Old Deuteronomy
. When he sings of 'The Moments of Happiness', naturally, the deep, reflective philosophical verse goes over everyone's heads. So he sends the message again through two cats (they vary; in the film it is Coricopat and Tantomile) and finally to Jemima, who sings the true meaning again for everyone to hear. She distills the essence of Deuteronomy's learning, and all the cats sing with her.
It is unclear who her family is in the musical, however, relationships within the show are fluid and dependent on the production. Many believe that her father is either Macavity or Munkustrap, and that her mother is Demeter.
, the name "Jemima" was believed to carry negative racial connotations, such as mentioned in relation to Aunt Jemima
. The character was re-named using another of T. S. Eliot
's Jellicle names, "Syllabub". This, he explained, is a mixture of "Silly" and "Bealzebub" - devil-ish. Sillabub's costume is generally slightly paler than Jemima's. In the Japanese production, Sillabub has a gold and white coat. In the Asian Tour, Sillabub is depicted as similar to Demeter
, but with a paler coat.
The name "Syllabub
" has different connotations in the UK, being the name of a traditional dessert. The name Jemima carries no racial connotations in the UK, however the name is generally recognised as a Victorian girl's name (such as the daughter in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang).
Cats (musical)
Cats is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot...
, written by 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...
using the poetry of 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...
. She is the youngest member of the tribe of Cats, the voice of innocence and wonder.
Character
In the musical play CatsCats (musical)
Cats is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot...
, Jemima is a kitten and, while usually a chorus cat, plays a role in accepting Grizabella
Grizabella
Grizabella is the "Glamour Cat" in the musical production Cats. She does not appear in T. S. Eliot's work Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, but she is a prominent character in the stageplay. It appears that she is the feline version of the woman mentioned in T.S...
; she is among several kittens (the others being 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
Electra (cat)
Electra is minor female feline character in Cats, a musical inspired by the T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry book, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. She is a dancer in the chorus line of "kittens" in the tribe of Jellicle cats.-Origins:...
, and Etcetera
Etcetera (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:...
) who trust Grizabella and are pulled away in efforts to reject the aging cat. A wide-eyed beautiful innocent
Ingenue (stock character)
See also Disingenuous, which is not quite the antonym that it may seem!The ingénue is a stock character in literature, film, and a role type in the theatre; generally a girl or a young woman who is endearingly innocent and wholesome. Ingenue may also refer to a new young actress or one typecast in...
cat with an ethereal voice, she truly hears Grizabella's plea for re-acceptance and encourages the older cat for a chorus in "Memory". Her coat is a rich satin red with black, brown and white tinges and a white chest. Her gloves/leg warmers are black and white, and the actress portraying her often has large eyes to make the character seem more innocent.
She is the youngest kitten, and is attracted to the charismatic Rum Tum Tugger
Rum 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....
; in particular, Tugger seems to have a soft spot for her as well. She also seems attracted to Alonzo
Alonzo (cat)
Alonzo is a character in T. S. Eliot`s Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and Andrew Lloyd Webber`s musical Cats. His name is mentioned first in the Naming of Cats. His actor sometimes doubles as the Great Rumpus Cat depending on the production....
, Tumblebrutus, Pouncival, and Plato and arguably some others and may have a relationship with one of them. She separately dances with the first, and snuggles with Plato during Old Deuteronomy's entrance and also with Tumblebrutus after the Mating Dance, even though she is very close to Pouncival and they are seen often with each other.
Jemima is very close to 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...
, and the two seem to be best friends. She seems to be the most mature kitten in the tribe. She may also have a rare relationship with the moon, the symbol of life for the Jellicles, because she sings to the moon several times and sings of the happiness and new lives that it gives. She might have seen into the past of Grizabella, which could be why she is one of the only cats to accept her. She also tries to help her when she shows up at various moments, when all of the other cats (except Victoria) turn away from her, and do not accept her. She and Victoria seem to be the only cats who always fully accepted Grizabella.
She also has a connection with the leader, 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...
. When he sings of 'The Moments of Happiness', naturally, the deep, reflective philosophical verse goes over everyone's heads. So he sends the message again through two cats (they vary; in the film it is Coricopat and Tantomile) and finally to Jemima, who sings the true meaning again for everyone to hear. She distills the essence of Deuteronomy's learning, and all the cats sing with her.
It is unclear who her family is in the musical, however, relationships within the show are fluid and dependent on the production. Many believe that her father is either Macavity or Munkustrap, and that her mother is Demeter.
Casting
- Sarah BrightmanSarah BrightmanSarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
originated the role in London - Veerle CasteleynVeerle CasteleynVeerle Casteleyn is a Belgian musical theatre performer and ballerina.-Biography:She trained at the De Koninklijke Balletschool van Antwerpen in Belgium, and during her training she was in various plays such as:...
played Jemima in the 1998 video versionCATS (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...
(although her voice was dubbed for the number 'Memory' by Helen Massie due to her accent). (aka: Helen Massey) - Ruthie HenshallRuthie HenshallValentine Ruth Henshall , better known as Ruthie Henshall, is an English singer, dancer, and actress best known for her work in musical theatre. Henshall attended the Laine Theatre Arts school in Epsom, Surrey before making her first professional appearance on stage in 1986...
played Jemima in London in 1988. - Samantha Shafer played the part in the Worldwide tour from 2007–2008
- Alexandra Jay played Jemima in 2001 London cast
- Alyse Jai Davies currently plays Sillabub (aka Jemima) in the Austaralian Tour 2010
- Aubrey Elson played the part known as Sillabub in the Worldwide tour from 2008-2010
- Heidi Giberson played the part known as Sillabub in the Worldwide Tour from 2010-2011.
- Dana Macel played Jemima in the first ever CATS production in South Bend IN, 2010-2011
Syllabub
When the show transferred from London to BroadwayBroadway 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...
, the name "Jemima" was believed to carry negative racial connotations, such as mentioned in relation to Aunt Jemima
Aunt Jemima
Aunt Jemima is a trademark for pancake flour, syrup, and other breakfast foods currently owned by the Quaker Oats Company of Chicago. The trademark dates to 1893, although Aunt Jemima pancake mix debuted in 1889. The Quaker Oats Company first registered the Aunt Jemima trademark in April 1937...
. The character was re-named using another of 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 Jellicle names, "Syllabub". This, he explained, is a mixture of "Silly" and "Bealzebub" - devil-ish. Sillabub's costume is generally slightly paler than Jemima's. In the Japanese production, Sillabub has a gold and white coat. In the Asian Tour, Sillabub is depicted as similar to Demeter
Demeter
In Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains, the fertility of the earth, and the seasons . Her common surnames are Sito as the giver of food or corn/grain and Thesmophoros as a mark of the civilized existence of agricultural society...
, but with a paler coat.
The name "Syllabub
Syllabub
Syllabub is a traditional English dessert, popular from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century. It is usually made from rich milk or cream seasoned with sugar and lightly curdled with wine. Mrs Beeton gives two recipes...
" has different connotations in the UK, being the name of a traditional dessert. The name Jemima carries no racial connotations in the UK, however the name is generally recognised as a Victorian girl's name (such as the daughter in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang).