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Old Deuteronomy

I believe it is Old deuteronomy.

Well of all things can it be really?
Yes,no, ho, hi, oh my eye!
My mind may be wandering, but I confess, I believe it is Old deuteronomy.

Old Deuteronomy's lived a long time,
he's a cat who has lived many lives in succession.
he was famous in proverb and famous in rhyme.
A long while before Queen Victoria's accession.
Old-D is the leader of the Jellicle tribe.
He has been around a long time,
a long while before Queen Victoria assumed the throne.

As the Jellicle Leader, Old Deuteronomy has many important responsibilities.
He sings the final song, about how to ad-dress a cat.
He also sings a touching song about generations and memories right before Gus's song.
In the opening number, he challenges, "Do you know how to go to the heaviside layer?".
During the Jellicle Ball, he begins the song by declaring,
"Jellicle cats, come out tonight, Jellicle cats come one,come all."
In Skimble's song, Old-D appears to be jealous that all other cats
can dance better than he, so he attempts a happy little kick,
and looks positively raptuous after it.
Watch it. It's rather funny :)

OLD-D Old-D is the oldest and wisest of the all of the Jellicles.
It is said that he is the father of all of the cats in the tribe,
but not necessarily true. He is known to have some mystical powers,
that make the tire rise to the Heaviside Layer.
As for relationships with the other cats, he has no enemies to speak of.
He is respected and admired by all, except fot Macavity.
But then, Macavity is not part of the Jellicle tribe.
Old-D is the one who decides who may make the trip tp the Heaviside Layer
and begin a new Jellicle life.

He enters after Mungojerrie and rumpleteazer's song.
He doesn't even show up until most of the way through his song (sung by Munku and Tugger).
When he does, the entire cast gathers around to hug, admire and cheer this Jellicle Leader.
The song is slow and stately (much like Old-D) and involves little or no dancing.
A whole song... just for him!

Old-d is that elderly teacher that's going senile that everyone likes.
He's very protective and fatherly, if you like that type.
All in all, his chatacter is a pretty cool guy.

Old-D can be looked at two different ways.
First, one can view him as the esteemed Leader
of the Jellicles and redemptor of grizabella.
Secondly, one can see him as really,
really good fodder for everybody be.

This part is not to be missed: After Skimble's song enters Macavity.
And then (just a moment): Old-D is cat-napped!
What are we going to do?
Oh, yes, I forget. We must call Magical Mr.Mistoffelees.
So we did it. He is here. He turns Cassandra into Old-D.
Kind of amazing, isn't it? So, Old-D is back. The day is saved!

Deuteronomy is a singing role, and is cast as such.
Technically, the role requires a lyric baritone.

Altought the character in the show is 999, the actors who play him can be younger than the kittens!
Perspective Deuteronomies have been as young as 23 years old.

Munkustrap may occasionally understudy Deuteronomy.

He is played by:

  • Brian Blessed: Original London cast, 1981.
  • Ken Page: Original Broadway Cast, 1982; video cast, 1997-98.
  • Balaz Pokas: Original Budapest cast, c.1983-84.
  • John Wood: Original Sydney Cast, 1985.
  • Gilles Ramade: Original Paris Cast, 1989.
  • Ken Prymus: Broadway Cast, 1990's.
  • Jimmy Lockett: Broadway Cast, 1990's.

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