#mungojerrie is trying to be the adult here
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SUBMIT THROUGH THE FORM IN THIS POST, NOT MY ASKBOX, FOR YOUR BLORBO'S SAKE. I WILL LOSE SUBMISSIONS IF THEY AREN'T ALL IN ONE PLACE!
Hi! I've never run a poll blog before, but I like the "do you know this character" type blogs and I searched and didn't find one for ADHD characters so I decided I'd make one!
Submission Guidelines
Both canon and non-canon ADHD characters are allowed, but YOU MUST PROVIDE EVIDENCE FOR NON-CANON ADHD CHARACTERS! I completely understand just looking at a character and going "oh they have the Vibes" but it's not enough to be posted on this blog. Even just "they exhibit a lot of impulsiveness and distractability" is enough for me to go on - just give me SOMETHING to work with. However I reserve the right to not post a character if I don't think the evidence is compelling enough, i.e., if you don't list any traits that are specific to ADHD.
YOU MUST SUBMIT THROUGH THE FORM, NOT MY ASKBOX. I am, of course, ADHD myself, and I need all the submissions in one place or I'll lose them.
Got it? Here's the link to the form.
About the Mod/Blog
TRYING not to reveal my main yet, but you can call me Mudkip if you'd like. She/her only please, do not use any other pronouns for me including they/them. I am an adult. I was diagnosed with ADHD at a very young age and have it bad enough that I consider myself disabled. So ADHD rep is very important to me! And I'd like to both learn about ADHD rep I might not have heard of, and spread awareness of what ADHD people are like through the characters that people might not even realize are like us.
My icon is the character 707/Seven from Mystic Messenger, I chose him because although it's a bit hidden he is canonically ADHD! There's a call where he talks about how he talks to himself, and if you say "I heard people with adhd talk to themselves a lot..." he agrees with you, as well as displaying other ADHD traits through the whole game.
...is this entire blog partially part of my agenda to spread the word of canon ADHD Seven? Maybe.
Header is Zack Fair from Final Fantasy VII; he's not canonically ADHD but there's strong evidence for it and I couldn't resist using the "Me? Gongaga." meme.
I often can't resist making non-poll posts on this blog, although I swear I try. If you're just here for the polls you might want to filter the tag "not a poll"!
Tagging System, for your searching or filtering convenience
#poll - the polls. this only includes "do you know this character" polls, not any other polls I might do.
#not a poll - anything that doesn't get the above tag. Including other types of polls. You know what I mean.
#canon adhd character - polls for characters that are canonically ADHD.
#noncanon adhd character - polls for characters that aren't canonically ADHD, but have solid evidence behind the headcanon.
#poll results - a reblog of an ended poll with calculations of how many people know the character and what percentage of those people know/see the character as ADHD.
#poll reblog - any reblog of a poll that isn't poll results.
#other polls - polls from other blogs.
#blog management - anything about the running of the blog.
#ask - asks. I don't know what else to tell you.
#approval inquiry - asks asking if a character has been approved for posting.
#submission inquiry - asks asking if a character has been submitted.
this was part of the original pinned and I always like seeing this part of poll blog pinneds so I'm leaving it
I'm supposed to tag other polls for visibility, right? This was largely inspired by @who-do-i-know-this-man and @doyouknowthisdisabledcharacter as well as @do-you-know-this-queer-character !
If you want to know if someone's been posted, check below:
Polls in progress:
Mungojerrie from Cats the Musical (noncanon)
Achilles from the Iliad (noncanon)
Tajima Yuuichirou from Ookiku Furikabutte/Oofuri/Big Windup (noncanon)
Benrey from Half Life VR but the AI is Self Aware/HLVRAI (noncanon)
Crowven Corvuson from Cemetery Mary (canon)
Martlet from Undertale Yellow (noncanon)
Zell Dincht from Final Fantasy 8 (noncanon)
Finished polls (under the cut):
Skimbleshanks from Cats the Musical (noncanon)
Goku from Dragonball (noncanon)
Yuma Tsukumo from Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal (noncanon)
Moritz Stiefel from Spring Awakening (noncanon)
Sydney 'Syd' Novak from I Am Not Okay With This (noncanon)
Yuki Takeya from Gakkou Gurashi/School-Live! (noncanon)
Annabeth Chase from the Percy Jackson series (canon)
Maria von Trapp from The Sound of Music (noncanon)
Lift from The Stormlight Archive (noncanon)
Tim Drake from DC Comics (noncanon)
Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece (noncanon)
Apollo Justice from the Ace Attorney games (noncanon)
for personal reference - have done results for the below
Stella from Winx Club (noncanon)
Roy Harper from DC Comics (canon)
Michelangelo from Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (canon)
Tony Stark from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (noncanon)
Aiden Clark from School Bus Graveyard (canon)
Serpaz Helilo from Vast Error (canon)
The Doctor from Doctor Who (noncanon)
Ronan Lynch from The Raven Cycle (noncanon)
Leo Valdez from the Percy Jackson books (canon)
Moth Flight from Warrior Cats (canon)
Ramona Quimby from the Ramona books (noncanon)
Joey Pigza from the Joey Pigza books (canon)
Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables (noncanon)
Spinner Mason from Degrassi: The Next Generation (canon)
Lupin III from Lupin the Third (noncanon)
Rainbow Dash from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (noncanon)
George Beard and Harold Hutchins from Captain Underpants (canon)
Alex Woodroe from All the Feels (canon)
Agent Curt Mega from Spies are Forever (noncanon)
TG from Castle of Nations (canon)
Shawn Spencer from Psych (canon)
Sydney Scoville Jr. from Grrl Power (canon)
Marinette Dupain-Cheng from Miraculous Ladybug (noncanon)
Zagreus from Hades (noncanon)
Sherlock Holmes from Sherlock & Co. (canon)
Ash Ketchum from Pokémon (noncanon)
Misfire from Transformers (canon)
Herlock Sholmes from The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles (noncanon)
Christine Canigula from Be More Chill (canon)
Aubrey Little from The Adventure Zone: Amnesty (canon)
Lt. Columbo from Columbo (noncanon)
Billie from Billie Bust Up (canon)
Wei Wuxian from Mo Dao Zu Shi (noncanon)
Jimmy Casket from VenturianTale (noncanon)
Sara Eriksson from Young Royals (canon)
Magnus Burnsides from The Adventure Zone: Balance (noncanon)
Scout from Team Fortress 2 (noncanon)
Luz Noceda from The Owl House (canon)
Zack Fair from Final Fantasy VII (noncanon)
Percy Jackson from Percy Jackson and the Olympians (canon)
April Polls' Day posts, for posterity - ran polls on non-ADHD characters:
Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Zenos yae Galvus from Final Fantasy XIV
P.I.X.A.L. from Lego Ninjago
Brutus the Ducky from Real Life and also Rubber Ducky Hell (our only canonically non-ADHD poll subject)
Sophia from Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin (please play it)
#poll#poll blog#adhd#actuallyadhd#actually adhd#disability#neurodiversity#neurodivergency#uhhhhhh what else#we will see how this goes i guess#if youre familiar with me you can probably guess who i am but im not super concerned abt being found out lol#just anon for now
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OK some people noticed a lack of mystic twins and also Pouncival content, and I felt honour bound to fix this. So here's a wee short about Pounce learning from Coricopat and Tantomile!
Also on Ao3 here: The Knockabout Cat
Coricopat’s tail flicked as a new lively energy bounced across the main clearing of the Junkyard and exploded onto his physic plane, sending a shower of shivers through his fur. This was not unusual. The Junkyard was typically a very buoyant place to be, with a happy and excitable aura, especially when the kittens were about, and loud bursts of psychic energy were common. What was not usual, was that this energy flare was singularly focussed on Tantomile and himself. Coricopat was used to this, as the ball of sunshine energy that was Mungojerrie frequently surrounded him, but he was out with Rumpleteazer today, presumably causing chaos for some unsuspecting humans. Tantomile was not, however, as Jerrie seemed to prodigiously zone in on Cori in particular. Why, Cori did not know. Tanto had little patience for him and his constant vivacious attitude, but Cori enjoyed his company, and missed him when he wasn’t there.
But this new energy was not Mungojerrie, and Coricopat gave a little mental push with his own aura to discover the source. Tantomile wrinkled her nose beside him. Coricopat didn’t mind the feeling of having another Cat’s sole focus upon him, but his twin found it uncomfortable. He understood that some regular cats also did not enjoy this, but as mystic cats, the experience was a lot more intense for the two of them. He was sure Tanto was of half a mind to jump down from the old table they were lying on and disappear. Cori concentrated, giving another little push, and was able to identify that the intense focus was coming from Pouncival.
Pouncival? That was strange, what could he want? Pounce’s mind was rarely so focussed on one thing, he was just a kitten after all, and was always finding new fun things to pay attention to. This made him a particular pawful to watch for the adults, as he generally needed three sets of eyes on him at once. He didn’t have to wait long to find out, as the aforementioned Pouncival jumped up onto the table in front of them.
“Tumble says you guys can read minds, can you guys read minds? Wait, what number am I thinking of!” he burst out, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Tantomile gave a mental eyeroll, but Cori was amused. This was a favourite trick of Mungojerrie’s.
“38,” he replied, and Pounce’s jaw fell open.
“No way, how’d you know? You can totally read minds!” Pounce gasped.
“We can’t read minds, as such, we can read your aura,” Tantomile said. She let out a mental sigh of a much older cat, and Cori bit back a smile. Defining the abilities of a mystic cat was difficult. “But when you’re thinking of something and that is your sole focus, it crosses your aura.”
Pouncival’s brow furrowed, and he tilted his head as he looked at her.
“Yes, but only if you’re thinking really loudly,” Cori translated. Pouncival’s face cleared up right away and he nodded in that very serious way that kittens do.
“That’s so cool! Can you teach me?”
At once, Cori felt very awkward. He stole a glance at Tanto, and saw the same discomfort on her face.
“Unfortunately not. This cannot be taught; it is something only mystic cats can do,” he said, trying to be as gentle as he could.
Pounce’s face fell.
“That’s what Misto said about magical cats,” he sighed, “but I’m not an anything-ical cat.”
Cori had no idea how to respond to that. Poor Pouncival looked so forlorn, but at his age, Cori and Tanto or Misto would be able to sense any future magical or mystic abilities by now. Cori thought he was lucky, privately. Powers, magical or mystical, could be a heavy burden. His own visions were horribly draining, and could knock him out for days afterwards. Additionally, of course, there was no way of predicting when one would occur. Tantomile and Misto could both control when they used their own powers, to an extent, but the side effects could be just as nasty. Tantomile had made herself sick before, and Cori had seen the tattered state of Misto’s paws after he had used too much magic. He doubted any of this would comfort Pouncival, though.
“Give me your paw,” Tantomile said suddenly. Cori sent her a questioning thought, but she seemed intently focussed on Pouncival, who tentatively held out his paw. Tantomile took it and gazed intensely for a moment, before giving it back and nodding her head wisely.
“Well of course you’re not a magical or mystic cat, how could you be when you’re a knockabout cat?”
A what now? Cori sent more questioning thoughts, but then Pounce looked up at them with such hope and wonder, and he understood.
“I’m a knockabout cat?”
“Certainly,” Tanto said seriously, “you’ll be a very gifted cat when you grow up. No one else will be as resilient, or flexible, and you will always be able to cheer everyone up, even when they are at their lowest point.”
“Wow,” Pouncival breathed.
“I wouldn’t trade that for anything, if I were you,” Cori nodded along, and Pounce’s face broke out into a massive smile.
“For real? That’s so cool! I’ll be the best knockabout cat ever, I promise! Thanks guys!”
With that, he hopped down to the ground, and bounded back over to where the other kittens were playing. Any remaining trace of his focussed energy dissipated, and Cori felt the last of it slide off him. He shook out his fur.
That was kind of you, he thought to Tanto.
It was kind for me, she replied in kind, resting her chin on her paws. Now I can have peace.
Cori just smiled. Tanto liked to give an impression of aloofness, but at heart she was a softie.
Of course it was.
…Shut up, Cori, let me nap.
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Effortful Fashion
Inspiration gripped me, and here we go with the first request! @jelliclekay, here is some fluffy Tuggerlurina for you! I hope you enjoy!
As always, all my love to everyone who reads/likes/reblogs! ♥
Bombalurina frowned deeply enough to cast a metaphorical shadow over the junkyard.
There were many things that she could accept, but the Rum Tum Tugger being more fashionable than her? Now that was too much to bear.
With an elegant leap and a furious, very unelegant and noisy landing, she was at his side, enviously staring at the hot pink claw caps on her lover’s front paws.
Tugger jumped in surprise at her appearance and quickly followed her eyes, a smirk building and building until the corners of his mouth almost reached his ears.
“That’s not fair,” Bombalurina complained, mournfully staring at her own, perfectly ordinary claws. “What does a queen have to do to get such an alluring accessory?”
Tugger’s grin widened even further and he brushed a paw through his mane. “I shall give you a step-by-step manual.”
Bombalurina growled a little, but when he sat and offered his lap as lounge spot, she didn’t even think to hesitate, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and giving him her most smoldering look. The way his whiskers trembled subtly (but not subtly enough) told her that it had had its intended effect.
She could see Cassandra approaching from the corner of her eyes, also very interested in the ways and means of acquiring these desired ornaments.
“Firstly,” Tugger purred, raking a claw-capped paw along Bombalurina’s thigh, “make sure that your family’s new curtains are very expensive by trial and error.”
“By stealing them?” little Mungojerrie piped up, who had sneaked into their little group without anyone noticing.
Tugger brushed at his mane, ears flicking with irritation about being interrupted. “No, no. Just scratch at them a little, or bite, whatever you prefer. Make sure that they see you when you do it.”
The gathered cats leaned in, listening intently.
“Pay very close attention to their reactions. They will always try to stop you, by the way, no matter how expensive the curtains are, that’s just what humans do. However, I have made the experience that they will be up to one-hundred-and-fifteen percent faster to pick you up or chase you with a broom when the curtains are very new and very, very expensive.”
Cassandra snickered at the percentage. “Did you ask Jenny to calculate that for you?”
“Maybe. The point is, there may be more expensive curtains in the public rooms of a human’s house than in their bedrooms. I couldn’t tell you why, I’d certainly put the beautiful stuff into my own den so I can admire it in peace and quiet, but well, humans are humans. They have other etiquette than we do.”
The last part was mostly addressed to Mungojerrie (and Rumpleteazer, who had joined them not long after), who, albeit having been adopted by a rich human family, still rather spent their time in the nursery at the junkyard. (As they were still kittens and missed their mother, nobody scolded them for worrying their human family, even though it had taken the adult cats a long time and careful consideration to choose one that was capable of taking them in.)
“Now,” Tugger continued, “once you have located the most expensive set of curtains in the house, it is time for the last step.”
The tiger-striped kittens wiggled with excitement, and Cassandra emitted a rapturous mew, which was met with amusement from the entangled pair of lovers. She groomed her forepaws with mild shame, but she was far too sovereign to be embarrassed for very long.
“You stalk the curtains – be sure that the humans are nearby, but not in the same room – you stalk them, you search for a high place to jump off of, and then… you strike!!”
The gathered cats imagined slashing their claws through the curtain from top to bottom and purred.
Tugger thought back on himself screeching and thrashing, claws helplessly entangled in the lace, and wrinkled his nose. Very unsexy.
“Take care of yourselves, mind,” he said into Mungojerrie’s and Rumpleteazer’s direction, “some humans might rather want to declaw you than glue these pretty little trinkets on. You know your humans best, choose wisely.”
The kittens nodded seriously, ears pressed to their heads.
“Alright, off you go,” Cassandra told them importantly, “you have a mission to fulfil.”
Both pairs of black ears stood upright immediately, and they cartwheeled off the bucket they had sat on and dashed away to say goodbye to their mother and ask for an escort back to their human family.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Cassandra raised her hackles and turned to stare at Tugger, outrage blazing in her eyes.
Bombalurina blinked and nonchalantly groomed her ears, still comfortably seated on her tom’s lap.
“They stick them on your claws with glue?” Cassandra asked appalled, shuddering with horror. “I think I’ll pass. No thank you!”
With that, she was off, searching for a sunny place to lounge and look aloof and alluring, probably hoping to attract the attention of a certain black and white tomcat.
Bombalurina snorted. “She will keep her paws clean until the end of time itself. It’s almost admirable.”
Tugger raked his claws over her thigh again and buried his nose in the thick auburn fur at the nape of her neck. “Ah, everyone has their vices.”
She turned back to him, unsheathing her terribly ordinary claws and brushing through his mane. “Very true,” she purred, voice deepening even further when Tugger wrapped his arms around her and held her tight for a few moments.
“And now how do I deserve being outshone by the clutziest tomcat of the Jellicles?” she teased him, pulling one of his paws away from around her waist to admire the claw caps.
Everlasting, they even sparkled.
“There, there,” Tugger huffed, pulling back from nosing through her fur and pushing down his mane so he could look her in the eye unobstructedly while she still sat on his lap, “no need to mourn what never was.”
“The audacity!”
A guffaw. “I didn’t mean it, honest!”
Bombalurina pressed a paw to her chest and the other to her forehead, feinting a dramatic faint. “From my tom, no less! The betrayal, the cruelty!”
Tugger nodded gravely, taking the paw on her chest and pressing his left cheek to her right one. “I am unreformable. Dyed-in-the-wool, even.”
“Irritating?”
“Most definitely.”
Bombalurina sat back up and wrapped both arms around his shoulders, lifting her tail to brush it along Tugger’s chin.
“Apologize or Demeter sleeps in my den tonight,” she threatened, not meaning it in the slightest.
Tugger knew that, but his face still turned sincere, and expression that was seldom seen on his handsome face. “Disregarding the claw caps, I haven’t had the privilege of being born with such a luxurious fire-red coat like yours. And even besides that, your beauty is incomparable.”
Bombalurina swallowed thickly. “You’ll make me cry,” she said, her voice a little hoarse.
“That won’t do. In what other curtains shall I get stuck for you to laugh at me again?”
“I knew it.”
“You did, didn’t you? Unreformable, as I said.”
She threw her head back and laughed.
“There we go.”
“You wonderful, dorky, clumsy tom. Sometimes I do wonder if you shut off your head as soon as you enter your human’s front door. You’re always oh so suave while you’re here...”
“No-one to impress and no-one to entice,” Tugger explained easily, batting at her tail with a sparkly, hot pink claw cap-adorned paw. “Just me and a pair of humans who’s exasperation grows every day. They might have gotten mad already if I didn’t leave to come here from time to time. It’s a very healthy balance, I assure you.”
“Evidently,” Bombalurina hummed, caressing his healthy, shining pelt with one paw. “You chose wisely. And then shut off your head.”
“I’m like a sea squirt.”
“A what?”
“A sea squirt. I search for a fitting home to stay, and then I digest my own brain,” Tugger said proudly.
Bombalurina grimaced. “That’s… I’m not sure if that’s a fitting comparison.”
Tugger shrugged. “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Anyhow.”
He wrapped his arms around her again and she happily leaned into it, still drawing random patterns into his shiny coat with her perfectly ordinary, beautiful claws, surrounded by breathtaking auburn fur.
“Tell me this: what kind of curtains do your humans have hanging in their living room, my love?”
Yes, I normally headcanon Jerrie and Teazer to be kittens, and yes, that part about sea squirts is true. I love sea creatures.
Also, I base most of my Cats stories in a vague time around the 1920s-1930s, so this is an outlier and shall not be counted XD
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed! ♥
#cats the musical#bombalurina#rum tum tugger#tuggerlurina#namethat-i writes#catsiversary: the sequel
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Coffee or Tea
This is what happens when you are trying to finish writing two emotional fics but instead find this cute writing prompt that needed to be used asap! I mean, I actually love what I have here and it never fails me how much I can write in almost 30 minutes. As I was writing it I discovered that I made everything as basic as possible. From the descriptions all the way to the actions. There is no plot (?) and I think that made it easier. I wrote as if I watching a film or reading a book. This is a specific scene that doesn’t need a continuance or even what happened before.
Enough talking. Here are some things to note about this short fic:
Characters: Skimbleshanks and Jennyanydots
AU: Human
Ages of Characters: They are adults over the age of 25
Warnings: None
This follows a random headcanon that thought Skimbleshanks loves tea with a bit of scotch, he also enjoys coffee too in the morning. But only sometimes.
Writing prompt: - it's early morning and as character A is making coffee or tea in the kitchen, they feel character B wrap their arms behind them and whisper in their groggy morning voice, "come back to bed."
It was known to many that Skimbleshanks was an early riser mostly due to his job on the rails. So one may say it was more of a habit than anything. Today was just like one of those. Except something was different.
His house was silent other than the sounds from the birds outside. He chuckled. Sometimes it was wonderful to listen to near silence.
But to make things better, he made his way to the kitchen where he carefully began the quiet process of making coffee and tea.
The coffee was for him as tea did almost nothing to wake him up. The caffeine was rather lackluster to him.
He let the coffee drip into his cup as he went to begin the process of heating the kettle. Though he was not the one for tea, he knew someone who did and it would be a surprise for them to get a hot cup from him.
Just as he was about to pour the hot steamy water into the cup, he felt Jenny wrap her arm around his waist.
“Come back to bed, dear” she whispered, her voice still groggy from waking up.
He only paused for a moment, thinking about what to do next. So he finished filling the cup, turned around, and hugged his sweet Jenny.
“I couldn’t fall back to sleep.” He whispered back. “And I made your favorite tea.”
He felt her laugh vibrate in the hug. “Then I guess I’ll need to drink it then if it’s made by you dear.”
They broke the hug so Skimbleshanks could finish preparing their morning drinks. Though this time he did it with an even greater smile knowing how lucky he was to have Jenny.
_____
I don't think I've posted a fic solely on Tumblr in a while and might post it on AO3. What do you guys think?
@storyweaverofgondor @uppastthejelliclemoon @roxycake @is-it-mungojerry-or-rumpelteazer @the-pied-pipers-assistant @queen-with-the-quill @thunderwhenhepurrs @dramatical-cat
#cats the musical fandom#cats the musical fan fiction#this is what happens when you fins a prompt#writing prompt#skimbledots#skimbleshanks#jennyanydots
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Cats Theory of the Day: Mungojerrie and the Jellicle Protectors
So, Munkustrap and Alonzo are the cats who fight to protect the tribe, but it’s implied than some other cats help out too. Which cats these are varies between productions, but it’s usually a group of bigger, stronger toms, with some of the queens helping out if they want to. The usual set is Munkustrap, Alonzo, Plato/Admetus, Coricopat, and a fifth one. In productions that include George, he’s the fifth one, but because of how rarely George appears, other cats have to fill in for him.
It’s pretty clear, if you look at how some of the numbers are structured, that George is meant to be a protector. In the Song of the Jellicles, Munkustrap marches with two other toms for the line “Jellicle cats develop slowly”. When George isn’t in the cast, these two and Plato/Admetus and Alonzo, but George replaces Alonzo whenever he’s present. Plato and George are younger than Munk, Alonzo, and Coricopat, so this moment feels like Munk leading the younger, newer protectors in doing Protector Things.
The best way to identify the protectors is during the Jellicle Ball. After Grizabella gets chased off, the dance goes from Complicated to Super Complicated and a bunch of different things happen. We have the Judders, or “waggles” as I like to call them, a few more named dance steps, Jetés (the running leaps), and some Cartwheels (with extra tumbling from Tumblebrutus), and then the Big Boys step. Munk, Alonzo, and three other toms do a dance that the girl kittens eventually take over. Big Boys, also called “Tall Boys”, are usually the adult or young adult toms who are taller than the kittens. There are more than five characters that fit this description, so not all Big Boys are THE Big Boys who are basically Munkustrap’s army for when the tribe is in danger.
I’ve looked through my bootleg collection and compared the group for five different Jellicles Balls (once again, I take notes on everything). The Broadway Revival couldn’t be included because the Jellicle Ball choreography was completely redone so that this step was removed, but the rest of my collection could be compared.
Munkustrap and Alonzo are in every single version. Since they’re always Jellicle Protectors, this signifies that that’s what this group is.
Plato/Admetus was in all but one version and Coricopat was in 3/4 of them. These are the common members.
When it comes to the fifth one, Skimble and Tugger joined in four versions each. Vienna-based productions generally have Tugger as a protector and Broadway-based productions usually include Skimble.
In the two productions where George was present, he was in the group, so he’s probably the one who’s supposed to go there when the full cast is present.
Mungojerrie was included in three productions and Tumblebrutus was included in one.
So, Mungojerrie can be a Jellicle Protector, but only when their numbers are down.
In 1998, the Standard Five (Munk, Alonzo, Plato, Cori, George) were used. But, when we get to the actual Macavity Fight, when the protectors are needed, only the first two are present. Plato doubles as Macavity and both Cori and George double as Henchcats, so when Macavity attacks, most of the cats who’re supposed to be there to protect the tribe are missing.
During the earlier false alarm, before Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, we can see how things are probably supposed to play out during a Macavity attack. Munk is in full Munkustance and Alonzo does some patrolling, but Plato and George can also be seen getting involved. George runs to Munkustrap, possibly waiting for instructions, and guards Etcetera. Plato can be seen instructing the kittens to get down on the floor in the safety circle, so he’s also stepping up in this emergency situation.
So, without Plato and George around to help, the tribe isn’t quite as prepared for Macavity’s attack. Other cats help with the kittens and form the safety circle, but there’s some confusion. Nobody notices that Pouncival never got in the circle, or that Tumblebrutus, also playing a Henchcat, is missing. Tugger and Misto are also absent, because Misto’s changing into his song costume and...actually I have no idea what’s up with Tugger. There are versions where he’s present for the Macavity Fight, but he’s just not this time. In-universe, he’s probably wherever Misto is.
Skimble, a common substitute for George as the fifth protector, very much springs into action, getting the kittens into the safety circle and keeping Mungojerrie from panicking. With three protectors missing, three replacements are needed. The cats chosen as Big Boys in other productions are physically capable of participating in the fight. So, Skimble, Tugger, Jerrie, are the most obvious choices for replacements. Tugger is absent, so the tribe ends up one short, but Skimble and Jerrie are there.
Skimble is one of the older cats and Plato is young enough to almost be considered a kitten, so I headcanon that Skimble was a Jellicle Protector, but he retired and Plato took his spot.
This whole tangent is mostly meant to explain Mungojerrie’s role in this whole thing. He stands to fight, but before he does, it doesn’t really seem like he’s going to. While the other toms in the fight acknowledge Macavity as a threat, Jerrie’s the only one who comes across as truly afraid of him. Before Demeter calls “Macavity”, Jerrie is pretty much fine handling the crisis. He helps Skimble get Teazer to safety and remains calm. But, when he realizes that Macavity is here, he freezes up, either staring out into space or curled up in a ball. Jerrie’s a tough boy who can handle a fight, but not with Macavity. He’s terrified of him, almost as much as Demeter is. Even Demeter handles the situation better, since she’s already standing to fight, but Jerrie’s too scared to move! He’s at the very least witnessed Macavity do something terrible when he worked for him, probably.
But, with most of the Jellicle Protectors mysteriously absent, Jerrie has to stand and fight. He doesn’t want to. He’s reluctant to do it. But, Skimble supports him through it, so he stands.
This moment could be Jerrie, despite his fear, learning to be brave, but that happens later in his arc. During the Macavity Fight, Jerrie circles around the action, occasionally hissing at Macavity, sort of imitating what Alonzo is doing, but he doesn’t get involved. Then, Macavity defeats Munkustrap and his unconscious body lands right in front of where Jerrie’s sitting. Teazer and Electra try and fail to revive him while Jerrie is just stunned. Alonzo takes over the fight and Jerrie hisses at Macavity again when he comes near. When Alonzo begins to struggle and it looks like he might be defeated as well, Jerrie stands. If Alonzo goes down, all the usual protectors are gone, and everyone else is too afraid to challenge Macavity, or still recovering from an earlier attempt to challenge Macavity (Etcetera). So, this is the moment where Jerrie faces his fear and challenges Macavity after Alonzo is briefly knocked out.
So, since there’s clearly a moment later in the arc where Jerrie chooses to fight, facing his fear, it wouldn’t make sense to do it twice. My theory is that Jerrie didn’t choose to stand and fight the first time. Most of the tribe’s protectors were absent, back-up was needed, and he was one of the few cats capable of providing it. Skimble led Jerrie to stand and get ready to fight, but Jerrie wasn’t ready for it. It’s later on that Jerrie chooses to face his fear, which is what really counts.
#cats 1998#mungojerrie#macavity#what happened between those two?#munkustrap#cats alonzo#cats plato#coricopat#cats george#skimbleshanks#skimbledad
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1998 Munk vs 2016 Munk part 1
Welp, here’s something I promised a long while ago, 1998 Munk vs 2016 Munk! When I first made that post asking if anyone would be interested in a post like this, I thought it’d be something that i’d just write up in like an afternoon and then be done with. I was wrong. I was so very wrong. In fact, I ended up having SO MUCH to say about these two, that I decided to split this analysis into parts just to get this thing out! This post is part one, and the others will be coming in the future. I know that probably sounds like bullshit, but trust me, I have got a LOT to say about Munkustrap! And I have every intention of forcing you all to listen to it!
Anyways, here we go!
Munkustrap is really the story-teller. He's entrusted with giving the information to the other, maybe younger cats who have not been to the Jellicle Ball before. He gets up and says exactly what they're here to do. He's also the caretaker of the kittens. He wants to make sure everybody's safe; in all the Macavity scares, he's there to protect the tribe. So he is the protector.
-Michael Gruber, 1998
Munkustrap is Old Deuteronomy's son and is next in line for the throne. So his leadership was inevitable, but over the course of the show he learns that true leadership is about understanding and forgiveness, and not just a right of birth. In trying to clarify relationships with everyone onstage, Tyler Hanes and I decided to commit to the idea of Munk and Tugger being half brothers. I am the Rob Stark to Tyler's Jon Snow. Without the Red Wedding.
-Andy Huntington Jones, 2016
I’ll be starting the analysis off with Invitation to the Jellicle Ball, which means skipping over Jellicle Songs and The Naming of Cats. While these songs are fine, they’re more for the audience benefit than for the story, so they don’t have many individual character moments to analyze.
Invitation to the Jellicle Ball
This number comes right off the heels of The Naming of Cats and takes place right before the ball officially begins. Victoria, the pure white kitten, is alone onstage, and begins to perform what’s known as The White Cat Solo, one of the shows most famous moments of choreography. Quaxo soon rushes back onstage and calls all the jellicles to ball! This acts as both the invitation, and official opening to the ball, as everyone rushes back onstage. Once the twins are finished with the opening, Munkustrap takes over and explains to the jellicles what they’re here to do, in a manner similar to a sermon!
-In the 1998 version, Munkustrap is one of the first cats to come back, but he doesn’t actually take center-stage until Quaxo is done with his solo! This is because his main priority is the other jellicles, whom he can be seen checking up on in the background. It’s only once he’s confirmed to himself that all the others are present, that he makes his way center-stage. And when begins his part, the jellicles immediately turn their attention to him. He’s such a strong presence that all the others react to even the slightest shift in his tone! He may be singing about Old Deuteronomy in this scene, but he is the absolute authority here.
As soon as he’s done with his sermon, he’s swarmed with attention! Electra and Sillabub paw at him for attention, Mistoffelees gives him a respectful nod, Jellylorum quickly checks up on him, Skimbleshanks gives him the most honorable of bows, Demeter gives him a loving nuzzle, Etcetera practically jumps on him for play, and Alonzo shares another quick nuzzle with him before the ball. And despite the fact that he has a lot to do, Munk acknowledges every cat that comes his way and is sure to give them his full attention, even if it’s just for a moment. This quick, twenty-second scene establishes Munk as a calm, genial, and caring presence within the tribe. For the kittens he’s an affectionate father-figure, for the elders he’s a leader they both respect and love, and for the cats his own age he’s a close, caring friend.
-2016 Munk takes a moment or so to come back onstage, and when he does, he’s not terribly concerned with the others. In fact, he’s far more concerned with the fact that Victoria and Quaxo are opening up the ball here. The way he runs up to him- before he’s even finished with his solo-implies that opening up the ball is typically his job and he doesn’t appreciate Quaxo taking over. Once he’s back in the spotlight, though, he revels in it! He delivers his part less like a sermon and more like a solo, keeping an air of power and prestige about him throughout the entire thing. Regardless, Munk here can’t hide his excitement for the ball, nor his wonder at the thought of The Heaviside Layer. The other jellicles pick up on his energy, and react in turn.
His verse soon ends and the jellicles all scramble. A few cats run up to Munk afterwards, namely Quaxo, Mungojerrie, and Rumpleteazer. While the twins apparently just want to annoy him, Quaxo seems to genuinely want his attention. He does a rather impressive little dance number, before standing at-attention to show respect. However, Munk shoos them all off, he’s got important grown-up things to be doing! This seems to be a rather common occurrence, as no one else really comes up to him afterwards, they all stay with their own cliques rather than bothering the leader. The only exception is Alonzo, whom Munk takes aside to give some quick, last-minute directions as they set-up for the next number.
The Old Gumbie Cat
Munkustrap opens up this number by introducing us to Jennyanydots, the titular Gumbie Cat. She’s very clearly his preferred candidate, outright saying that she’s the one he has in mind for the jellicle choice! The song outlines Jenny’s many good deeds, teaching the mice and beetles to be upstanding citizens of society, since we do in fact live in a society. The show accomplishes this by having the kittens dress up as mice and beetles to pantomime her students, before launching into a big dance number, allowing Jenny to show off her tap skills!
-The 1998 version opens with a quick, humorous scene of Misto assuming that Munk is going to be singing about him, and retreating in embarrassment when that doesn’t happen. While Munkustrap seems a bit embarrassed on Misto’s part, he keeps going nevertheless. As he’s addressing the younger cats here, he does his best to keep the slow opening exciting for them, enthusiastically pantomiming her “tiger stripes and leopard spots” as well as her favorite places to nap. As does this, Quaxo gets the idea to use his magic to open up the car that Jenny’s sleeping in. Munk quickly gives him permission to do this, indicating that he’s already aware of Misto’s magic on some level.
Once Jenny arrives, he lets her take over. He’s still there narrating, but takes the lead from here on out. She can be seen pointing the kittens to their places, giving them directions, and is quick to assert her authority when they start messing around during the tap number. When Munk does come back into the number, it’s either to provide narration, or assist Jenny. He may be the leader, but he knows who the star is! As a result, his role in this number is rather minimal.
-The 2016 version opens this number with Munkustrap telling the others about Jennyanydots, much like the ‘98 version! However, Munk here is, once again, not terribly concerned with the others. He knows that they’re there and is clearly singing to them, but he’s paying more attention to how he’s coming off. He’s clearly directing the number here, and wants Jenny to look good, so he’s more focused on how the song is going than if the others are invested. Much like before, Quaxo uses his magic to reveal Jenny, however this goes entirely unnoticed and unremarked upon by Munk. It’s possible that he doesn’t even know that Quaxo was the one doing it.
Jenny takes center-stage from here on, performing her famous tape number while the others pantomime her chores. No longer do they dress up as beetles, instead they use props like toothbrushes and balls! Munk takes on the director role, giving directions to the dancers and keeping things running smoothly, which lessens Jenny’s role in the song somewhat. While the song is about Jenny, Munk is very much running things behind the scenes. Even so, he’s nothing but admiring towards Jenny, and ensures the song shows her in the best possible light!
The Rum Tum Tugger
Just as the cats are congratulating Jenny on her number, who should burst in but Munk’s very own younger brother? The one, the only, The Rum Tum Tugger! He sets the entire ball off-course, by interrupting the night’s scheduled events with a big, self-aggrandizing number about his indecisive, rebellious nature. Reactions from the others vary, with the younger cats adoring him, while the older cats consider him a nuisance.
-’98 Tugger pops up just as Jenny has finished her number, and just as Munk was congratulating her on a job well done! As Tugger begins his own number, Munk helps Jenny offstage, effectively giving Tugger center-stage! His little brother wastes no time getting the kittens riled up and pissing off every adult he can! Of course, as the leader it falls to Munkustrap to fix this situation, right? Surely he can just step in and tell Tugger to cut it out, right?
Well, I don’t know. Because he never does that. In fact, he never even comes close to doing that! He’s clearly not happy with his brother; if you look at him during any point in the song, it’s obvious he doesn’t approve! But he never actually moves to stop Tugger. The closest he comes to that is just trying to gesture to the other cats to come back, which obviously doesn’t work. It seems that Munk is, for whatever reason, not comfortable trying to discipline Tugger here. In fact, there’s a number of times that one of the older cats goes up to him and gestures that he should do something...but he still doesn’t. And this hesitation effectively gives Tugger free reign in this scene because, as the standing leader, Munk is the highest authority at this moment. So none of the other cats can stop him because the one person he might listen to, if only out of obligation, won’t step in. Thus, Munk doesn’t participate in this scene much. He mainly sticks to the back, tries to calm down his elders, and just waits for the whole thing to be over.
-After Jenny’s number is over, ‘16 Munk leads the jellicles in another chant of “jellicles ask because jellicles dare!” Presumably to remind them why they’re there. And it’s at that moment that Tugger pops up! He mockingly echoes Munk’s words, before strutting right over to him and laughing in his face! Munkustrap is immediately horrified, and joins up with Alonzo to try and get things under control. Irritated by his intrusion, they both mockingly call Tugger a “terrible bore,” causing him to take a swing at Alonzo. Munk can be spotted in the background several times during this song, pulling away the kittens, commiserating with the elders, and generally trying to put a stop to this whole thing! Though Munk’s disapproval is clear, Tugger in this scene essentially acts like an annoying younger sibling, absolutely reveling in his brother’s irritation! He even uses a dance with Mistoffelees as a chance to antagonize Munk! While every version of Tugger loves the spotlight, ‘16 Tugger is clearly at least partially-driven by a desire to get under Munk’s skin as much as possible.
Of note in this scene is the character Demeter, who in both the ‘98 version and ‘16 version is implied to have a romantic relationship with Munk. In the 1998 version, Demeter is present for this scene, but doesn’t really participate in it. It’s implied that the loud party incited by Tugger’s entrance in some way triggered her PTSD, and she hisses at him when he comes near. But ‘16 Demeter is enthralled with Tugger’s entrance! While she never hits on him like characters such as Bomba or Cassie do, she’s clearly attracted to him, and Tugger singles her out for a dance early on. This seems to cause some additional stress for Munk, as the sight of her happily dancing along with the others visibly throws him off. If Demeter is aware of that, she seems entirely unconcerned by it, as she continues happily participating in the song. Even pulls out a camera to take pictures of Tugger with the audience! At that point, Munk seems to have reached the end of his patience, as he can be seen throwing up his hands in resignation.
Grizabella the Glamour Cat
Tugger’s song draws to a close, but he seems to have no intention of leaving, as he continues to bask in the glow of his fan’s adoration while they dance along to a musical reprise of his song. But all of that comes to a sudden stop with the appearance of a mangy, disheveled cat by the name of Grizabella. Her appearance immediately puts everyone on-edge, as they aren’t happy to see her and don’t want her around. Some of the younger cats try to reach out to her, but are quickly stopped by their elders, while Demeter and Bomba explain just who she is. Neither of them really say what it was that caused Griz to be hated by the tribe, but they say just enough to give the impression that she’s someone disgraceful to be avoided.
-98 Munk leaps into action the second he sees Grizabella, pushing away Mistoffelees before he can touch her, and assuming a protective stance. He hovers near her during the introduction, never once dropping his protective stance. Now, Grizabella’s not a villain. She’s not violent, nor malicious, nor physically intimidating. She’s just a sad, old queen who wants to come home. She’s not a threat, but Munkustrap sees her as one. It’s clear that she did something to upset not only the tribe, but him specifically. Enough for him to see her as something that he needs to protect the others from. While not as mean towards Griz as some of the others are, his actions hold far more weight than theirs, as he’s the standing leader. And while he doesn’t actively prevent the kittens from reaching out to her like the elders do, nor mock her like the younger toms, he makes it clear through his body language that Grizabella is NOT to be accepted! When Demeter attempts to reach out to her, Munk doesn’t stop her...he just stares intently at her while keeping his protective stance, silently making it clear that he doesn’t approve. Grizabella eventually grows frustrated with this, and angrily calls him out for looking down on her, causing him to look away in shame. Munk hesitates for a moment as Grizabella sings, briefly being forced to reconsider his attitude. But ultimately, he doesn't let up.
With that, Grizabella finally gets the memo that she’s unwanted here, and begins to leave. Munk watches her intently as she does, keeping alert in case she tries anything, while Demeter begins her verse. Demeter clearly feels a great deal of sympathy for her and wants to do something, but doesn’t have the courage to go against the tribe like that. Bombalurina soon joins her, and the song takes on a far more venomous tone, especially as the other jellicles join in. Munk stands center stage amongst the rest of the tribe as Grizabella hobbles off. Of note here is that Electra, the kitten who adores Munk the most, can be seen cowering between his legs, but he doesn’t seem to notice her at all. Munk is shown to have a very affectionate relationship with her, as she often goes to him for comfort and attention, which he readily gives! The fact that he fails to notice her unhappiness here is actually quite out-of-character for him, and indicative of how much Grizabella’s appearance upsets him.
-16 Munk initially hesitates in reacting to Grizabella’s entrance, leaving Alonzo to pull away the kittens in his place. Munk is slow to react here, neither welcoming nor rebuking Griz as she comes in. While he’s clearly made uncomfortable by her presence, he’s uncertain what to do with her. He doesn’t see her as a threat nor someone he needs to protect the others from, rather, he’s more saddened by her presence than anything else. The others, however, very much see her as an intruder, and are quick to reject her as she comes near. And while Munk isn’t really sure what to do about Griz, he’s very quick to reprimand the younger toms who scratch at her, which is something his ‘98 fails to do. During her solo, Grizabella calls out Munk specifically, never once breaking eye-contact with him. Munk struggles under her gaze, clearly uncomfortable with being put on the spot, and looks for an out. That ‘out’ comes in the form of Demeter. It’s easy to miss, but you can see Munk noticing Demeter inching closer to begin her verse, giving him the chance to leave.
Demeter here has absolutely no sympathy for Grizabella. She sings her verse with a sneer and a wicked smile, she seems to almost enjoy the sight of Grizabella’s shame. By mockingly recounting her story to the other jellicles, Demeter and Bomba reaffirm to the tribe that Grizabella is someone they should stay away from. In addition, this takes the pressure off Munk to make a decision. He’s clearly uncomfortable with the public shaming, to the point where you can still see him standing nervously off to the side during the duet, but he doesn’t want to go against the tribe. So, he gives Demeter and Bomba the spotlight, and doesn’t intervene. As the standing leader, Munk has the power to officially let Grizabella back in the tribe and end the shaming, so his inaction allows it to continue. Munk is tense, apprehensive, but also uncertain as he watches Grizabella leave. He’s ready to jump into action if she tries anything, but she doesn’t. And while he intently watches her leave, the other jellicles hang back in the yard, leaving Munkustrap as the only one who sees her off.
Bustopher Jones
Once Grizabella’s been shooed out, Bustopher Jones the cat-about-town comes in! His visit immediately livens up the atmosphere, as everyone scrambles to tidy things up to his liking. Bustopher is a cat who frequents several gentlemens clubs across London for fine dining, which the others take as a sign of wealth and status, and treat Bustopher accordingly. The majority of the song consists of Bustopher recounting the many clubs he frequents during this polite social visit.
-When Butstopher arrives in the ‘98 version, Munk very much still has his focus on Grizabella’s departure. He’s so focused on it that he fails to notice Bustopher’s entrance, as Jenny tries to give him a bit of reassurance as the kittens scramble to catch a glimpse of Griz as she leaves. Once they do notice Bustopher, they immediately change gears! Misto takes the lead in Munk’s absence, immediately directing all the toms in the area to stand at attention to greet Bustopher. While Jenny regroups with the other queens, Munk runs back to the tire where Misto is waiting. The tuxedo tom is clearly proud of himself for handling this so well and reaches out to Munk for approval, which he quickly receives. Though he’s trying to re-orient his focus back to the ball, he hasn’t failed to notice Misto’s efforts, and appreciates him. Possibly in an attempt to make-up for lost time, Munk puts himself right in front of Bustopher’s way, giving him a smile and a salute. This is the only cat he ever gives an outright salute to, implying that Bustopher is, in some way, of a higher status than he is. Not high enough to be revered as Old Deuteronomy is, but high enough that he needs to show proper respect.
Once respect has been paid, Bustopher indicates that he wants to leave, to which Munk obliges. However, Misto rushes in to try and prevent him from leaving so early, which causes Munk to change gears completely! He urges Bustopher to stay for just a bit longer, prompting the other toms to ready a place for him to sit so they can gather around and hear about his clubs. Munk shifts back into his leader role as he guides the others, and acts as a calm foil to Misto’s eager-to-please self without undermining him. He recognizes that this is an important guest, but that Misto clearly has some emotional attachment to Bustopher, and so lets him take the lead here. Even lets Misto guide him and the others on standing at-attention, an indulgent smile on his face the entire time. As the song ends and Jones bids the audience “Toodle pip!” Munk can be seen in the background giving one final salute.
(This analysis was helped in part by @sevenkittensinatrenchcoat‘s Bustopher Jones posts)
-Just as Grizabella the Glamour Cat fades out, the kittens all scramble to get a look at Griz as she leaves, and right as Bustopher Jones comes in! Munk, still shaken from the last number, is caught completely off-guard by the new arrival! At first his attention is split between the kittens and Jones, but Jenny and Jelly swoop in to gather the kittens, giving Munk a chance to greet their guest. Good thing too, as he’s able to pull away Mungo and Rumple before they did something to upset him! He and Alonzo immediately start tending to Bustopher, apologizing for the twins, and greeting him properly. While Jenny and Jelly handle the kittens, he and the other toms get into formation to salute their important guest, before heading off-stage to give Bustopher the spotlight. When Munk finally does come back on-stage, he and the others have prepared several dishes of food for Bustopher’s enjoyment!
Unfortunately, I don’t really have as much to say about this version of the number as I did the ‘98 version. As Munk is off-stage for much of this number, there’s not much in the way of character moments that can really be analyzed. Munk ultimately leaves much of this number to Jennyanydots and Jellylorum, who are shown to be quite fond of Bustopher. When Munk does reappear, it’s mainly just to be part of the choreography.
Current Impressions
-2016 Munk on the whole seems younger than his 1998 counterpart. While they both occupy the position of standing leader, ‘16 Munk is more self-centered in his leadership. He’s not terribly attentive to the others, can micromanage at times, but is uncertain of himself in stressful situations. 1998 Munk, on the other hand, fits the leadership role near-perfectly! He’s attentive without being smothering, confident but not arrogant, and is quick to act whenever danger occurs! He’s clearly been acting as a leader for a while now, and has settled nicely into the role. ‘16 Munk is still finding his footing as a leader, and has that youthful self-centeredness holding him back somewhat.
-2016 Munk has fewer personal relationships in the tribe than 1998 Munk. While both of them are shown to be close with Alonzo and Demeter, ‘16 Munk lacks connection to younger cats like the kittens, while ‘98 Munk is quite close with them! While he’s still close with Alonzo, ‘16 Lonz is more deferential to Munk than his ‘98 counterpart, implying a more work-based relationship. And while he’s implied to be romantically involved with Demeter, they don’t share the same gentle affection with each other as ‘98 Deme and Munk. ‘98 Munk is quick to give and receive physical affection through nuzzles and pets, while ‘16 Munk has yet to do anything of the sort.
One relationship that’s notably different between productions is his relationship with Misto. ‘98 Munk is very patient with and caring towards Mistoffelees, sensing his desire to prove himself, and giving him little opportunities to do so throughout the ball! But ‘16 Munk’s interactions with Misto is limited to shooing him away and briefly standing between him and Tugger. It’s hard to tell how he regards Mistoffelees here because their interactions up to this point have been pretty impersonal! While 1998 Munk serves as a mentor figure to Mistoffelees, the best that can be said about 2016 Munk is that he’s aware Misto exists.
-Something to note is that the 2016 revival has noticeably less kittens in the show than the 1998 version. The 1998 version had about eight kittens, four toms and four queens, with characters like Plato and Victoria being on the cusp of adulthood while still being taken care of by their elders. The revival had about three, with Victoria and Plato no longer being characterized as among them. This greatly reduces the number of kittens for Munk to interact with, and as such, reduces Munk’s protector/caretaker role. Bring back Etcetera you cowards.
-1998 Munk is defined by his role as a storyteller and a protector; his top priority in any scene is making sure his tribe is safe and happy. 2016 Munk is defined by his role as a leader and prince; his top priority in any scene is to uphold the traditions and keep things running smoothly.
#cats#cats the musical#cats 1998#cats 2016#munkustrap#analysis#demeter#alonzo#rum tum tugger#mr mistoffelees#victoria#jennyanydots#grizabella#bustopher jones#electra#etcetera#sillabub
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Alright. Buckle up.
I've made happy noises before about Tuggerstrap in the German tent tour of 2011-2013, but now it's time for me to weep over it.
Tugger still annoys Munkustrap at every chance he can get, but they also work beautifully as a team. They are both the leaders of the tribe here, and they complement each other's strengths.
Alonzo comes across as quite young in this production, and (at least on this night) he takes a smaller role in the Macavity fight even than Mungojerrie. So it makes sense that, when danger strikes, Munkustrap and Tugger gravitate to each other as the two main protectors of the tribe - as two cats who know to their core that they can rely on each other for anything.
Macavity they were having a happy little jig and a cup of tea with Tumblebrutus, why do you have to ruin everything??
Now, this production has a thrust stage - a semicircle with the audience surrounding them except at the back - so they're always performing to three sides, and there's much more of a sense that danger might come from any direction (especially as the cats often do move through the audience along various aisles). So here, when the alarm sounds, the kittens (who are mostly on the outskirts, nearer the audience) hit the ground, while the adults stay standing at the centre in protector stance, looking around to work out where the danger came from.
In fact, the first thing Tugger does after the initial alarm 'freeze' is move toward Munkustrap - who is standing with his back to him in The Stance - with his own slightly more crouching version of The Stance, and duck his head under his arm so they're standing interlocked, arms crossing each other's back, a fierce wall of protection facing the direction from which the crash sounded. 🥺
(And please notice Tumblebrutus trying to be brave - on his feet like the adults but with his back arched in fear, trying to look big and/or to huddle up like a scared kitten at the same time - and Skimble's arms wrapped around a tiny terrified ball of Jemima at the front there before he hurries her into the middle of the circle I'm not crying you're crying.)
(Continued under the cut.)
But they keep hearing danger from one side then another, and with each alarm they shift, pulling the kittens in toward the centre with the adults in a defensive formation around them. This frees Tugger and Munk up to rush to the edges of the stage (moving opposite each other but meeting at the middle) to look out into the audience, trying to find the threat. (That little glance back over his shoulder just before he snarls, making sure all his family are behind him and safe! 🥺)
Of course, it does no good. Macavity appears behind them and they all swing to face the danger - which is their undoing. He hypnotises them all and, as he passes each cat, they collapse behind him. His minions hustle Deuteronomy off through the audience to the right.
Munkustrap struggles to his knees, reaching for Tugger, and the two of them cling to each other desperately, using each other for support as they fight their way back to their feet. In fact, Tugger stays down a little longer: his first priority is to get Munkustrap up. He uses his solid stance on his knees to push Munkustrap to his feet.
Then Munkustrap pulls him up and they cling for a moment, finding their balance in each other. It’s a quick exchange of looks, claws tight on each other’s arms - and Munkustrap and a few other protectors take off after Macavity.
But Tugger dashes off to stage left, with the kittens and the older cats who are going to ground to hide. To protect them? Or to find Mistoffelees?
It’s obviously not cowardice: he was standing shoulder to shoulder with Munkustrap throughout the confrontation, and there’s a reason they split up here. They hardly needed to exchange a word to know what they each had to do in this crisis. And they trust each other, without a backward glance.
Anyway. Weep with me, over Tugger and Munkustrap, co-leaders of the Jellicles, who find strength and balance in each other and dance little jigs with kittens.
Dominik Hees as Tugger and Jack Rebaldi as Munkustrap, Martin Berger as Deuteronomy, probably Shane Dickson or Adam Margilewski covering Macavity; German tent tour, 2011. Source.
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Naming of Cats theory?
Okay cats have a third secret name that can't be express in mere words right?? And that name is like the essence of themselves? Some True Name kinda deal?
What if they actually ARE telling us their third names?? Hear me out.
Now, everyone knows that the big tenant of musical theater is: "When you can no longer speak, you sing, and when you can no longer sing, you dance."
So when the cats are out there singing and dancing about themselves, that's them telling you their third name!! The whole POINT if the songs is for them to say "This is who I am!" Dance especially is so important to the cats, as they sing in the intro to the Jellicle Ball with their "we know how to dance a gavotte and a jig" and "terpsichorean powers".
They ARE telling you their third name in the only way they can! Song and dance!!
Jennyanydots, Rum Tum Tugger, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, and the other principal cats are all fully realized and able to express the essence of themselves. They get big flashy songs all about themselves!!
The kittens are still young and developing their identities, so they're sticking with eachother and watching the adults.
Victoria has her own dance solo because she's transitioning into maturity and realizing herself.
Munkustrap and Jellylorum are here to help people tell their stories. They don't really have their own songs because their job is to help someone else express themselves.
Bombalurina and Demeter are an interesting case. They have their own song, but not about them. My take on this with the Name Theory in mind is that Demeter and Macavity clearly have history, and her past ties with him sort of robbed Demeter of her identity. She's still haunted by him and isn't truly herself. Bombalurina is trying to help Demeter reclaim herself by supporting her and helping her move past him. The song is about Macavity, but it's also about Demeter's pain.
And then there's Grizabella.
The Glamour Cat, the shining star of Junkyard, the cat who's beauty and talent knew no equal.
She still has her voice to be sure, but she's clearly unable to dance anymore. After the Ball, she tries to move like she was able to before, but she's too frail and broken to dance like the other Jellicles.
She's lost touch with her Name, just like Demeter. Grizabella is a ghost of her former self, devoid of any identity. She only has the memory of who she once was, and if she still remembers her Name, then it's far behind her reach and lost to her.
I think that's the difference between Gus and Grizabella. Gus still has his Name; he has Jellylorum, and the rest of the tribe, to keep the memory of his Name alive.
Grizabella goes to the Heaviside Layer, and Old D closes the show with The Addressing of Cats, and specifically, he says this: "You've seen us both at work and games, And learnt about our proper names"
This makes The Naming of Cats poem come full circle. We open the show by talking about a cat's names, and we close the show by talking about how we've learned about the cats at their names.
Skimbleshanks is the cat's name, but the song and dance is his Name.
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TTFeb: C A T S
halfcactus prompted: CATS (your fav colorings/encounters/behaviors/whatever AND fav cat-related media, whether the cat is the central character or not). Would also like to know about how you got into Cats (musical) 👀 Who was your fav cat, what was your fav song
I am into Cats (musical) because my mom always had the cast recording in the car! Her ringtone is still Memory. STIFF COMPETITION for favorite cat or song!!! I cannot decide...
1. When I was little, after I woke up, I'd sit at the top of the stairs. (Hilariously, my little brother did that too, despite being enough younger than me that he couldn't have learned the behavior from me.) So my grandpa would call me a gumbie cat, after the line in The Old Gumbie Cat, "She sits and sits and sits and sits." I was surprised to learn as an adult that gumbie cat is not, in fact, well known slang hahahaha.
2. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer have such a good song and they're so fun haha. I think they were my favorite as a kid because their song is bouncier?
3. Mr. Mistoffelees when the song is sung by Rum Tum Tugger is, of course, classic and amazingly shippy. Yes, do sing about how magical Mr. Mistoffelees is some more, after he describes you as a terrible bore. Excellent.
I am still sad my mom didn't bring me with her to see the Broadway revival, but I /did/ see it during a China tour and it was great. I love that the costuming goes all in on the makeup. I love the dance and acrobatic elements! It's probably still my favorite musical.
In non-musical cats, after reading Diane Duane's Feline Wizards trilogy, I was seized with the strongest desire to be able to lick my own nose. The cats in her books just kept licking their noses! What would that be like... The first book is the strongest, IIRC, but generally not her best works. The alienness of being from the PoV of a cat and the cat behaviors were well done though!
In ficly cats, I think it's very funny that lazulisong keeps turning characters into cats-- full series of all of them here.
(halfcactus, now that I'm thinking about it, Chi's Sweet Home reminds me a bit of Legend of Luo Xiaohei-- it's also a bunch of very short episodes about a cat being adopted into a family.)
In real cats, solid gray cats have usurped calico cats as my favorite. They're so dignified looking! Also, there's a friendly tiny gray cat in my neighborhood that'll come when you call! But I think it doesn't spend as much time twining around your legs after you don't feed it enough times ^^;
I like when cats try to sit in drawn boxes and when they put their paws over their faces! And fluffy cat bellies, of course.
Cats! So good!
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WTF is Broadway Revival Tumblebrutus's Personality 2/2
So then we end up with the Broadway revival, which featured new choreography and mixed up the ensemble characters included. Pouncical and Carbuckety both are in this show, with Pouncival using the George costume and being the youngest male kitten, and Carbuckety using the traditional Pouncival costume and being a teen cat. Electra was used in a North American production for once, and Tumblebrutus is there! So I watched the bootleg a few times specifically following Tumblebrutus, and here are my notes.
Seven Kittens in Mr. Mistoffelees
- Sillabub, Pouncival, Electra, Tumblebrutus, Victoria, Mungojerrie, and Rumpleteazer
Kitten Stack
- Sillabub, Pouncival, and Electra
Likely adolescent/teenager cats
- Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer, Victoria, Carbucketty, Plato, Mr. Mistoffelees
- Tumblebrutus has an interaction moment with Carbucketty, Mr. Mistoffelees, Sillabub, Rumpleteazer, Victoria, Skimbleshanks, Jennyanydots, Bombalurina, Alonzo, Old Deuteronomy, Electra, and Gus that I could see
- Tumblebrutus is neither a mice nor a cockroach, he's an assistant, him, Victoria, and Rumpleteazer are the only ones of the kittens to not be involved as either
- Pouncival and Mungojerrie push Carbucketty to scratch Grizabella the first time, I don't think Tumblebrutus is in this interaction at all
- He's in the line with Munkustrap, Alonzo, Skimbleshanks, and Mr. Mistoffelees during Bustopher Jones
- Part of the kitten stack during Old Deuteronomy but not Jennyanydots, Bustopher Jones, or Pekes and the Pollicles, which all use the kittens together
- I didn't see any of the adults going to protect him during Macavity or Grizabella scares
- In the line with Alonzo, Plato, Coricopat, and Mr. Mistoffelees during the ball
- Interesting interaction with Alonzo before the mating dance? I have no clue what it is, but it was kept in the US Tour
- Tumblebrutus is unpaired for the mating dance, him, Mistoffelees, and Jellylorum are kinda together, but not really, and if anything Tumble joins in late and the other two might be paired here. In fact in the US Tour that followed this show, Tumblebrutus is also unpaired here, and Mistoffelees and Jellylorum are together. Rather than being by them, Tumble is curled up by Old Deuteronomy.
- Tumblebrutus pushes Grizabella the second time she comes back on stage
- Tumblebrutus is not one of the young cats doing the initial choreography in Skimbleshanks
- Tumblebrutus and I believe Pouncival or Carbucketty are the two Macavity Henchcats
- One of the seven kittens in Mr. Mistoffelees
- Fourth cat that touches Grizabella
So what is his personality? Well uh, he kinda doesn't have a very clear and defined one. This isn't an insult to the actor portraying him, but he isn't really given much to work with. The role of the mischievous tom kitten is mostly given to Mungojerrie, while the teen tom trying to prove himself is given to Carbucketty, at least in a less serious way than original Broadway Tumblebrutus. So with the characters previous characterizations taken by other characters, Tumblebrutus is kind of just there. He seems to be an in-between of the kittens (Sillabub, Jemima, and Pouncival) and teens (Mungojerrie & Rumpleteazer, Victoria, and Carbucketty). When the scene needs another kitten, like Old Deuteronomy, he's a kitten. When the scene needs another teen, like Bustopher Jones, he's a teen. The show mostly uses him as a tumbler, pretty much every time he's in the spotlight, he's tumbling (Jennyanydots, Jellicle Ball, etc.) Tumblebrutus is more serious than the London Bill Bailey, but he isn't as solemn as the original Broadway Tumblebrutus. I'm kind of surprised that he was unpaired in the mating dance, based on the way the characters are aged, I'd expect him to be with Electra or Jemima, with Pouncival with the other one, but Carbucketty instead is paired with Electra. The show does have more male characters than female characters, so someone had to be unpaired, and for some reason, it was Tumblebrutus with maybe Mistoffelees and Jellylorum. I'm interested in what the creative process was for the background cats, as for me, it seems it would have made more sense to switch Pouncival and Carbucketty's costume, as the Carbucketty outfit is almost always given to a young tom kit, and the Pouncival outfit is sometimes given to an older tom. I'm also kind of surprised that they sectioned the male tom kits as they did, I would have expected Tumblebrutus to be the teenager tom, Pouncival as the young male tom, and Carbucketty (really George) as the in-between cat who switches when needed.
I also have no idea what his interaction with Alonzo and Old Deuteronomy is in the scene right before the mating dance. I've seen it suggested that he's trying to flirt with Alonzo, who rejects him, and then he gets comforted by Old D. I don't quite agree with this interpretation, as to me it seems a bit more friendly, like Alonzo is his brother, and is messing with Tumble (things like the head turn, and fake punch) but I also have no idea what its supposed to mean, and apparently it was important enough to keep for the US Tour. Considering it's placement in the romantic part of the ball, and the fact Alonzo immediately goes to Cassandra, maybe it is Tumble trying to flirt. I also don't really have a solid interpretation of why they had Tumble do the second male kitten attack on Grizabella, Carbucketty is obviously him being pressured to do it by Mungojerrie and I think Pouncival or Plato, where as Tumblebrutus just kinda does it. I think he's just doing it because the other adult cats very clearly don't like Grizabella, so he thinks he's helping, but I don't really know.
In the next US Tour (which I haven't seen yet so some of this is just me guessing) the role of Carbucketty and Electra were cut, with Tumblebrutus taking Electra's role in the kitten stack, and some of Carbucketty's part (jumping jacks during the ball, etc.) So the Tumblebrutus here seems to have a much more defined personality. Funnily enough though I think he's still probably unpaired in the mating dance, as there's more guys than girls again. I'd guess most of the non London based productions, which haven't changed from there initial Bill Bailey characterization, are gonna use this version of Tumblebrutus. As for Broadway Tumblebrutus, he's kind of a blank slate. He's used as the choreography needs him to be, but doesn't have a set age or personality, so he can be a bit of everything!
#tumblebrutus#bill bailey#cats musical#cats the musical#jemima#sillabub#pouncival#carbucketty#electra cats#mr mistoffelees#mister mistoffelees#alonzo#old deuteronomy#jellylorum#victoria#mungojerrie#rumpleteazer#grizabella#bustopher jones
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@storyweaverofgondor’s cats-pril day 6 - tribe. It is very difficult to write a fic which includes every member of the Cats characters while also keeping it short, but I think I did alright! Also on Ao3 here.
Old Deuteronomy sat on his tyre, looking out over the Junkyard. It was a rare occasion that every single member of the tribe was there at the one time; it only really happened when the Jellicle Ball rolled around. It was the morning after the most recent one, and the sun was bright and warm overhead. Gus had ascended to the Heaviside Layer, and his own son had danced a pas-de-deux and been accepted by the Everlasting Cat.
Said son was currently loafing off to the side, contentedly watching the goings-on, his fluffy tail wrapped tightly around a barely-visible ball of black fur. Mistoffelees – his boy’s new mate. He had almost wept with joy when Tugger had come to ask for his permission to dance a pas-de-deux, to present himself and Mistoffelees to the Everlasting Cat as mates. He had allowed it, of course, it had been obvious from the get go that this would happen. Thankfully, no one had needed rescuing via teleportation this year, but Mistoffelees had still used a fair bit of magic in setting up the night’s protective barriers, and then managing all the lights, as well as fantastical displays for the Kittens, so it was no surprise that he was still curled in a ball fast asleep, warmed by the sun and Tugger’s fur.
His other son, Munkustrap, was sitting by his own mate, Demeter, watching their Kitten, Jemima. Old Deuteronomy bit back a chuckle. Munkustrap was desperately trying to pretend like he wasn’t falling asleep sitting up, to the amusement of Demeter, who kept brushing him with her tail and making him jump when his eyelids fluttered. He would tell him later to get some rest, although he doubted Demeter wouldn’t beat him to it. His boy always seemed to forget he needed sleep.
His grandbaby Jemima was playing some sort of rough and tumble game with the other Kittens. It looked like they were all trying to do Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer’s double-cartwheel move, but only George and Electra seemed to be having any luck in recreating it at all. Tumblebrutus, Pouncival, Jemima, and Etcetera were in a tangled heap on the floor, giggling like mad. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer themselves seemed not to be involved in this. Rumpleteazer was curled into Skimbleshanks’ side and dozing. It made him glad to see; the calico twins had adopted Skimbleshanks as a sort of father figure, and he had really helped them find their place in the Junkyard. Mungojerrie, on the other paw, was over on top of the oven, chatting animatedly to Coricopat. Old Deuteronomy suppressed a smile at the sight – the normally-serene Coricopat looked quite delighted by the interaction. Even if those two couldn’t sense it yet, he got the feeling they’d be seeing another pas-de-deux soon.
Tantomile, less fond of excessive chatter, was lounging comfortably in the shade next to Cassandra and Tica. From a distance, Old Deuteronomy couldn’t tell whether they were actually talking, or just enjoying each others’ quiet disposition.
Victoria and Plato, last year’s mated pair, seemed to be doing the bulk of keeping an eye on the Kittens, when they could take their eyes off of each other, that was. Thankfully, Bombalurina was also nearby, one eye on them, one on the rest of the adults, who were surrounding Jellylorum and Asparagus.
Jellylorum herself was slightly puffy-eyed, but looked to be trying to smile. Asparagus kept zoning out from where he was tucked into his partner Skimbleshanks’ other side. Old Deuteronomy sympathised, for as much as a loved one being the Jellicle Choice was an honour, it could be hard for those left behind, and Jellylorum and Asparagus, as well as being his daughter and son, had been Gus’ main caretakers this past year. To keep them company, Bustopher Jones had opted to stay for a few days, and was making quiet conversation. Alonzo and Jennyanydots had taken up position on either side of Jellylorum. Jennyanydots was her partner, and Alonzo looked up to her almost as a mother.
Their father was gone, but they were surrounded by their tribe now, supported by their extended family who would be there through thick and thin. Old Deuteronomy could not be more proud of his tribe, his family.
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Pouncival: Hey Mungojerrie can I ask you a question?
Mungojerrie: Sure!
Pouncival: Can you use a sharp pencil to stab and kill someone?
Mungojerrie: Why?
Pouncival: No real reason. I'm curious if it could happen.
#would you believe this was something a student actually asked me#it was weird#pouncival#mungojerrie#mungojerrie is trying to be the adult here#pouncival is curious okay#incorrect quotes#incorrect cats#source: original
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It's Electra Time
Some of my favorite characters in Cats 1998 are the kittens. All the performers do such a great job of giving their characters personalities; I just love to watch the ensemble to see what they are doing. So much goes on in the background.
I recently re-watched Cats paying close attention to where George, one of my favorite ensemble cats, is at all times. It was a lot of fun, so I want to do it again. This time with a character I really want to like, but just never end up paying much attention to: Electra.
Before I get started, I want to say that I initially thought Electra and Etcetera would often be placed next to each other. I feel like they are always together and that's why I usually think of them as sisters. However, during this rewatch, focusing almost entirely on who Electra is standing near, I ended up very surprised by how little time she actually is with Etcetera. The two of them are next to each other in a number of scenes, it's not like they aren't close at all, but I was still surprised. Due to this, quite a bit of this post is going to be pointing out who Electra is next to or in front of or behind or diagonally near. That's actually the bulk of this post. I think it’s useful in deducing which cats she is friendliest with.
If you do not find that as interesting as I do, you may not want to read this. I'm not kidding. It really is almost completely just who Electra is standing next to.
Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats
Here is our first look at Electra.
And she gets her only solo line "with book and with bell" during 'Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats.'
While dancing during this song, she is near Victoria, Rumpleteazer, and sometimes near Cassandra and Tantomile.
During this next part, Electra stands in the 2nd row from the bottom, between Asparagus and Jennyanydots. She is right behind Alonzo and in front of Tumblebrutus.
Then, during this part of the dance, Electra is between Bombalurina and Cassandra and in front of Pouncival.
After the jete circle, Electra ends up in front. She and Rumpleteazer share a look before proceeding with the 'Practical Cats, Dramatical Cats' line. I think Electra and Rumpleteazer are friends.
Also in the 'Practical Cats, Dramatical Cats' group are Pouncival, Demeter, Jemima, and Victoria.
During the next group dance number, Electra is in the front left corner. She is still next to Rumpletezer, in front of Pouncival, and diagonal to Demeter.
The Naming of Cats
During 'The Naming of Cats,' Electra remains in the lower, left corner next to Rumpleteazer. Nobody is really directly behind her, but Jellylorum is somewhat near her.
The group separates into three parts and Electra is in the part that goes to the left of the stage. She is near Mistoffelees, Jellylorum, and Tumblebrutus.
Invitation to the Jellicle Ball
During the 'Invitation to the Jellicle Ball,' we finally get to see Etcetera and Electra together. Etcetera goes to hug Electra. Awww.
And Electra reaches for Victoria.
When everyone clumps together, Electra is near Munkustrap, Etcetera, Pouncival, and Victoria (you can't see Victoria in the picture, but she's behind Munkustrap).
Electra paws at Munkustrap and he smiles at her. Munkustrap greets a lot of cats during this scene, but Electra is the first one he interacts with.
The Old Gumbie Cat
She joins Etcetera and Jemima in pawing at/teasing Mistoffelees after his embarrassing moment at the beginning 'The Old Gumbie Cat.'
Electra the mouse.
Winding the curtain cord and tying it into sailor-knots.
I think the Electra beetle is the one on the right side, closest to Jennyanydots. It's very hard to distinguish which cat is which when they are beetles. I can't keep track of Electra enough to know who she stands next to.
Wait. I found her. Here she is, in the middle. I still cannot tell who she is next to.
The Rum Tug Tugger
Electra, Jemima, and Victoria dance during 'The Rum Tug Tugger.'
Some more dancing.
Lots of cats join in with the dance. At one point, she ends up next to Jemima and Etcetera and at another point, she's next to Cassandra.
Victoria joins Electra between Tantomile and Cassandra.
The Rum Tug Tugger might not care for a cuddle, but Electra manages to get a bit of a nuzzle in.
Like all the other girls, Electra is very into Tugger during his song. It looks like she got so excited here, she meowed.
Unfortunately, I don't have a gif of this, but when Tugger turns around, Electra is directly in front of him. Lucky Electra gets to dance with Tugger.
Electra is between Etcetera and Victoria and in front of Cassandra during this part of the dance.
Grizabella The Glamour Cat
Electra is the 4th cat to try and approach Grizabella. Mistoffelees and Jemima both went before her. Bombalurina circled Grizabella a bit, then Electra tried to see what's up with this new cat.
Jenny basically karate chops Electra away. Jenny then shakes her head at Grizabella.
Either Electra takes refuge behind Jenny on her own volition or Jenny puts her there for protection. Based on how close Electra seems to be to Jenny, I think she might be her daughter.
At the end of the song, Electra gets to be in the space between Munkustrap's legs.
Bustopher Jones
Electra spends most of 'Bustopher Jones' with the other female cats. Here she is with Etcetera. Etcetera looks so happy with her little salute.
I don't know if Electra is pointing at Bustopher or at Munkustrap. It sort of looks like she's thinking about touching Munkustrap, but she changes her mind.
The girls don't play as big a role in this song as the boys. Electra and the other girl kittens, as well as the adult queens, cluster on the right side of the stage so they can admire Bustopher. Electra settles down between Jennyanydots and Jellylorum.
Electra might be a bit more reserved than some of the other kittens, *cough* Etcetera *cough*, but she still can be pretty silly.
Electra is also very attentive, even when Etcetera looks confused by Jenny's taste in men.
Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer
Electra, like everyone else, leaves the stage after the first Macavity scare and doesn't come back until the end of 'Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer.'
This seem like a pretty good pausing point for now. I'll pick up with the rest of Act 1 here.
#electra cats#cats electra#cats 1998#cats musical#etcetera cats#rumpleteazer#jennyanydots#victoria#bustopher jones#munkustrap#rum tug tugger#cats 1998 analysis#electra
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Cast Interviews From 1986 vs. 2016
So, I’ve found a podcast that’s been interviewing various Cats cast members and superfans. Most of the interviews come from the cast of the Broadway Revival, but there are also several interviews from US Tour III which went from 1986 to 1988. So we’ve got a bit of both old and new. Here’s what I’ve learned about how things have changed over the years and why the Broadway Revival is such a confused mess:
In the interviews of US Tour III cast members, it seemed like everyone was told the story of the play and had a pretty clear idea of what was going on. Some actors were given backstories for their characters, but the amount of detail varied. Actors cast as Munkustrap and Tugger were told that their characters were brothers and the sons of Old Deuteronomy. Actors cast as Demeter were given a full backstory for the character. However, Grizabella’s story remained vague. Bombalurina, Mistoffelees, and Sillabub also had no confirmed backstories, and most of their characters were improvised during rehearsals. Also, since this tour was from 1986-1988, a lot of cast members don’t remember a lot of what they were told. It’s been a while.
Out of the backstory and character information provided, Demeter’s was the most consistent. She was kidnapped by Macavity, escaping shortly before the events of the play. She’s an outsider to the tribe, but she knows Bombalurina and stays close to her. Bombalurina also had some experience with Macavity, but she enjoyed it more than Demeter did. This lines up with what Jacob Brent said about Demeter in the 1998 version.
Some character dynamics are different from more modern versions. Alonzo is Demeter’s love interest, as was typical with Broadway-based productions. Also, in most productions, Alonzo doesn’t get along with Tugger, but he’s a fan of him in this version.
Outside of Alonzo, it was made perfectly clear that Mistoffelees was played as a full adult, the same age as Munkustrap. The actor who played him throughout the tour, Randy Slovacek seemed to have made up most of Misto’s characterization in that production by himself. Misto was friends with Grizabella in the past and wasn’t upset by whatever she did to upset the others. When she first appears, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, taking the place of Coricopat and Tantomile, who were cut for the tour, run up to her and try to chase her away. Misto calls them off, but Munkustrap won’t let him do anything else to help her and he respects his authority too much to try anything.
The interviews of the Broadway Revival cast tell a very different story of what was going on behind the scenes. Apparently, they were rushed for time and there weren’t as many rehearsals before the show as there usually are. That, combined with the new choreography meant that nobody really knew what they were doing. Munkustrap and Tugger were confirmed to be siblings, but very little backstory information was given outside of that. The few cast members who worked with Gillian Lynne seemed to have a better idea of what was going on with their characters. Andy Blankenbuehler was still figuring things out and wasn’t able to offer similar clarity. The few times anyone was told anything, it was usually by Trevor Nunn.
Basically, Nunn and Lynne invented Cats, and nobody else seems to know how the fuck any of it works.
Tyler Hanes and Sara Jean Ford knew each other before being cast and they came up with a lot of backstory for their characters, which everyone else got drawn into. Ford played Jellylorum as the same age as Tugger. Since the actors are best friends, so are the characters, even though that makes little sense with their personalities. Jennyanydots, Bombalurina, Demeter, and Grizabella were in that same age range as well. It appears that nobody was anywhere between Munkustrap and Old Deuteronomy in age, for some reason. Jenny and Skimble are a couple in this version, so Skimble’s probably also in this group. They have kittens together. Electra and Rumpleteazer are among them, though nothing was said about Mungojerrie. The merge with Coricopat and Tantomile in the US Tour implies that they’re twins in that version. In the Broadway Revival and the tour based on it, they’re apparently unrelated.
Grizabella ended up with a far more detailed backstory, all made up by the cast. She’s Jellylorum’s sister and she stole a man away from her and Jelly never loved again. None of the kittens are Jelly’s, though she’s sort of the nanny to all of them. Griz also had some sort of affair with Tugger and broke his heart, which is why he doesn’t do commitment. Then, Griz ran off with Macavity, got dumped for Bombalurina, and then she got dumped for Demeter who decided that Macavity was bad news pretty early on and ditched him. The relationship was abusive, but no one mentioned a kidnapping. After leaving Macavity, Griz was no longer welcome in the tribe, even though Bomba and Demeter were because Reasons. Forgetting that these characters are not human, she then got addicted to drugs, was driven to prostitution to support her drug habit, had a bunch of kids, and then left those kids to be raised by Jenny, who resents her for it. Nobody says which kittens are Grizabella’s. Portions of this backstory were used in the 2019 movie.
Also, I can say that some of the characterization issues with Tugger were, in fact, a direct result of the choreography changes. Tyler Hanes wanted to play up the sexuality of the character in a way that the new choreography didn’t allow. If Gillian Lynne’s choreography had been used for the number, Tugger’s characterization probably would’ve turned out very different, but the changes meant that what Hanes knew about the character, and how the audience perceived the character, were altered by the new choreography putting emphasis on vanity instead of sexuality.
So, that’s the story so far. Compared to at least one early production, the Broadway Revival was rushed and poorly thought out. The actors were given little information and left to fend for themselves, and they prioritized their bonds with their irl friends over what made sense for their characters. Interviews of cast members from both the revival and the following tour reference Andy Blankenbuehler as the one who had all the information, who the cast looked to for instructions. But, he had no idea what he was doing and couldn’t really help them.
Most of the problems can be traced to Blankenbuehler not knowing what he was doing and never really figuring it out. Though, some blame has to be placed on the cast who, left to their own devices, had a lot of bad ideas. Hanes and Ford in particular, though it was good that someone was trying to take charge, created a bit of a mess. None of Jellylorum’s character resembles any other Jellylorum characterization I’ve ever seen, and it doesn’t even come across clearly on stage. The young cast all seemed to struggle with the idea of playing older characters and nobody told them that they couldn’t age them down. The generation gap between Tugger and Jenny and Jelly is character information that’s now completely lost on the audience. You need older characters disapproving of Tugger to show that he’s a controversial figure to the tribe, not just an annoyance to Munkustrap.
But, some of the worst characterization problems were not entirely the fault of the cast. As I mentioned before, Tugger’s characterization was changed by the choreography. Grizabella had already been aged down by her redesign. Since Demeter’s kidnapping backstory wasn’t explained, this affected how Demeter was portrayed. Her sympathy for Grizabella came from having been on that side of town as Macavity’s prisoner and seeing the condition she was in. Without that backstory, Kim Faure may have not known that Demeter was supposed to have sympathy for Grizabella and interpreted her part differently. This was the result of unclear direction.
What We’ve Learned Today:
1. In the 1980s, Mistoffelees was, in fact, played as older than Jacob Brent played him in the VHS.
2. Munkustrap and Tugger (and not Mistoffelees) have pretty much always been the sons of Old Deuteronomy.
3. The backstory Jacob Brent gave for Demeter was the standard backstory for the character well before the VHS was filmed.
4. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were considered twins in the 1980s and most likely continued to be seen as such until the revival era, though I haven’t exactly checked in with every single production.
5. The Broadway Revival was a behind the scenes and nightmare and it’s mostly Blankenbuehler’s fault.
6. Gillian Lynne wrote Cats. Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote a concept album.
7. There are no middle-aged cats in the 2016 revival. I think Sara Jean Ford started it.
8. The idea that Grizabella’s backstory involved Macavity started with the 2016 cast improvising.
9. Kim Faure’s Demeter was most likely OOC due to a removal or lack of explanation of backstory.
10. Sometimes it’s okay to do things the same way they’ve been done before.
#cats tour iii#cats 2016#andy blankenbuehler is bad at cats#i hate being mean to the 2016 cast#but theatre is a team sport#and most mistakes are made by the team#rum tum tugger#tyler hanes#who i like but also blame#sara jean ford#who is in the same boat as hanes#though i'm admittedly very picky about jellylorum portrayals#kim faure#she tried her best#but basically#gillian lynne#was what made cats a hit#and nobody knows what they're doing without her
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Family Photo
(based off of an idea that @dcjelliclequeen33 sent that I absolutely fell in love with)
(also I’m tagging @queencurlycrown, because Jubilee, and @kineticjellyfish, because of course)
Mistoffelees adjusted the camera, nodding to himself as he got it into place, and he turned around to face his family, his own fur impeccably groomed, and his bow tie straightened.
“Are you all ready? We only get one take at this.” he said.
Ares pouted at Mistoffelees, tugging at the bow tie around his neck. “Papa, do I seriously have to wear this for the picture?”
“Yes.” Mistoffelees replied firmly.
“You look very handsome, Ares.” Sekhmet said, trying to hold back laughter as Jubilee and Hestia grinned at the russet tom, who narrowed his eyes.
Mistoffelees shook his head, waving his paw at the trio of queens. “And you three are wearing those.” They all gasped when they felt the sudden clips on their fur, and their giggles stopped, making Ares grin slightly.
“Misto, help!” Tugger cried dramatically, approaching his mate. Mistoffelees turned with a raised eyebrow, and it was his turn to hold back his laughter at the sight of Tugger’s frown. His mane was extremely unruly, sticking up everywhere, and the maine coon was trying to smooth it down. Mistoffelees stepped forward and ran his claws through Tugger’s mane, easily combing through the small knots and catches, smoothing it through and settling the fur.
“There.” The magical tom said, laughing slightly as Tugger pressed a grateful kiss to his forehead. “Alright, is everyone else finally ready?”
“Yes Papa!” Hestia said, standing beside Jubilee, Sekhmet on the Selkirk’s other side.
Tugger approached his son and finished straightening his bow tie, giving him a wink. “Only a few more minutes, kiddo.”
“This is torture.” Ares said, crossing his arms. Tugger laughed as the girls burst into giggles again, making Mistoffelees sigh fondly. Ares began to make ridiculous faces at his sisters, sticking out his tongue and crossing his eyes, making them snort and laugh.
Mistoffelees stepped between Tugger and Sekhmet, leaning against his mate as Tugger wrapped his arm around him. “One picture, kittens. That’s all we need.” Jubilee grinned at Mistoffelees as she linked arms with Hestia.
“One picture is probably all you’re going to get.” She remarked, and Mistoffelees smiled at her.
“I’m very aware of that, Jojo.” He replied as Sekhmet and Hestia’s giggles died down, and Ares’ face returned to normal.
“They’re taking a picture!” an amber-eyed grey and red queen, Iris, squealed, appearing behind the family.
“Poor Mistoffelees.” Thetis, a red and grey queen with blue eyes, said sympathetically.
Apollo, a red tom with blue eyes, snorted quietly, shaking his head as he crossed his arms. “He’s got his handful with all five of them.”
Hades appeared beside his siblings, a fond smile on his face as he watched them. Beside him, a completely grey queen had her eyes locked onto Hestia.
Iris grabbed onto the grey queen’s arm. “Mama, can we join the picture? Please?”
Serafina smiled softly, touching her daughter’s cheek. “Of course, my love.”
Iris beamed and grabbed her sister’s paw, pulling her towards the group to fit themselves between Mistoffelees and Sekhmet. Hades laughed and moved to stand just in front of Tugger, Apollo beside him, and Serafina took the empty spot beside Hestia.
Even if her youngest daughter could not see, hear, or feel her, Serafina could not help the tears that appeared in her eyes as she wrapped a phantom arm around her daughter’s shoulders, stepping close to her.
Mistoffelees shivered for a brief moment as he felt something cold touch his left side, but he shrugged it off. “Okay, on three!” The family pressed closer together, smiles on their faces. “One… two… three!” Just before the third count, Ares shifted, moving to run away as the picture was taken by magic. “Ares!”
The russet tom burst into snickers, falling down as he laughed. “Sorry, Papa! I had to!” Mistoffelees groaned slightly, but he walked forward, picking up the camera as the photo slowly developed.
Tugger stood behind his mate, and grinned when he saw the picture. “Oh, that’s perfect.”
In the picture, Tugger and Mistoffelees were the only two smiling normally, leaning against each other happily. Sekhmet wasn’t smiling at all, staring down the camera as if she was going to curse whoever was looking at the picture. Ares’ quick movement out of the picture made it so that only his butt and tail were in frame, and Hestia and Jubilee were giving each other bunny ears, grinning the entire time.
Mistoffelees couldn’t help but laugh softly as he looked at the picture. “It really is, isn’t it?” But then he saw something strange. “Etta, come here.”
“What is it, Papa?” Hestia asked, giggling as she stepped away from Jubilee and Sekhmet. Mistoffelees showed her the picture, and the grey queen immediately froze. “Everlasting.” She could see Hades in the picture, standing just between Tugger and Ares, a warm smile on his face.
But he wasn’t he only one there.
Two queens, one red with grey stripes, and the other nearly identical to Hestia, stood between Sekhmet and Jubilee, beaming smiles on their faces as they looked at the camera. Just beside Ares, Hestia could make out another red tail, and the lower half of another cat.
“Is that them, Etta?” Mistoffelees asked quietly.
“It’s them.” Hestia whispered, nodding. She spotted one more cat in the picture, and tears filled her eyes. An older grey queen had her arm wrapped around Hestia’s shoulders, and was looking at her with so much love that it made Hestia’s heart burst.
Ares looked over his sister’s shoulder. “Who are they?”
Hestia tried to hold back tears. “My siblings. My siblings that Macavity killed.” A small sob escaped the grey queen. “And that’s my mama.” Sekhmet looked at the picture as well, and her eyes widened slightly. Tugger and Jubilee looked at one another in confusion.
“Are there others in the picture?” Jubilee asked, leaning against Hestia. She nodded, unable to take her eyes off the picture.
Tugger hummed slightly. “Maybe it’s only magical cats who can see them.”
“That’s Hades.” Hestia said absent-mindedly, her voice quiet, pointing at her oldest brother. “That’s Apollo running after Ares. Thetis and Iris are between Sek and Jojo.” Her paw traced the queen standing beside her in the picture. “And that’s my mama… Serafina.”
Sekhmet and Jubilee hugged Hestia on either side tightly, and the chocolate queen gave her sister a smile. “You finally get to see them, Essie.” Hestia nodded, wiping tears from her eyes.
“This is going right at the front of the den.” Tugger said, nuzzling Hestia’s cheek. “Our entire family.”
Years later, when the kittens were all grown up with families of their own, they found another camera in the Junkyard.
Mistoffelees and Tugger had an anniversary coming up, so they all knew exactly what they wanted to do.
“Okay, everyone get ready!” Hestia said, picking up Anthea as Charon climbed onto Tumblebrutus’ back. “Ares, you are staying in place for this picture. If you don’t, I’m sending you to the Heaviside Layer myself.”
Ares grinned at his younger sister, an arm wrapped loosely around Pouncival’s waist. “I know, Essie.”
“Cheshire, grab Eva? I’ll hold Feli.” Jubilee said, and Mungojerrie nodded, lifting Evangeline with ease as Jubilee held Felicity in her arms.
Rumpleteazer gave her sister-in-law a grin. “How do you want Didi, Hes?” Hestia smiled warmly at the calico queen and the kitten standing beside Sekhmet.
“Any way you all are comfortable. Just make sure she can be seen.” the grey queen replied.
“Didi, do you want Mommy or Mom to hold you?” Sekhmet asked gently.
Heidi thought for a moment before reaching towards Sekhmet. “Mommy!” The chocolate queen laughed and scooped the kitten up, Rumpleteazer wrapping her arms around her mate.
“Alright, everyone move in close!” Jubilee said, moving to stand beside Sekhmet as Mungojerrie kept a tight arm around Evangeline and the other around Jubilee. Hestia stood beside her older sister, Anthea resting against her shoulder, and Tumblebrutus holding his mate and son. Pouncival and Ares were on Tumblebrutus’ other side, Ares standing just behind Pouncival, his arms around his waist, and his chin resting on his shoulder.
“On three, okay?” Sekhmet said, smiling at the camera. “One... two... three!”
The camera flashed, making the kittens all squirm and blink as the adults moved towards the camera, waiting for the picture.
“It’s perfect!” Jubilee exclaimed happily.
Hestia relaxed, letting out a breath. “Thank the Everlasting.” Ares picked up the picture and waved his paw over it, a frame forming around it.
“Let’s go show Dad and Papa!”
Tugger and Mistoffelees were definitely surprised at the sudden appearance of their children and grandchildren, but they never complained about a visit from their family.
And as Ares proudly presented the picture to the two older toms, both Tugger and Mistoffelees couldn’t stop the tears that appeared in their eyes.
Wordlessly, Mistoffelees stood, holding the frame tightly in his paws as he walked to the entrance to the den, where the other picture hung. A nail formed right where the picture needed to go, and Mistoffelees hung it up, stepping back as Tugger joined him.
Their family. Their wonderful, loving, chaotic, unique family.
How lucky they were to have such a family.
#cats the musical#cats the musical ocs#rum tum tugger#mr mistoffelees#hestia the hearth cat#sekhmet the magic queen#ares the troublesome tom#jubilee the library cat#ghost siblings#liv's writing corner#my ocs
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One of my favorite productions, with my favorite tugger!
Starts at 9:05, cats appear at 11:00
Timestamps under the cut!
9:05 - start (respect for the dude onstage, how long has he sat there?)
11:00 - the cats arrive!
23:55 - munkustrap singing about jenny to the little girl
24:02 - two cats in the background try to open a can
27:19 - tugger glides in using a ring thing
28:00 - misto pops up behind tugger to give him another ring, then he glides down to the queens
30:12 - he fistbumps with the little boy
30:25 - he teaches the boy how to shake his hips (?)
31:16 - tugger warns the kid to stay away from grizzabella
31:35 - tugger keeps the kid behind him while hissing at grizzabella
32:33 - tugger pulls and keeps the little girl behind him, protective bro vibes
37:00 - they surround bustopher with f o o d
39:45 - the little girl and little boy try to copy mungojerrie and rumpleteazer
41:32 - mungo and teazer get caught
41:38 - munkustrap and tugger glance at each other before getting the kids away from the chaos twins
(i think theyre telling them to not hang out with em? not sure)
(they also mightve pushed mungo and teazer off the stage, still not sure)
44:32 - the girl assists old deut in standing up, also, hello, yes, i would die for old deut??
45:07 - macavity scare, tugger again pulls the boy away, cant see who pulls the girl away but someone does
49:30 - misto runs to the front, tugger tries to copy him
( im skipping through what looks like the growltigers last stand, because that song makes me uncomfortable )
1:15:50 - they replaced the pronouns with she/her, skimble is female here
1:16:37 - mary poppins cat i tell you
1:20:50 - MARY POPPINS CONFIRMED
1:21:10 - cats make a protective circle around the two human kiddos, including old deut
1:21:25 - rats try to grab the kiddos, old deut protects them and gets captured
1:27:05 - macavity gets revealed, tugger rushes into the fight, misto also rushes into the fight
1:27:50 - tugger saving his bro
1:28:04 - macavity accidentally bumps into his henchrat
1:28:37 - macavity flies away (this is a highschool production? they got so many harnesses!)
1:29:13 - tugger's definitely less of a smug rebellious adult, more of a terrified young tom, just listen to his voice.
1:30:29 - misto makes the kids float
1:31:57 - tugger and bomba being sweet
1:32:06 - conjuring turn, cat in the background gets dizzy
1:46:59 - [spoiler!] grizzabella comes back as a baby (i know, i was surprised too.)
#munkustrap#mister mistoffelees#rum tum tugger#grizzabella#mungojerrie#rumpleteazer#macavity#skimblehanks#old deuteronomy#bombalurina#cats the musical
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