New to CATS? Here's some details to get you started!
The plot of CATS revolves around the yearly gathering of the Jellicle cats. As the second-in-command, Munkustrap, explains when the cats have all arrived: once a year they gather in a junkyard to celebrate the Jellicle Ball where their leader, Old Deuteronomy, will choose one lucky cat to ascend to the Heaviside layer and be reborn. The cats vy for this honor by singing songs about themselves, essentially explaining why they should be reborn. But this Jellicle Ball gets shaken up when an outcast, Grizabella, shows up hoping to be accepted by the tribe again. The other cats regard her coldly, and she limps off again as they look on. The ball gets back on track, but it appears that the tension in the air isn’t only due to Grizabella’s presence. A loud crash through the junkyard puts the cats on edge, especially Demeter who shouts “MACAVITY!” as the cats flee the scene. This turns out to be a false alarm, but the tension is not eased. Old Deuteronomy finally makes his entrance, and he tries his best to calm the cats when fear strikes them again, urging them to continue on with the ball. The festivities are once again interrupted by Grizabella, who then laments her sadness in a song to herself, unaware Old Deuteronomy is watching.
Old Deuteronomy hatches a plan to help Grizabella, asking the mystic twins Coricopat and Tantomile to psychically transfer Grizabella’s song to Jemima, the youngest kitten. The ball’s events continue once more, with more cats singing their songs, until finally the villainous Macavity makes an actual appearance, and kidnaps Old Dueteronomy. We learn from Demeter and Bombalurina who Macavity is- a cat they’ve had previous experiences with who has “broken every human law” and is wanted by police. Macavity returns once more, disguised as Old Deuteronomy, but Demeter sniffs him out and attacks, revealing him to the rest of the tribe. This results in a fight, and Macavity makes his escape after blowing the power in the junkyard. The cats regroup, tending to their injured and solemnly agreeing that they have to find Old Deuteronomy. Rum Tum Tugger suggests they ask Mr. Mistoffelees, a magical cat, for help. After demonstrating his magical skills, he successfully brings Old Deuteronomy back unharmed.
Now all that is left is for Old Deuteronomy to pick the cat to be sent to the Heaviside Layer, but Grizabella has shown up one last time. The cats treat her with the same disdain, except this time she sings her song for all of them. The cats begin to show interest in her song, but as Grizabella falters and falls, no one moves a muscle. Suddenly, a small voice begins to continue the song. Grizabella raises her head to see Jemima, singing her song right back to her. This not only finally melts the barrier between the tribe and Grizabella, but it gives her the strength to stand up and continue her song. After it’s over, the eldest kitten, Victoria, finally reaches out and touches Grizabella, signifying that she has been accepted by the tribe once more. The cats rush to greet her, and then Old Deuteronomy ushers her onto the tire, having decided that she is the Jellicle Choice and deserves to be reborn. The cats sing her off as she ascends upwards towards the Heaviside Layer and a new life.
This is the question that almost everyone asks. The word Jellicle comes from the way T.S. Eliot said "dear little cats" which sounded like Jellicle cats. To explain it simply, Jellicle cats are a part of the Jellicle tribe. There is nothing more to it. They're just a bunch of cats who like to gather for the yearly Jellicle Ball where they dance and compete to be sent to the Heaviside layer.
The Heaviside layer could be thought of as cat heaven, however it's less of a final resting place and more of a place a cat goes to be reborn. The Jellicle Ball is an event where cats can compete (by singing about themselves) to be sent there and be reborn. Many of the cats who do compete are older cats who want a chance at another life. The Heaviside Layer exists in real life too, bust instead of a place cats get reborn it's a layer of ionised gas occurring between roughly 90 and 150 km (56 and 93 mi) above the ground.
...is a difficult matter. Or at least that’s what T.S. Eliot wants you to think. The poem makes it sound quite complicated, but it’s rather simple. The first name that cats have is the name given to them by their owner. The cats with more average names in the musical are going by this name (Demeter, Victoria, Plato, etc.). The second name cats have is a more unique name that only they possess. The cats with the more bizarre names in the musical are going by this name (Bombalurina, Munkustrap, Jellylorum, etc.). The third and final name a cat has is a name that only they know but must never say.
Growltiger’s Last Stand was a dream sequence in which Gus relives the time he played Growltiger on stage. It’s set up as a short play focused on the dreaded pirate Growltiger and the events leading up to his demise.
The reason it was removed was, to put it bluntly, for being horrifically racist. I genuinely do not recommend watching any footage of Growltiger just because of how upsetting the racism is. I was not told why Growltiger was removed and I made the mistake of watching it, so hopefully this can help those who do not know from making the same mistake I did.
Have a specific question about CATS that's not covered here?
You can email me at victoriagroveteazer@gmail.com!
