Jellicle cats

Jellicle Cats are characters in the musical play "Cats", based primarily on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. The names are taken from T. S. Eliot's poem "The Naming of Cats", and are used for many of the ensemble characters in the musical. Also detailed on this page are Chorus characters from the musical Cats whose names are from other works by T. S. Eliot, or not directly derived from the poems.The Jellicle names are also very popular as pet names.

Characters

The ensemble characters in Cats are very fluid, non-specific roles. None are named in performance specifically, although the performer may choose to react to their name if mentioned in reciting "The Naming of Cats". The original London production in 1981 chose to not name the ensemble kittens, however these roles soon developed into distinct characters with their own personality and costume design. The Broadway production in 1982 made many different choices with assigning names to roles. This has led to several roles which are essentially the same Cat being given different names, subtly different costume designs and character traits. Most productions will therefore include one or the other option, but larger productions have expanded their cast by including all the variations. Smaller productions often omit some of these ensemble roles.

Cats is becoming increasingly popular in regional and amateur performance. Due to the very flexible nature of these characters' roles, each director makes their own choices as to what their ensemble will do, and it seems often these names and appearance are assigned to roles arbitrarily.

Admetus

"Admetus" is used primarily in the London production, replaced by "Plato" in Broadway and subsequent productions. His costume is ginger and white, and specifically includes a simple make-up design that the actor transforms into the elaborate Macavity makeup, and then re-applies after the featured scene. His is also often recognisable as being one of the tallest cast members, as the fight scene between Macavity and Munkustrap requires him to able to lift other male dancers.

Bill Bailey

Bill Bailey is a London-based character, replaced by Tumblebrutus in Broadway-based productions. He is a playful young kitten, often performing acrobatics as well as being a strong dancer. His costume is patchy browns on a white base, suggesting he is a Bi-colour tabby and white.

=Bombalurina=

Bombalurina is a sassy red queen. She is very flirtatious with the other toms especially Rum Tum Tugger, she is very close to another queen, Demeter.

Carbucketty

Carbucketty was one of T. S. Eliot's ideas for cat names, for a "knockabout cat". His role is primarily that of a dancer and acrobat.

Carbucketty appeared in both the original London and Broadway shows. In 1987, when the Broadway show was reworked, the character was re-named Mungojerrie. The actor who played Mungojerrie after the show was reworked, Ray Roderick, had played Carbucketty for a few months prior.

Carbucketty's costume suggests a Bi-colour tabby and white kitten. He has defined stripes as well as spots on a white base. A short fluffy wig and chunky warmers give the impression of a young, fluffy kitten.

For the filmed version of the show the costume and role of Carbucketty was named Pouncival, as it was deemed more sensible for an international market to use the names used internationally. However Carbucketty and Pouncival is one and the same part. For the entire record breaking 21 year run of Cats in London the part was named Carbucketty.

Cassandra

A brown and cream queen, with a short wig and braided tail. She is aloof and somewhat mysterious, a very elegant and dignified queen. She is often assumed to be Abyssinian, given her unusual markings and exotic short-haired appearance. Her costume is very smooth and sleek, without warmers or fluff on her shoulders.

Coricopat and Tantomile

The psychic twins. Coricopat and Tantomile are inseparable, identical twins, who move with choreographed, perfect unity. Their costumes are striped and hatched to suggest tabby markings, but they also echo the clouded moon featured on the set. They are the first to notice any changes to their world, the arrival of a new cat.

Electra

Electra is one of the youngest female kittens in the tribe. She is striped and dark, perhaps a dark tabby or tortoiseshell. She may be a big fan of the Rum Tum Tugger like Etcetera, but unlike Etcetera, she isn't as excitable. She is a solemn, quiet kitten, often fading into the background and only featuring in group dances. She looks quite similar to Etcetera, but tends to be darker coloured. Unlike Victoria and Jemima, she doesn't have a signature song or dance, but she is in the group dances and in a few tours she has been in 'Macavity the Mystery cat' as a dancer.

As a chorus kitten, she is often omitted from smaller productions such as tours.

She shares her name with a far more prominent character in Lloyd Webber's stable, Electra the Electric Train from Starlight Express

Etcetera

Etcetera, along with the other kittens, is a huge fan of The Rum Tum Tugger, though she is much too young for him. She is good friends with the other female kittens, Victoria , Electra, and Jemima. Of all of the kittens, she looks most similar to Electra, although Electra tends to be quieter and less eccentric.

Her role developed from an unnamed chorus kitten in the original production, soon given a name and definite character. However as a minor character, unnecessary to the plot, she is often cut from smaller productions. When Etcetera is cut, her parts are usually given to Rumpleteazer instead. In the original Broadway production, Etcetera was included and she played the role of Rumpleteazer in a puppet show put on to entertain Bustopher Jones. However when the production was brought into line with other productions worldwide, Etcetera became Rumpleteazer full-time, and the role of Etcetera was cut.

Exotica

A female character who first appeared in the filmed version, and was a role initially created specially for Femi Taylor. The character also appears in the South African and World Tour. She appears similar to Cassandra but in a darker palette, blending into the background so well she is often hard to see.

George

George is a male chorus cat specific to the London production. He is a patchy, hatched kitten, with a distinctive makeup design of patches over both eyes. George played the Rumpus Cat in the junkyard performance of "Pekes and Pollicles". George was also featured as part of Growltiger's "Raffish Crew".

George was played by Steven Wayne for almost the entire 21 year run of the Original London production of Cats. He left the cast in 2001, and the character of George was retired with his departure. Alonzo took over as Rumpus Cat, and the Raffish crew was reduced in number from six to five. However on occasion George's distinctive makeup design was used by a swing covering the role of Bill Bailey, leading to the fan nickname "George Bailey" for this blend of characters.

Plato

Plato replaced "Admetus" in Broadway and subsequent productions. His costume is ginger and white, and specifically includes a simple make-up design that the actor transforms into the elaborate Macavity makeup, and then re-applies after the featured scene. His is also often recognisable as being one of the tallest cast members, as the fight scene between Macavity and Munkustrap requires him to able to lift other male dancers.

Pouncival

Pouncival is the Broadway equivalent of "Carbucketty", a playful, bouncy young tom kitten. The name is a portmanteau of Pounce and Sir Percival, one of the knights of the Round Table.

Tumblebrutus

Tumblebrutus is the Broadway equivalent of Bill Bailey, similar to Pouncival in being a mischievous, energetic kitten. The name however is from "Growltiger's Last Stand", the Bosun of the Pirate crew. However the ensemble character was not part of the pirate crew.

Victor

Victor is another specific London cat. He is an adult Tom, with grey hatching and few distinguishing features. He featured as one of Growltiger's crew.

References