Here are some very brief descriptions of the many characters in ‘CATS, both the musical and the recent video. As time goes by I will add to them and try and make them more detailed.
Alonzo - He’s a tough black and white tom who seems to be involved with many females throughout the show. Little is known about him as he only dances and hardly sings.
Bustopher Jones - The ultimate cat about town, he’s a connoisseur of fine dining. Enjoying to eat out at the best restaurants which has caused him to be a “twenty five pounder” who is “putting on weight everyday!” Bombalurina - She’s a sly red female who loves to flirt with all the toms but really has her heart set on the Rum Tum Tugger. Her best friend is Demeter and they are frequently seen singing together. Carbuckety - Little is known about this cat as he was only in the show for a short time in the beginning before Andrew Lloyd Webber took him out. Cassandra - A sleek and mystical female, again information is sketchy about her character but she is very graceful and elegant. Coricopat - He has an indentical twin, Tantomile and the two are very mysterious. They can sense when something is about to happen and they have a tendency to act and sing in sync. Demeter - Demeter is a very strong female character in the show, whose best friend is Bombalurina. It is thought by some people that the two are sisters but nothing is known for certain. It is also suspected that she had a relationship with Macavity, hence her nervousness at his entrance! However, everyone’s story is different and I’m certainly no expert!! Electra/Etcetera - An excitable kitten who worships the Rum Tug Tugger no end. She’s the one yelling and screeching for his attention. She likes to play a lot and has a tendency to act like a right little rascal when she wants! Exotica - Again another character about whom little is known as she was only seen in the video. It is believed the character was created so that ‘Femi Taylor’ the original Tantomile could have a part but who knows? Grizabella - The glamour cat who left the tribe to experience the outside world and who know wants to come back. However, no one will accept her, only the young kittens see her for who she really is and continually try to reach out to her. It is Victoria who eventually touches her and reunites Grizabella with the tribe. It is she who is then chosen by Old Deuteronomy to be reborn and journey to the Heavyside layer. Gus - This old cat was famous in his youth as he was a cat of the stage. However, he is now very old and soon will be gone but he tells the rest of the tribe of his youth and his roles on stage. Jellyorum - Jellyorum is a kind of “mother” amongst the cats. Watching out for the kittens, especially when Macavity’s around! Jennyanydots - Another “mother” figure, she, along with Jellyorum, looks after the younger cats and keeps them safe. She is also known as the Gumbie cat for all day she sits and sits and sits, teaching the mice “music, crocheting and tatting”. She’s also responsible for the creation of the “Beetles Tattoo”! Macavity - Aaaaah! The ‘villain’ of the show. He’s the mysterious master criminal whose powers of disappearance are phenomenal. He always seems to be trying to cause trouble for the Jellicles but no one knows why. He kidnaps Old Deuteronomy and is then defeated by the other Jellicles. Mistoffelees - The Magical Mr. Mistoffelees! The original conjuring cat, he’s the tribe’s magician and always knows how to entertain either with a card trick, a dice or other many of magic! It is he who saves Old Deuteronomy and returns him from Macavity’s evil clutches. Mungojerrie - He’s a small time crook along with his partner, Rumpleteazer. They live together in Victoria Grove where they constantly cause trouble for their ‘pets’. It is believed they work for Macavity but nonetheless they are still Jellicles. Munkustrap - He is the leader of the cats in Deuteronomy’s absence. When he grows older and Old Deuteronomy passes on, it is probably Munkustrap who will assume his position as leader. He like to be in charge and is the one frequently telling the stories or directing the other cats. It is rumoured that he and Demeter have a relationship but again, who knows!! Old Deuteronomy - The leader of the Jellicles, he has been around for a very long time, “before Queen Victoria’s accession”. He is captured by Macavity during the Jellicle ball and he is rescued by Mistoffelees. Plato - Not much is known about him as he only ever sings with others cats, never by himself. The same person who plays Plato, also plays Macavity and Rumpus Cat in some productions. Pouncival - A fun cat who likes jumping around. He seems to be a little tom who is always causing trouble and putting his nose where it doesn’t belong. Rumpleteazer - She lives in Victoria Grove with her partner Mungojerrie. The pair are rumoured to work for Macavity but they are Jellicles nevertheless. They will steal just about anything and like to laugh about the rest of the cats. Frequently making jokes at their expense! Rumpus Cat - He is the “super hero” of the Jellicles, he terrorizes the Pekes and the Pollicles all day. He has glowing eyes and is very scary to dogs! Rum Tum Tugger - The Rum Tum Tugger is a curious cat. Whatever you offer him, he’ll want the opposite! The Tugger is also a bit of a playboy, flirting with all the females and quite happily leading them on. Sillabub/Jemima - She’s one of the younger cats who seems to have a distinct connection with the moon and the dawn. Her original name was Jemima but some where along the line it was changed to Sillabub. Now it is Jemima in London and was Sillabub on Broadway. Skimbleshanks - The railway cat who runs the trains to perfection – without him the trains wouldn’t start! He’s like an uncle to the other cats and along with Jellyorum and Jennyanydots, he helps watch out for the younger cats. Tantomile - She is a mystical cat whose twin brother is Coricopat. They move in unison and can sense when something’s about to happen. Tumblebrutus - Not much is known about this cat, other than the fact that he is “one of the lads” along with Alonzo and Plato. Victoria - She is one of the youngest cats along with Jemima. She’s playful and very elegant and an amazing dancer. She is the cat who loses her innocence at the Jellicle ball, the final step towards adulthood.
