PLAY

ANALYSIS

Name of the play :

Period of play

The playwright :

CATS

1998
Andrew Lloyd Webber

Audience the play

written for
Genre

:
:

Show tune

Playwright purpose

The musical tells the story of a tribe

of cats called the Jellicles and the night they

make
which

what is known "the Jellicle choice" and decide

cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come
back to a new life. was to stir a desire for each of us
to better understand our own salvation

THEME
Major Theme :

It is the night of the Jellicle Ball, during which Old

Deuteronomy will select the cat to go to the Heaviside Layer and be

reborn to a new Jellicle life. Over the course of the evening, the cats of
the tribe step forward to introduce themselves and audition for the
chance to be selected.
Minor Theme :

Themes of mortality, and the past, which occur

repeatedly in the major poems. We decided that if Eliot had thought of

being serious, touching, almost tragic in his presentation of a feline
character, then we had to be doing a show which could contain that
material, and the implications of it.

Breakdown of the play by acts and scenes

Plot development

This all-dance show's action is set on a

gigantic rubbish dump which, after dark, becomes alive with cats of all
types, shapes and sizes. Soon there are cats all over the place, including
the auditorium, gathering for the Jellicle Ball during which one cat will be
selected by the Jellicle Leader and allotted an extra precious life. It is the
former glamour cat, Grizabella - turned dishevelled outcast who, at the
end of the evening, is chosen by Deuteronomy to receive the prized
additional life.

Setting

large unit set depicting an oversized junk

yard containing old auto wheels and parts, bottles, household

trash (including catfood boxes and tins), shoes, other discards.
Pirate ship. Full moon on backdrop

CHARACTERS:
Alonzo A black and white tom cat in most productions; in the
Broadway and early European productions, he was depicted as
being a black and gold tabby. Sometimes considered the third in
command after Munkustrap as he also fights Macavity. However,
he is not the subject of any song, and has no dialogue.
Asparagus /Gus The theatre cat. One of the oldest tribe
members. He was once an actor, and is one of two cats who is only
seen during his song. This only applies to some productions,
however, as the DVD release, Cats: The Musical (2000), showed
him singing parts of the song as well.
Bombalurina A red female. She is not the subject of a song
herself, but plays a leading part in introducing several of the cats,
and also sings of Macavity.
Bustopher Jones A fat cat, a "twenty-five pounder." Dresses in a
snappy tuxedo and spats. Respected by all, as the upper class "St.
James's Street Cat". In most productions, the actor playing Gus
also plays Bustopher, perhaps because both are only seen during
their song, though in early productions the part was handled by
the actor playing Old Deuteronomy. TDVD release (2000),

Demeter A very skittish female cat. She is not the subject of a

song, but plays a lead role in several.
Griddlebone A fluffy white Persian female cat. Growltiger's lover
inGrowltiger's Last Stand, where she singsThe Ballad of Billy
M'Cawor the mock Italian ariaIn Una Tepida Notte(depending on
production) with Growltiger. In many productions the role is played
by the actress playing Jellylorum. "Growltiger's Last Stand" was a
play in which Gus, the Theatre Cat, acted, and a scene from it is
used as a dream sequence, but it is omitted from some
productions. She is also described as one of Macavity's agents.
Grizabella The former Glamour Cat who has lost her sparkle and
now only wants to be accepted. Grizabella left the tribe when she
was younger to see the world for herself; she has experienced the
harshness of the world and is a pariah in the cats' society.
Growltiger A theatrical character Gus recalls playing in his
youth, and who appears in Gus' memory of the production
ofGrowltiger's Last Stand. In some productions he is portrayed as
a vicious pirate; in others, he is more comical.
Jellylorum A female who watches out for the kittens, along with
Jennyanydots. She is Gus' mate. Named after T. S. Eliot's own cat.
The actress who plays Jellylorum usually also plays Griddlebone

Jemima A kitten interchangeable with Sillabub, though Jemima is

used in most international productions. She is the kitten who sings
theMemoryrefrain inThe Moments of Happinessfor Old
Deuteronomy. Jemima sings the happier parts ofMemory, while
Grizabella sings the sadder parts. She is the first cat/kitten to
accept Grizabella by singing with her and not judge her.
Jennyanydots The old Gumbie cat. She sits all day and rules the
mice and cockroaches at night, forcing them to undertake helpful
functions and creative projects, to curb their naturally destructive
habits.
Macavity the show's only real villain, who only appears briefly
and has no dialogue. The character is a literaryallusionto the
Sherlock HolmescharacterProfessor Moriarty. Usually played by
the same actor as Plato or Admetus.
Mr. Mistoffelees A young black tom (with some white) who has
magical powers (which he doesn't fully control). His signature
dance move is "The Conjuring Turn", a minimum of twenty-four
fouetts en tournant. In the UK production, Mistoffelees has an
alter-ego namedQuaxo, who appears as a general chorus cat
throughout the show, and is dressed slightly differently.
Mungojerrie Male half of a pair of notorious cat-burglars, with

Munkustrap The show's main narrator. A tabby tomcat who is

storyteller and protector of the Jellicle tribe. He is Old
Deuteronomy's second-in-command.
Old Deuteronomy The lovable patriarch of the Jellicle Tribe.
He is very old and dignified.
Rumpleteazer Female half of a pair of notorious cat-burglars,
with Mungojerrie.
TheRum Tum Tugger A flashy tomcat. His temperament
ranges from clownish to serious.
Skimbleshanks The railway cat. An active orange tabby cat,
who lives on the trains and acts as an unofficial chaperone to
such an extent he is considered rather indispensable to the train
and station employees.
Victoria A pure white kitten gifted in dancing. The "official"
Jellicle Ball begins with her solo dance. She also does aPas de
Deuxwith Plato during the Jellicle Ball. She is also the first to
touch Grizabella.

CHARACTERS:
PROTAGONIST : Grizabella is the "Glamour Cat"
in the musical production Cats. Grizabella is, at the
time of her appearance, a very old cat, withered by
her age to the point that she no longer resembles the
proud, carefree, flamboyant dancer of her youth. Her
fellow Jellicles are quite repulsed by Grizabella's
dishevelled condition, and taunt her.
ANTAGONIST : Macavity is the only real villain
in the musical Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber,[6] who
kidnaps Old Deuteronomy, the Jellicle leader, and
attempts to abduct Demeter, one of two cats who
sings about him.
the shows only real villain. The character is a literary
allusion to the Sherlock Holmes character Professor
Moriarty. Usually played by the same actor as Plato or
Admetus.

Bustopher Jones A fat cat, a "twenty-five pounder." Dresses in a snappy

tuxedo and spats. Respected by all, as the upper class "St. James's Street Cat".
In most productions, the actor playing Gus also plays Bustopher, perhaps
because both are only seen during their song, though in early productions the
part was handled by the actor playing Old Deuteronomy. TDVD release (2000),
however, shows him singing parts of his song.
Demeter A very skittish female cat. She is not the subject of a song, but
plays a lead role in several.
Griddlebone A fluffy white Persian female cat. Growltiger's lover
inGrowltiger's Last Stand, where she singsThe Ballad of Billy M'Cawor the
mock Italian ariaIn Una Tepida Notte(depending on production) with
Growltiger. In many productions the role is played by the actress playing
Jellylorum. "Growltiger's Last Stand" was a play in which Gus, the Theatre Cat,
acted, and a scene from it is used as a dream sequence, but it is omitted from
some productions. She is also described as one of Macavity's agents.
Growltiger A theatrical character Gus recalls playing in his youth, and who
appears in Gus' memory of the production ofGrowltiger's Last Stand. In some
productions he is portrayed as a vicious pirate; in others, he is more comical.
Jellylorum A female who watches out for the kittens, along with
Jennyanydots. She is Gus' mate. Named after T. S. Eliot's own cat. The actress
who plays Jellylorum usually also plays Griddlebone inGrowltiger's Last Stand.
Jemima A kitten interchangeable with Sillabub, though Jemima is used in
most international productions. She is the kitten who sings theMemoryrefrain
inThe Moments of Happinessfor Old Deuteronomy. Jemima sings the happier

PLOT:
After the overture, the Cats gather on stage and explain theJellicle
tribe and its purpose ("Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats"). The Cats (who
break thefourth wallthroughout the production) then notice that they
are being watched by a man, and proceed to explain how the different
Cats of the tribe are named ("The Naming of Cats"). This is followed by
a dance from Victoria the White Cat that signals the beginning of the
Jellicle Ball ("The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball"). Munkustrap explains
that tonight is the night when Old Deuteronomy will choose a cat to be
reborn into a new life on theHeaviside Layer. Munkustrapintroduces
Jennyanydots("The Old Gumbie Cat"), a large tabby cat. She "sits and
sits and sits and sits" all day, while at night she teaches the mice and
cockroaches various activities. Jennyanydots finishes her song and
greets the other cats, but is interrupted. The music changes suddenly
and TheRum Tum Tuggermakes an extravagant entrance ("The Rum
Tum Tugger"). He is very fickle and unappeasable, "for he will do as he
do and there's no doing anything about it".
As Rum Tum Tugger's song fades, a shabby old grey cat stumbles out
and looks around; it isGrizabella. All the Cats back away from her in
fear and disgust and sing of her unfortunate state ("Grizabella: The
Glamour Cat"). Grizabella leaves and the music changes to a cheerful
upbeat number asBustopher Jones, a fat cat in "a coat of fastidious
black", appears ("Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town"). Bustopher
Jones is among the elite of the cats, and visits prestigiousgentlemen's

Finally, the Jellicle patriarch,Old Deuteronomy, appears

("Old Deuteronomy"). He is a large old Cat that "has lived
many lives" and "buried nine wives (And more, I am tempted
to sayninety-nine)". He is the Cat who will choose which
Jellicle Cat will go to the Heaviside Layer. In most
productions, at this point, the cats perform a song ("The
Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles") for Old
Deuteronomy. It is a story about two dog tribes clashing in
the street and subsequently being scared away by the Great
Rumpus Cat, a cat with flashing red eyes. After a few words
from Old Deuteronomy on the destiny of Jellicle Cats and
Pollicle Dogs, a second loud crash, presumably from
Macavity, sends the alarmed Cats scurrying. Old
Deuteronomy calls the Cats back and the main celebration
begins ("The Jellicle Ball"), in which the cats sing and display
their "Terpsichorean powers".
After the Ball, Grizabella reappears and tries to dance, but
her age and decrepit condition prevent her from doing so.
Once again, she is shunned by the other Cats, but that does

LANGUAGE :

A few poems have been changed a little (e.g.,

eight lines have been added to the "Song of the Jellicles"). Some
of the texts, like "The Marching Song of the Pollicle Dogs" and the
story of Grizabella were discovered among the unpublished
writings of Eliot. The prologue is based on another unpublished
poem, entitled "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats". "Memory" includes
lines from and is suggested by "Rhapsody On a Windy Night", and
other poems of the "Prufrock" period. All other words in the show
are taken from the Collected Poems.

SETTING :

The musical Cats is usually set in a junkyard, but

in Norway the musical is set in an attic, in Sweden it is set on

rooftops and in Finland the production takes place in a
fantasyland.
Some of the items in the junk yard usually have some relevance
to the city and country in which the show is being performed.