Macavity
Encyclopedia
Macavity is a fictional character who is described in a poem in Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
, by T. S. Eliot
. He also appears in Cats
, the Andrew Lloyd Webber
musical.
Macavity (also called the Mystery Cat, the Hidden Paw and Napoleon of Crime) is a master criminal who is responsible for a multitude of crimes, but in the book he is too clever to leave any evidence of his guilt. There is a resemblance with Professor James Moriarty
from the Sherlock Holmes
stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
. Eliot wrote In a letter to Frank Morley
, "I have done a new cat modeled on the late Professor Moriarty, but he doesn't seem very popular; too sophisticated perhaps." Sherlock Holmes describes Moriarty as "the Napoleon of Crime" in The Adventure of the Final Problem
and a "Napoleon gone wrong" in The Valley of Fear
. The idea that Macavity was Moriarty was first revealed by HT Webster and HW Starr (Macavity: An Attempt to Unravel His Mystery, 1954), an identification rediscovered by Katharine Loesch.
According to the poem, even when the Secret Service decides that Macavity was behind a loss, they can't get him there as "he's a mile away." Doyle wrote that Moriarty "is never caught" as at moment of crime he probably is "working out problems on a blackboard ten miles away" (The Adventure of the Final Problem
). Macavity is described as being a ginger cat who is very tall and thin with sunken eyes, and "sways his head from side to side with movements like a snake". The poem also says: "His brow is deeply lined in thought, his head is highly domed; His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed." Once again, this description is a close parallel to that of Professor Moriarty:
The poem accuses Macavity of misbehaviour that would be within the capabilities of an ordinary cat, such as stealing milk
, but also holds him responsible for major crimes. He is referred to as a "fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity" and has been suspected of stifling Pekes
, vandalism
, theft
, cheating at cards, espionage
and controlling an organized crime
ring with Mungojerrie
, Rumpleteazer
and Griddlebone
among the members. Holmes in Doyle's narrative describes Moriarty as "the organizer of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in this great city."
Webster and Starr assumed that Eliot referred to the cases of Mr. Joseph Harrison (The Adventure of the Naval Treaty
) and Herr Hugo Oberstein (The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
) when he wrote in the poem – "And when the Foreign Office finds a Treaty's gone astray,/ And the admirality loses some plans and drawings by the way".
Macavity apparently possesses the mystical power of levitation, as he "breaks the law of gravity".
, the Jellicle
leader, and attempts to abduct Demeter
, one of two cats who sings about him. Lloyd Webber noted that "Macavity... is obviously a take-off on Moriarty." The character was originally played by Richard Pettyfer in the original West End
production, by Kenneth Ard in the Broadway production, and by Bryn Walters in the Cats film production
.
Within the storyline of the musical, Macavity makes several attempts to scare the tribe. This culminates in his abduction of Old Deuteronomy, after which two queens, Bombalurina
and Demeter, sing about him. He then returns to attempt to abduct Demeter. Munkustrap
and Alonzo
come to her defence and, in a dramatic cat fight, drive him off. As seen in the film production and most stage performances, he appears to be capable of performing some form of hypnosis. When Demeter and Bombalurina (a flirty queen cat who is close friends with Demeter) sing about him, they do so in a sensuous manner, suggesting he is more familiar to them. The Macavity number develops from a bluesy duet into a big female ensemble routine.
Macavity is typically depicted as a cat with a chaotic array of red, orange, white, and sharp black stripes. He is often portrayed with very long claws and wild dark hair. The role of Macavity is usually played by the same actor as Admetus (a chorus cat who notably does a pas de deux with Victoria
during the Jellicle Ball) or Plato (alternate name in some productions). His costume is ginger and white, and specifically includes a simple make-up design that the actor transforms into the elaborate Macavity make-up, and then re-applies after the featured scene. Admetus/Plato is also often recognizable as one of the tallest cast members, as the fight scene between Macavity and Munkustrap requires him to be able to lift other male dancers.
presents the Macavity Awards annually in several categories, including Best Mystery Novel, Best First Mystery Novel, Best Bio/Critical Mystery Work, Best Mystery Short Story. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
, when still Chancellor of the Exchequer
, was likened to Macavity by Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House, David Heath, who labelled Brown "the Macavity of the Cabinet" when talking about tax credits during Business Questions on 23 June 2005. Lord Turnbull
echoed this two years later, opining that "the chancellor has a Macavity quality. He is not there when there is dirty work to be done." After Harold Pinter
received the 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature
, Mary Liddell of The Guardian
said: "Pinter has become the Macavity of English letters".
Polish author Maciej Wojtyszko's children's books feature a character named Macavity the Cat, a criminal mastermind who loses a chess duel with dog detective Kajetan Chrumps and is then convinced to become Chrumps' assistant. Gillian Robert's schoolteacher detective Amanda Pepper has an elderly male companion cat whose métier seems to be relaxation. Following books by Roberts feature Macavity the cat: Claire and Present Danger (2003), Helen Hath No Fury (2001), Adam and Evil (1999), The Bluest Blood (1998), The Mummer's Curse (1996), How I Spent My Summer Vacation (1995), In the Dead of Summer (1995), With Friends Like These… (1993), I'd Rather Be in Philadelphia (1992), Philly Stakes (1989), Caught Dead in Philadelphia (1987).
In 1995, New Jersey punk band Gimp
released an album called Smiles for Macavity.
, United Kingdom
to a white odd-eyed cat
which, since January 2007, has been observed to regularly use the local bus service on its own. Macavity's fur is reported to be completely white, he has a green left eye and a blue right eye, and he wears a purple collar. His owner and true name are unknown. Commenting on the mysterious cat, bus driver Bill Khunkhun commented:
Since January 2007, Travel West Midlands drivers on the number 331
Walsall
to Willenhall
bus route have observed Macavity running to catch their bus at a stop on Churchill Road near a row of 1950s semi-detached houses, two or three times a week. He originally escaped attention by running underneath the seats. After travelling some 400 metres, he routinely alights at the next stop, located near a row of shops. The Daily Mail
newspaper has speculated that his possible destination could be a nearby fish and chip
shop.
, by T. S. Eliot
. He also appears in Cats
, the Andrew Lloyd Webber
musical.
Macavity (also called the Mystery Cat, the Hidden Paw and Napoleon of Crime) is a master criminal who is responsible for a multitude of crimes, but in the book he is too clever to leave any evidence of his guilt. There is a resemblance with Professor James Moriarty
from the Sherlock Holmes
stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
. Eliot wrote In a letter to Frank Morley
, "I have done a new cat modeled on the late Professor Moriarty, but he doesn't seem very popular; too sophisticated perhaps." Sherlock Holmes describes Moriarty as "the Napoleon of Crime" in The Adventure of the Final Problem
and a "Napoleon gone wrong" in The Valley of Fear
. The idea that Macavity was Moriarty was first revealed by HT Webster and HW Starr (Macavity: An Attempt to Unravel His Mystery, 1954), an identification rediscovered by Katharine Loesch.
According to the poem, even when the Secret Service decides that Macavity was behind a loss, they can't get him there as "he's a mile away." Doyle wrote that Moriarty "is never caught" as at moment of crime he probably is "working out problems on a blackboard ten miles away" (The Adventure of the Final Problem
). Macavity is described as being a ginger cat who is very tall and thin with sunken eyes, and "sways his head from side to side with movements like a snake". The poem also says: "His brow is deeply lined in thought, his head is highly domed; His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed." Once again, this description is a close parallel to that of Professor Moriarty:
The poem accuses Macavity of misbehaviour that would be within the capabilities of an ordinary cat, such as stealing milk
, but also holds him responsible for major crimes. He is referred to as a "fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity" and has been suspected of stifling Pekes
, vandalism
, theft
, cheating at cards, espionage
and controlling an organized crime
ring with Mungojerrie
, Rumpleteazer
and Griddlebone
among the members. Holmes in Doyle's narrative describes Moriarty as "the organizer of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in this great city."
Webster and Starr assumed that Eliot referred to the cases of Mr. Joseph Harrison (The Adventure of the Naval Treaty
) and Herr Hugo Oberstein (The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
) when he wrote in the poem – "And when the Foreign Office finds a Treaty's gone astray,/ And the admirality loses some plans and drawings by the way".
Macavity apparently possesses the mystical power of levitation, as he "breaks the law of gravity".
, the Jellicle
leader, and attempts to abduct Demeter
, one of two cats who sings about him. Lloyd Webber noted that "Macavity... is obviously a take-off on Moriarty." The character was originally played by Richard Pettyfer in the original West End
production, by Kenneth Ard in the Broadway production, and by Bryn Walters in the Cats film production
.
Within the storyline of the musical, Macavity makes several attempts to scare the tribe. This culminates in his abduction of Old Deuteronomy, after which two queens, Bombalurina
and Demeter, sing about him. He then returns to attempt to abduct Demeter. Munkustrap
and Alonzo
come to her defence and, in a dramatic cat fight, drive him off. As seen in the film production and most stage performances, he appears to be capable of performing some form of hypnosis. When Demeter and Bombalurina (a flirty queen cat who is close friends with Demeter) sing about him, they do so in a sensuous manner, suggesting he is more familiar to them. The Macavity number develops from a bluesy duet into a big female ensemble routine.
Macavity is typically depicted as a cat with a chaotic array of red, orange, white, and sharp black stripes. He is often portrayed with very long claws and wild dark hair. The role of Macavity is usually played by the same actor as Admetus (a chorus cat who notably does a pas de deux with Victoria
during the Jellicle Ball) or Plato (alternate name in some productions). His costume is ginger and white, and specifically includes a simple make-up design that the actor transforms into the elaborate Macavity make-up, and then re-applies after the featured scene. Admetus/Plato is also often recognizable as one of the tallest cast members, as the fight scene between Macavity and Munkustrap requires him to be able to lift other male dancers.
presents the Macavity Awards annually in several categories, including Best Mystery Novel, Best First Mystery Novel, Best Bio/Critical Mystery Work, Best Mystery Short Story. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
, when still Chancellor of the Exchequer
, was likened to Macavity by Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House, David Heath, who labelled Brown "the Macavity of the Cabinet" when talking about tax credits during Business Questions on 23 June 2005. Lord Turnbull
echoed this two years later, opining that "the chancellor has a Macavity quality. He is not there when there is dirty work to be done." After Harold Pinter
received the 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature
, Mary Liddell of The Guardian
said: "Pinter has become the Macavity of English letters".
Polish author Maciej Wojtyszko's children's books feature a character named Macavity the Cat, a criminal mastermind who loses a chess duel with dog detective Kajetan Chrumps and is then convinced to become Chrumps' assistant. Gillian Robert's schoolteacher detective Amanda Pepper has an elderly male companion cat whose métier seems to be relaxation. Following books by Roberts feature Macavity the cat: Claire and Present Danger (2003), Helen Hath No Fury (2001), Adam and Evil (1999), The Bluest Blood (1998), The Mummer's Curse (1996), How I Spent My Summer Vacation (1995), In the Dead of Summer (1995), With Friends Like These… (1993), I'd Rather Be in Philadelphia (1992), Philly Stakes (1989), Caught Dead in Philadelphia (1987).
In 1995, New Jersey punk band Gimp
released an album called Smiles for Macavity.
, United Kingdom
to a white odd-eyed cat
which, since January 2007, has been observed to regularly use the local bus service on its own. Macavity's fur is reported to be completely white, he has a green left eye and a blue right eye, and he wears a purple collar. His owner and true name are unknown. Commenting on the mysterious cat, bus driver Bill Khunkhun commented:
Since January 2007, Travel West Midlands drivers on the number 331
Walsall
to Willenhall
bus route have observed Macavity running to catch their bus at a stop on Churchill Road near a row of 1950s semi-detached houses, two or three times a week. He originally escaped attention by running underneath the seats. After travelling some 400 metres, he routinely alights at the next stop, located near a row of shops. The Daily Mail
newspaper has speculated that his possible destination could be a nearby fish and chip
shop.
, by T. S. Eliot
. He also appears in Cats
, the Andrew Lloyd Webber
musical.
Macavity (also called the Mystery Cat, the Hidden Paw and Napoleon of Crime) is a master criminal who is responsible for a multitude of crimes, but in the book he is too clever to leave any evidence of his guilt. There is a resemblance with Professor James Moriarty
from the Sherlock Holmes
stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
. Eliot wrote In a letter to Frank Morley
, "I have done a new cat modeled on the late Professor Moriarty, but he doesn't seem very popular; too sophisticated perhaps." Sherlock Holmes describes Moriarty as "the Napoleon of Crime" in The Adventure of the Final Problem
and a "Napoleon gone wrong" in The Valley of Fear
. The idea that Macavity was Moriarty was first revealed by HT Webster and HW Starr (Macavity: An Attempt to Unravel His Mystery, 1954), an identification rediscovered by Katharine Loesch.
According to the poem, even when the Secret Service decides that Macavity was behind a loss, they can't get him there as "he's a mile away." Doyle wrote that Moriarty "is never caught" as at moment of crime he probably is "working out problems on a blackboard ten miles away" (The Adventure of the Final Problem
). Macavity is described as being a ginger cat who is very tall and thin with sunken eyes, and "sways his head from side to side with movements like a snake". The poem also says: "His brow is deeply lined in thought, his head is highly domed; His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed." Once again, this description is a close parallel to that of Professor Moriarty:
The poem accuses Macavity of misbehaviour that would be within the capabilities of an ordinary cat, such as stealing milk
, but also holds him responsible for major crimes. He is referred to as a "fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity" and has been suspected of stifling Pekes
, vandalism
, theft
, cheating at cards, espionage
and controlling an organized crime
ring with Mungojerrie
, Rumpleteazer
and Griddlebone
among the members. Holmes in Doyle's narrative describes Moriarty as "the organizer of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in this great city."
Webster and Starr assumed that Eliot referred to the cases of Mr. Joseph Harrison (The Adventure of the Naval Treaty
) and Herr Hugo Oberstein (The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
) when he wrote in the poem – "And when the Foreign Office finds a Treaty's gone astray,/ And the admirality loses some plans and drawings by the way".
Macavity apparently possesses the mystical power of levitation, as he "breaks the law of gravity".
, the Jellicle
leader, and attempts to abduct Demeter
, one of two cats who sings about him. Lloyd Webber noted that "Macavity... is obviously a take-off on Moriarty." The character was originally played by Richard Pettyfer in the original West End
production, by Kenneth Ard in the Broadway production, and by Bryn Walters in the Cats film production
.
Within the storyline of the musical, Macavity makes several attempts to scare the tribe. This culminates in his abduction of Old Deuteronomy, after which two queens, Bombalurina
and Demeter, sing about him. He then returns to attempt to abduct Demeter. Munkustrap
and Alonzo
come to her defence and, in a dramatic cat fight, drive him off. As seen in the film production and most stage performances, he appears to be capable of performing some form of hypnosis. When Demeter and Bombalurina (a flirty queen cat who is close friends with Demeter) sing about him, they do so in a sensuous manner, suggesting he is more familiar to them. The Macavity number develops from a bluesy duet into a big female ensemble routine.
Macavity is typically depicted as a cat with a chaotic array of red, orange, white, and sharp black stripes. He is often portrayed with very long claws and wild dark hair. The role of Macavity is usually played by the same actor as Admetus (a chorus cat who notably does a pas de deux with Victoria
during the Jellicle Ball) or Plato (alternate name in some productions). His costume is ginger and white, and specifically includes a simple make-up design that the actor transforms into the elaborate Macavity make-up, and then re-applies after the featured scene. Admetus/Plato is also often recognizable as one of the tallest cast members, as the fight scene between Macavity and Munkustrap requires him to be able to lift other male dancers.
presents the Macavity Awards annually in several categories, including Best Mystery Novel, Best First Mystery Novel, Best Bio/Critical Mystery Work, Best Mystery Short Story. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
, when still Chancellor of the Exchequer
, was likened to Macavity by Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House, David Heath, who labelled Brown "the Macavity of the Cabinet" when talking about tax credits during Business Questions on 23 June 2005. Lord Turnbull
echoed this two years later, opining that "the chancellor has a Macavity quality. He is not there when there is dirty work to be done." After Harold Pinter
received the 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature
, Mary Liddell of The Guardian
said: "Pinter has become the Macavity of English letters".
Polish author Maciej Wojtyszko's children's books feature a character named Macavity the Cat, a criminal mastermind who loses a chess duel with dog detective Kajetan Chrumps and is then convinced to become Chrumps' assistant. Gillian Robert's schoolteacher detective Amanda Pepper has an elderly male companion cat whose métier seems to be relaxation. Following books by Roberts feature Macavity the cat: Claire and Present Danger (2003), Helen Hath No Fury (2001), Adam and Evil (1999), The Bluest Blood (1998), The Mummer's Curse (1996), How I Spent My Summer Vacation (1995), In the Dead of Summer (1995), With Friends Like These… (1993), I'd Rather Be in Philadelphia (1992), Philly Stakes (1989), Caught Dead in Philadelphia (1987).
In 1995, New Jersey punk band Gimp
released an album called Smiles for Macavity.
, United Kingdom
to a white odd-eyed cat
which, since January 2007, has been observed to regularly use the local bus service on its own. Macavity's fur is reported to be completely white, he has a green left eye and a blue right eye, and he wears a purple collar. His owner and true name are unknown. Commenting on the mysterious cat, bus driver Bill Khunkhun commented:
Since January 2007, Travel West Midlands drivers on the number 331
Walsall
to Willenhall
bus route have observed Macavity running to catch their bus at a stop on Churchill Road near a row of 1950s semi-detached houses, two or three times a week. He originally escaped attention by running underneath the seats. After travelling some 400 metres, he routinely alights at the next stop, located near a row of shops. The Daily Mail
newspaper has speculated that his possible destination could be a nearby fish and chip
shop.
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....
, by 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...
. He also appears 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.
In the poem
The poem Macavity the Mystery Cat is supposedly the best known poem of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, which is the only book by Eliot written for a younger audience. The poem is considered particularly suitable reading for 11 and 12 year olds.Macavity (also called the Mystery Cat, the Hidden Paw and Napoleon of Crime) is a master criminal who is responsible for a multitude of crimes, but in the book he is too clever to leave any evidence of his guilt. There is a resemblance with Professor James Moriarty
Professor Moriarty
Professor James Moriarty is a fictional character and the archenemy of the detective Sherlock Holmes in the fiction of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Moriarty is a criminal mastermind, described by Holmes as the "Napoleon of Crime". Doyle lifted the phrase from a real Scotland Yard inspector who was...
from the Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
. Eliot wrote In a letter to Frank Morley
Frank Morley
Frank Morley was a leading mathematician, known mostly for his teaching and research in the fields of algebra and geometry...
, "I have done a new cat modeled on the late Professor Moriarty, but he doesn't seem very popular; too sophisticated perhaps." Sherlock Holmes describes Moriarty as "the Napoleon of Crime" in The Adventure of the Final Problem
The Adventure of the Final Problem
"The Final Problem" is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring his detective character Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in Strand Magazine in December 1893. It appears in book form as part of the collection The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes...
and a "Napoleon gone wrong" in The Valley of Fear
The Valley of Fear
The Valley of Fear is the fourth and final Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The story was first published in the Strand Magazine between September 1914 and May 1915, and the first book edition was published in New York on 27 February 1915.- Part I: The Tragedy of Birlstone...
. The idea that Macavity was Moriarty was first revealed by HT Webster and HW Starr (Macavity: An Attempt to Unravel His Mystery, 1954), an identification rediscovered by Katharine Loesch.
According to the poem, even when the Secret Service decides that Macavity was behind a loss, they can't get him there as "he's a mile away." Doyle wrote that Moriarty "is never caught" as at moment of crime he probably is "working out problems on a blackboard ten miles away" (The Adventure of the Final Problem
The Adventure of the Final Problem
"The Final Problem" is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring his detective character Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in Strand Magazine in December 1893. It appears in book form as part of the collection The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes...
). Macavity is described as being a ginger cat who is very tall and thin with sunken eyes, and "sways his head from side to side with movements like a snake". The poem also says: "His brow is deeply lined in thought, his head is highly domed; His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed." Once again, this description is a close parallel to that of Professor Moriarty:
The poem accuses Macavity of misbehaviour that would be within the capabilities of an ordinary cat, such as stealing milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
, but also holds him responsible for major crimes. He is referred to as a "fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity" and has been suspected of stifling Pekes
Pekingese
The Pekingese, or "Peke" is an ancient breed of toy dog, originating in China. The breed was favored by the Chinese Imperial court, and its name refers to the city of Beijing where the Forbidden City resides...
, vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
, theft
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
, cheating at cards, espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
and controlling an organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
ring with 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...
, 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:...
and Griddlebone
Griddlebone
Griddlebone is a cat character who appears in T. S. Eliot's collection of poems Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and also the musical Cats during the song of 'Growltigers Last Stand.'...
among the members. Holmes in Doyle's narrative describes Moriarty as "the organizer of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in this great city."
Webster and Starr assumed that Eliot referred to the cases of Mr. Joseph Harrison (The Adventure of the Naval Treaty
The Adventure of the Naval Treaty
"The Adventure of the Naval Treaty", one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is one of 12 stories in the cycle collected as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle ranked "The Adventure of the Naval Treaty" nineteenth in a list of his nineteen...
) and Herr Hugo Oberstein (The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
"The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans" is one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is one of eight stories in the cycle collected as His Last Bow...
) when he wrote in the poem – "And when the Foreign Office finds a Treaty's gone astray,/ And the admirality loses some plans and drawings by the way".
Macavity apparently possesses the mystical power of levitation, as he "breaks the law of gravity".
In the musical
Macavity is the only real villain in the musical Cats, who kidnaps Old DeuteronomyOld 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 Jellicle
Jellicle cats
The Jellicle cats, or simply the Jellicles, are a type of feline mentioned in T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.Introduced in his poem Song of the Jellicles, they were originally depicted by Eliot as common black-and-white cats whose daytime nature is peaceful, pleasant and restful...
leader, and attempts to abduct Demeter
Demeter (cat)
Demeter is a main character in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. Her name is given in "the Naming Of Cats".Demeter, as costumed in the filmed production, is black and gold with a few patches of white and red or orange, and wears gloves instead of arm warmers, giving her a more elegant touch. In other...
, one of two cats who sings about him. Lloyd Webber noted that "Macavity... is obviously a take-off on Moriarty." The character was originally played by Richard Pettyfer in the original West End
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...
production, by Kenneth Ard in the Broadway production, and by Bryn Walters in the Cats film production
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...
.
Within the storyline of the musical, Macavity makes several attempts to scare the tribe. This culminates in his abduction of Old Deuteronomy, after which two queens, Bombalurina
Bombalurina (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...
and Demeter, sing about him. He then returns to attempt to abduct Demeter. Munkustrap
Munkustrap
Munkustrap is a Jellicle cat, named in T. S. Eliot's poem "The Naming of Cats". He is a principal character in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats.-The musical:...
and 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....
come to her defence and, in a dramatic cat fight, drive him off. As seen in the film production and most stage performances, he appears to be capable of performing some form of hypnosis. When Demeter and Bombalurina (a flirty queen cat who is close friends with Demeter) sing about him, they do so in a sensuous manner, suggesting he is more familiar to them. The Macavity number develops from a bluesy duet into a big female ensemble routine.
Macavity is typically depicted as a cat with a chaotic array of red, orange, white, and sharp black stripes. He is often portrayed with very long claws and wild dark hair. The role of Macavity is usually played by the same actor as Admetus (a chorus cat who notably does a pas de deux with 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...
during the Jellicle Ball) or Plato (alternate name in some productions). His costume is ginger and white, and specifically includes a simple make-up design that the actor transforms into the elaborate Macavity make-up, and then re-applies after the featured scene. Admetus/Plato is also often recognizable as one of the tallest cast members, as the fight scene between Macavity and Munkustrap requires him to be able to lift other male dancers.
In popular culture
Mystery Readers InternationalMystery Readers International
Mystery Readers International is a fan/reader organization open to all readers, fans, critics, editors, publishers, and writers of Mystery fiction. It was founded by Janet A...
presents the Macavity Awards annually in several categories, including Best Mystery Novel, Best First Mystery Novel, Best Bio/Critical Mystery Work, Best Mystery Short Story. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
, when still Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, was likened to Macavity by Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House, David Heath, who labelled Brown "the Macavity of the Cabinet" when talking about tax credits during Business Questions on 23 June 2005. Lord Turnbull
Andrew Turnbull, Baron Turnbull
Andrew Turnbull, Baron Turnbull, KCB, CVO was the head of Her Majesty's Civil Service and Cabinet Secretary between 2002 and 2005 when he was succeeded by Sir Gus O'Donnell....
echoed this two years later, opining that "the chancellor has a Macavity quality. He is not there when there is dirty work to be done." After Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter, CH, CBE was a Nobel Prize–winning English playwright and screenwriter. One of the most influential modern British dramatists, his writing career spanned more than 50 years. His best-known plays include The Birthday Party , The Homecoming , and Betrayal , each of which he adapted to...
received the 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature
Nobel Prize in Literature
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...
, Mary Liddell of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
said: "Pinter has become the Macavity of English letters".
Polish author Maciej Wojtyszko's children's books feature a character named Macavity the Cat, a criminal mastermind who loses a chess duel with dog detective Kajetan Chrumps and is then convinced to become Chrumps' assistant. Gillian Robert's schoolteacher detective Amanda Pepper has an elderly male companion cat whose métier seems to be relaxation. Following books by Roberts feature Macavity the cat: Claire and Present Danger (2003), Helen Hath No Fury (2001), Adam and Evil (1999), The Bluest Blood (1998), The Mummer's Curse (1996), How I Spent My Summer Vacation (1995), In the Dead of Summer (1995), With Friends Like These… (1993), I'd Rather Be in Philadelphia (1992), Philly Stakes (1989), Caught Dead in Philadelphia (1987).
In 1995, New Jersey punk band Gimp
Gimp
Gimp may refer to:* GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program* Gimp , a type of sexual submissive in BDSM who may wear a bondage suit* Gimp , an ornamental trim used in sewing or embroidery...
released an album called Smiles for Macavity.
In the news
Macavity is the name given by several bus drivers from the West MidlandsWest Midlands conurbation
The West Midlands conurbation is the name given to the large conurbation that includes the cities of Birmingham and Wolverhampton and the large towns of Dudley, Walsall, West Bromwich, Solihull, Stourbridge, Halesowen in the English West Midlands....
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to a white odd-eyed cat
Odd-eyed cat
An odd-eyed cat is a cat with one blue eye and one green, yellow or brown eye. It is a feline form of complete heterochromia, a condition which occurs in some other animals...
which, since January 2007, has been observed to regularly use the local bus service on its own. Macavity's fur is reported to be completely white, he has a green left eye and a blue right eye, and he wears a purple collar. His owner and true name are unknown. Commenting on the mysterious cat, bus driver Bill Khunkhun commented:
Since January 2007, Travel West Midlands drivers on the number 331
A2Z Travel Bus Route 331
The 331, 332 & 549 were three bus route operating in the Walsall area of the West Midlands, England.The routes linked Walsall with Lodge Farm via The Manor Hospital, Alumwell and Bentley...
Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
to Willenhall
Willenhall
Willenhall is a town in the Black Country area of the West Midlands of England, with a population of approximately 40,000. It is situated between Wolverhampton and Walsall, historically in the county of Staffordshire...
bus route have observed Macavity running to catch their bus at a stop on Churchill Road near a row of 1950s semi-detached houses, two or three times a week. He originally escaped attention by running underneath the seats. After travelling some 400 metres, he routinely alights at the next stop, located near a row of shops. The Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
newspaper has speculated that his possible destination could be a nearby fish and chip
Fish and chips
Fish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada...
shop.
External links
Macavity is a fictional character who is described in a poem in Old Possum's Book of Practical CatsOld 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....
, by 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...
. He also appears 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.
In the poem
The poem Macavity the Mystery Cat is supposedly the best known poem of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, which is the only book by Eliot written for a younger audience. The poem is considered particularly suitable reading for 11 and 12 year olds.Macavity (also called the Mystery Cat, the Hidden Paw and Napoleon of Crime) is a master criminal who is responsible for a multitude of crimes, but in the book he is too clever to leave any evidence of his guilt. There is a resemblance with Professor James Moriarty
Professor Moriarty
Professor James Moriarty is a fictional character and the archenemy of the detective Sherlock Holmes in the fiction of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Moriarty is a criminal mastermind, described by Holmes as the "Napoleon of Crime". Doyle lifted the phrase from a real Scotland Yard inspector who was...
from the Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
. Eliot wrote In a letter to Frank Morley
Frank Morley
Frank Morley was a leading mathematician, known mostly for his teaching and research in the fields of algebra and geometry...
, "I have done a new cat modeled on the late Professor Moriarty, but he doesn't seem very popular; too sophisticated perhaps." Sherlock Holmes describes Moriarty as "the Napoleon of Crime" in The Adventure of the Final Problem
The Adventure of the Final Problem
"The Final Problem" is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring his detective character Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in Strand Magazine in December 1893. It appears in book form as part of the collection The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes...
and a "Napoleon gone wrong" in The Valley of Fear
The Valley of Fear
The Valley of Fear is the fourth and final Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The story was first published in the Strand Magazine between September 1914 and May 1915, and the first book edition was published in New York on 27 February 1915.- Part I: The Tragedy of Birlstone...
. The idea that Macavity was Moriarty was first revealed by HT Webster and HW Starr (Macavity: An Attempt to Unravel His Mystery, 1954), an identification rediscovered by Katharine Loesch.
According to the poem, even when the Secret Service decides that Macavity was behind a loss, they can't get him there as "he's a mile away." Doyle wrote that Moriarty "is never caught" as at moment of crime he probably is "working out problems on a blackboard ten miles away" (The Adventure of the Final Problem
The Adventure of the Final Problem
"The Final Problem" is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring his detective character Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in Strand Magazine in December 1893. It appears in book form as part of the collection The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes...
). Macavity is described as being a ginger cat who is very tall and thin with sunken eyes, and "sways his head from side to side with movements like a snake". The poem also says: "His brow is deeply lined in thought, his head is highly domed; His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed." Once again, this description is a close parallel to that of Professor Moriarty:
The poem accuses Macavity of misbehaviour that would be within the capabilities of an ordinary cat, such as stealing milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
, but also holds him responsible for major crimes. He is referred to as a "fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity" and has been suspected of stifling Pekes
Pekingese
The Pekingese, or "Peke" is an ancient breed of toy dog, originating in China. The breed was favored by the Chinese Imperial court, and its name refers to the city of Beijing where the Forbidden City resides...
, vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
, theft
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
, cheating at cards, espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
and controlling an organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
ring with 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...
, 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:...
and Griddlebone
Griddlebone
Griddlebone is a cat character who appears in T. S. Eliot's collection of poems Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and also the musical Cats during the song of 'Growltigers Last Stand.'...
among the members. Holmes in Doyle's narrative describes Moriarty as "the organizer of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in this great city."
Webster and Starr assumed that Eliot referred to the cases of Mr. Joseph Harrison (The Adventure of the Naval Treaty
The Adventure of the Naval Treaty
"The Adventure of the Naval Treaty", one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is one of 12 stories in the cycle collected as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle ranked "The Adventure of the Naval Treaty" nineteenth in a list of his nineteen...
) and Herr Hugo Oberstein (The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
"The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans" is one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is one of eight stories in the cycle collected as His Last Bow...
) when he wrote in the poem – "And when the Foreign Office finds a Treaty's gone astray,/ And the admirality loses some plans and drawings by the way".
Macavity apparently possesses the mystical power of levitation, as he "breaks the law of gravity".
In the musical
Macavity is the only real villain in the musical Cats, who kidnaps Old DeuteronomyOld 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 Jellicle
Jellicle cats
The Jellicle cats, or simply the Jellicles, are a type of feline mentioned in T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.Introduced in his poem Song of the Jellicles, they were originally depicted by Eliot as common black-and-white cats whose daytime nature is peaceful, pleasant and restful...
leader, and attempts to abduct Demeter
Demeter (cat)
Demeter is a main character in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. Her name is given in "the Naming Of Cats".Demeter, as costumed in the filmed production, is black and gold with a few patches of white and red or orange, and wears gloves instead of arm warmers, giving her a more elegant touch. In other...
, one of two cats who sings about him. Lloyd Webber noted that "Macavity... is obviously a take-off on Moriarty." The character was originally played by Richard Pettyfer in the original West End
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...
production, by Kenneth Ard in the Broadway production, and by Bryn Walters in the Cats film production
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...
.
Within the storyline of the musical, Macavity makes several attempts to scare the tribe. This culminates in his abduction of Old Deuteronomy, after which two queens, Bombalurina
Bombalurina (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...
and Demeter, sing about him. He then returns to attempt to abduct Demeter. Munkustrap
Munkustrap
Munkustrap is a Jellicle cat, named in T. S. Eliot's poem "The Naming of Cats". He is a principal character in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats.-The musical:...
and 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....
come to her defence and, in a dramatic cat fight, drive him off. As seen in the film production and most stage performances, he appears to be capable of performing some form of hypnosis. When Demeter and Bombalurina (a flirty queen cat who is close friends with Demeter) sing about him, they do so in a sensuous manner, suggesting he is more familiar to them. The Macavity number develops from a bluesy duet into a big female ensemble routine.
Macavity is typically depicted as a cat with a chaotic array of red, orange, white, and sharp black stripes. He is often portrayed with very long claws and wild dark hair. The role of Macavity is usually played by the same actor as Admetus (a chorus cat who notably does a pas de deux with 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...
during the Jellicle Ball) or Plato (alternate name in some productions). His costume is ginger and white, and specifically includes a simple make-up design that the actor transforms into the elaborate Macavity make-up, and then re-applies after the featured scene. Admetus/Plato is also often recognizable as one of the tallest cast members, as the fight scene between Macavity and Munkustrap requires him to be able to lift other male dancers.
In popular culture
Mystery Readers InternationalMystery Readers International
Mystery Readers International is a fan/reader organization open to all readers, fans, critics, editors, publishers, and writers of Mystery fiction. It was founded by Janet A...
presents the Macavity Awards annually in several categories, including Best Mystery Novel, Best First Mystery Novel, Best Bio/Critical Mystery Work, Best Mystery Short Story. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
, when still Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, was likened to Macavity by Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House, David Heath, who labelled Brown "the Macavity of the Cabinet" when talking about tax credits during Business Questions on 23 June 2005. Lord Turnbull
Andrew Turnbull, Baron Turnbull
Andrew Turnbull, Baron Turnbull, KCB, CVO was the head of Her Majesty's Civil Service and Cabinet Secretary between 2002 and 2005 when he was succeeded by Sir Gus O'Donnell....
echoed this two years later, opining that "the chancellor has a Macavity quality. He is not there when there is dirty work to be done." After Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter, CH, CBE was a Nobel Prize–winning English playwright and screenwriter. One of the most influential modern British dramatists, his writing career spanned more than 50 years. His best-known plays include The Birthday Party , The Homecoming , and Betrayal , each of which he adapted to...
received the 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature
Nobel Prize in Literature
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...
, Mary Liddell of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
said: "Pinter has become the Macavity of English letters".
Polish author Maciej Wojtyszko's children's books feature a character named Macavity the Cat, a criminal mastermind who loses a chess duel with dog detective Kajetan Chrumps and is then convinced to become Chrumps' assistant. Gillian Robert's schoolteacher detective Amanda Pepper has an elderly male companion cat whose métier seems to be relaxation. Following books by Roberts feature Macavity the cat: Claire and Present Danger (2003), Helen Hath No Fury (2001), Adam and Evil (1999), The Bluest Blood (1998), The Mummer's Curse (1996), How I Spent My Summer Vacation (1995), In the Dead of Summer (1995), With Friends Like These… (1993), I'd Rather Be in Philadelphia (1992), Philly Stakes (1989), Caught Dead in Philadelphia (1987).
In 1995, New Jersey punk band Gimp
Gimp
Gimp may refer to:* GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program* Gimp , a type of sexual submissive in BDSM who may wear a bondage suit* Gimp , an ornamental trim used in sewing or embroidery...
released an album called Smiles for Macavity.
In the news
Macavity is the name given by several bus drivers from the West MidlandsWest Midlands conurbation
The West Midlands conurbation is the name given to the large conurbation that includes the cities of Birmingham and Wolverhampton and the large towns of Dudley, Walsall, West Bromwich, Solihull, Stourbridge, Halesowen in the English West Midlands....
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to a white odd-eyed cat
Odd-eyed cat
An odd-eyed cat is a cat with one blue eye and one green, yellow or brown eye. It is a feline form of complete heterochromia, a condition which occurs in some other animals...
which, since January 2007, has been observed to regularly use the local bus service on its own. Macavity's fur is reported to be completely white, he has a green left eye and a blue right eye, and he wears a purple collar. His owner and true name are unknown. Commenting on the mysterious cat, bus driver Bill Khunkhun commented:
Since January 2007, Travel West Midlands drivers on the number 331
A2Z Travel Bus Route 331
The 331, 332 & 549 were three bus route operating in the Walsall area of the West Midlands, England.The routes linked Walsall with Lodge Farm via The Manor Hospital, Alumwell and Bentley...
Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
to Willenhall
Willenhall
Willenhall is a town in the Black Country area of the West Midlands of England, with a population of approximately 40,000. It is situated between Wolverhampton and Walsall, historically in the county of Staffordshire...
bus route have observed Macavity running to catch their bus at a stop on Churchill Road near a row of 1950s semi-detached houses, two or three times a week. He originally escaped attention by running underneath the seats. After travelling some 400 metres, he routinely alights at the next stop, located near a row of shops. The Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
newspaper has speculated that his possible destination could be a nearby fish and chip
Fish and chips
Fish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada...
shop.
External links
Macavity is a fictional character who is described in a poem in Old Possum's Book of Practical CatsOld 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....
, by 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...
. He also appears 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.
In the poem
The poem Macavity the Mystery Cat is supposedly the best known poem of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, which is the only book by Eliot written for a younger audience. The poem is considered particularly suitable reading for 11 and 12 year olds.Macavity (also called the Mystery Cat, the Hidden Paw and Napoleon of Crime) is a master criminal who is responsible for a multitude of crimes, but in the book he is too clever to leave any evidence of his guilt. There is a resemblance with Professor James Moriarty
Professor Moriarty
Professor James Moriarty is a fictional character and the archenemy of the detective Sherlock Holmes in the fiction of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Moriarty is a criminal mastermind, described by Holmes as the "Napoleon of Crime". Doyle lifted the phrase from a real Scotland Yard inspector who was...
from the Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
. Eliot wrote In a letter to Frank Morley
Frank Morley
Frank Morley was a leading mathematician, known mostly for his teaching and research in the fields of algebra and geometry...
, "I have done a new cat modeled on the late Professor Moriarty, but he doesn't seem very popular; too sophisticated perhaps." Sherlock Holmes describes Moriarty as "the Napoleon of Crime" in The Adventure of the Final Problem
The Adventure of the Final Problem
"The Final Problem" is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring his detective character Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in Strand Magazine in December 1893. It appears in book form as part of the collection The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes...
and a "Napoleon gone wrong" in The Valley of Fear
The Valley of Fear
The Valley of Fear is the fourth and final Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The story was first published in the Strand Magazine between September 1914 and May 1915, and the first book edition was published in New York on 27 February 1915.- Part I: The Tragedy of Birlstone...
. The idea that Macavity was Moriarty was first revealed by HT Webster and HW Starr (Macavity: An Attempt to Unravel His Mystery, 1954), an identification rediscovered by Katharine Loesch.
According to the poem, even when the Secret Service decides that Macavity was behind a loss, they can't get him there as "he's a mile away." Doyle wrote that Moriarty "is never caught" as at moment of crime he probably is "working out problems on a blackboard ten miles away" (The Adventure of the Final Problem
The Adventure of the Final Problem
"The Final Problem" is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring his detective character Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in Strand Magazine in December 1893. It appears in book form as part of the collection The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes...
). Macavity is described as being a ginger cat who is very tall and thin with sunken eyes, and "sways his head from side to side with movements like a snake". The poem also says: "His brow is deeply lined in thought, his head is highly domed; His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed." Once again, this description is a close parallel to that of Professor Moriarty:
The poem accuses Macavity of misbehaviour that would be within the capabilities of an ordinary cat, such as stealing milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
, but also holds him responsible for major crimes. He is referred to as a "fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity" and has been suspected of stifling Pekes
Pekingese
The Pekingese, or "Peke" is an ancient breed of toy dog, originating in China. The breed was favored by the Chinese Imperial court, and its name refers to the city of Beijing where the Forbidden City resides...
, vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
, theft
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
, cheating at cards, espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
and controlling an organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
ring with 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...
, 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:...
and Griddlebone
Griddlebone
Griddlebone is a cat character who appears in T. S. Eliot's collection of poems Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and also the musical Cats during the song of 'Growltigers Last Stand.'...
among the members. Holmes in Doyle's narrative describes Moriarty as "the organizer of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in this great city."
Webster and Starr assumed that Eliot referred to the cases of Mr. Joseph Harrison (The Adventure of the Naval Treaty
The Adventure of the Naval Treaty
"The Adventure of the Naval Treaty", one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is one of 12 stories in the cycle collected as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle ranked "The Adventure of the Naval Treaty" nineteenth in a list of his nineteen...
) and Herr Hugo Oberstein (The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
"The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans" is one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is one of eight stories in the cycle collected as His Last Bow...
) when he wrote in the poem – "And when the Foreign Office finds a Treaty's gone astray,/ And the admirality loses some plans and drawings by the way".
Macavity apparently possesses the mystical power of levitation, as he "breaks the law of gravity".
In the musical
Macavity is the only real villain in the musical Cats, who kidnaps Old DeuteronomyOld 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 Jellicle
Jellicle cats
The Jellicle cats, or simply the Jellicles, are a type of feline mentioned in T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.Introduced in his poem Song of the Jellicles, they were originally depicted by Eliot as common black-and-white cats whose daytime nature is peaceful, pleasant and restful...
leader, and attempts to abduct Demeter
Demeter (cat)
Demeter is a main character in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. Her name is given in "the Naming Of Cats".Demeter, as costumed in the filmed production, is black and gold with a few patches of white and red or orange, and wears gloves instead of arm warmers, giving her a more elegant touch. In other...
, one of two cats who sings about him. Lloyd Webber noted that "Macavity... is obviously a take-off on Moriarty." The character was originally played by Richard Pettyfer in the original West End
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...
production, by Kenneth Ard in the Broadway production, and by Bryn Walters in the Cats film production
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...
.
Within the storyline of the musical, Macavity makes several attempts to scare the tribe. This culminates in his abduction of Old Deuteronomy, after which two queens, Bombalurina
Bombalurina (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...
and Demeter, sing about him. He then returns to attempt to abduct Demeter. Munkustrap
Munkustrap
Munkustrap is a Jellicle cat, named in T. S. Eliot's poem "The Naming of Cats". He is a principal character in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats.-The musical:...
and 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....
come to her defence and, in a dramatic cat fight, drive him off. As seen in the film production and most stage performances, he appears to be capable of performing some form of hypnosis. When Demeter and Bombalurina (a flirty queen cat who is close friends with Demeter) sing about him, they do so in a sensuous manner, suggesting he is more familiar to them. The Macavity number develops from a bluesy duet into a big female ensemble routine.
Macavity is typically depicted as a cat with a chaotic array of red, orange, white, and sharp black stripes. He is often portrayed with very long claws and wild dark hair. The role of Macavity is usually played by the same actor as Admetus (a chorus cat who notably does a pas de deux with 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...
during the Jellicle Ball) or Plato (alternate name in some productions). His costume is ginger and white, and specifically includes a simple make-up design that the actor transforms into the elaborate Macavity make-up, and then re-applies after the featured scene. Admetus/Plato is also often recognizable as one of the tallest cast members, as the fight scene between Macavity and Munkustrap requires him to be able to lift other male dancers.
In popular culture
Mystery Readers InternationalMystery Readers International
Mystery Readers International is a fan/reader organization open to all readers, fans, critics, editors, publishers, and writers of Mystery fiction. It was founded by Janet A...
presents the Macavity Awards annually in several categories, including Best Mystery Novel, Best First Mystery Novel, Best Bio/Critical Mystery Work, Best Mystery Short Story. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
, when still Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, was likened to Macavity by Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House, David Heath, who labelled Brown "the Macavity of the Cabinet" when talking about tax credits during Business Questions on 23 June 2005. Lord Turnbull
Andrew Turnbull, Baron Turnbull
Andrew Turnbull, Baron Turnbull, KCB, CVO was the head of Her Majesty's Civil Service and Cabinet Secretary between 2002 and 2005 when he was succeeded by Sir Gus O'Donnell....
echoed this two years later, opining that "the chancellor has a Macavity quality. He is not there when there is dirty work to be done." After Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter, CH, CBE was a Nobel Prize–winning English playwright and screenwriter. One of the most influential modern British dramatists, his writing career spanned more than 50 years. His best-known plays include The Birthday Party , The Homecoming , and Betrayal , each of which he adapted to...
received the 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature
Nobel Prize in Literature
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...
, Mary Liddell of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
said: "Pinter has become the Macavity of English letters".
Polish author Maciej Wojtyszko's children's books feature a character named Macavity the Cat, a criminal mastermind who loses a chess duel with dog detective Kajetan Chrumps and is then convinced to become Chrumps' assistant. Gillian Robert's schoolteacher detective Amanda Pepper has an elderly male companion cat whose métier seems to be relaxation. Following books by Roberts feature Macavity the cat: Claire and Present Danger (2003), Helen Hath No Fury (2001), Adam and Evil (1999), The Bluest Blood (1998), The Mummer's Curse (1996), How I Spent My Summer Vacation (1995), In the Dead of Summer (1995), With Friends Like These… (1993), I'd Rather Be in Philadelphia (1992), Philly Stakes (1989), Caught Dead in Philadelphia (1987).
In 1995, New Jersey punk band Gimp
Gimp
Gimp may refer to:* GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program* Gimp , a type of sexual submissive in BDSM who may wear a bondage suit* Gimp , an ornamental trim used in sewing or embroidery...
released an album called Smiles for Macavity.
In the news
Macavity is the name given by several bus drivers from the West MidlandsWest Midlands conurbation
The West Midlands conurbation is the name given to the large conurbation that includes the cities of Birmingham and Wolverhampton and the large towns of Dudley, Walsall, West Bromwich, Solihull, Stourbridge, Halesowen in the English West Midlands....
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to a white odd-eyed cat
Odd-eyed cat
An odd-eyed cat is a cat with one blue eye and one green, yellow or brown eye. It is a feline form of complete heterochromia, a condition which occurs in some other animals...
which, since January 2007, has been observed to regularly use the local bus service on its own. Macavity's fur is reported to be completely white, he has a green left eye and a blue right eye, and he wears a purple collar. His owner and true name are unknown. Commenting on the mysterious cat, bus driver Bill Khunkhun commented:
Since January 2007, Travel West Midlands drivers on the number 331
A2Z Travel Bus Route 331
The 331, 332 & 549 were three bus route operating in the Walsall area of the West Midlands, England.The routes linked Walsall with Lodge Farm via The Manor Hospital, Alumwell and Bentley...
Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
to Willenhall
Willenhall
Willenhall is a town in the Black Country area of the West Midlands of England, with a population of approximately 40,000. It is situated between Wolverhampton and Walsall, historically in the county of Staffordshire...
bus route have observed Macavity running to catch their bus at a stop on Churchill Road near a row of 1950s semi-detached houses, two or three times a week. He originally escaped attention by running underneath the seats. After travelling some 400 metres, he routinely alights at the next stop, located near a row of shops. The Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
newspaper has speculated that his possible destination could be a nearby fish and chip
Fish and chips
Fish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada...
shop.
External links
- Macavity: the Mystery Cat
- Hui Lin's Page: Macavity
- JSTOR
- Philip A. Shreffler, Sherlock Holmes by Gas-Lamp
- Christopher Hitchens, Unacknowledged Legislation: Writers in the Public Sphere
