[MunkustrapQC]

I made a search and I don't found a similar topic...

I just want to know all the relationships between the cats in regular productions...

I know a couple but maybe somebody can complete my list or change it :

Tugger & Bombalurina (mate)
Munkustrap & Demeter (mate)
Victoria & Quaxo/Mistoffelees (mate)
Munkustrap & Tugger (brother and both are son of Deuteronomy)
Bombalurina & Demeter (sister)
Munkustrap & Alonzo (best friend)
Alonzo & Cassandra (mate, but Cassandra seem to be in love with Munk in the video)
Coricopat & Tantomile (twins)
Mungojerrie & Rumpleteazer (mate)
Gus & Jellylorum (mate)
Growltiger & Griddlebone (mate)
Macavity & Demeter & Bombalurina (I don't know exactly which type of relationshis it's, but there's one!)
Plato & Etcetera (mate)
Tumblebrutus & Pouncival (brother)
Bustopher Jones & Quaxo/Mistoffelees (father & son?)
Tumblebrutus & Electra (mate)
Skimbleshanks & Jennyanydots (mate)

Source : Hui's Junkyard

[Belle]

Almost all of it is open to interpretation and each director! There's not many hard rules.

A lot of people will argue that Mungo and Rumpel are brother and sister, and asmany will say they are mates. Some will say they're cats - they're both!

I think that Jemima is the daughter of either Bombalurina or Demeter, who are sisters. And they live with Tugger as pets in the same house. this is because in London, they all had the same style collars, and the three girls have very similar markings. I don't think Tugger is related, but their roomie!

Also, as Cats, they often do not form exclusive relationships. They'll get cozy with one cat, then another. But then - that's how Cats dancers got their reputation! You should hear Wayne Sleep talking about it... Or not, if you're a kitten!

[Moongewl]

[Spanish_Rumple]

Yeah, there's a point in there, it is very difficult to make strict pairings and relationships.

As I've been reading, the opinion is that generally the video version is not the best source of information, people should deduce from the theatre versions. And I think that's true, the video version was done afterwards, though some productions got inspired by it or the London version, which were quite similar and some of the actors appeared in both.

I can only judge according to that and Madrid version, but I don't know what happens in my mind because Madrid version is often blocked and I can hardly remember it. I think it's due to going with an ex-boyfriend that I really loved and I am still trying to forget.

According to what I've seen:

I don't usually like the so called "triad" that has been created in some fanfics: Munkustrap-Demeter-Bombalurina. Munkustrap and Demeter was my actual couple.

Bombalurina is for me just a flirtatious cat. I don't even see a connection with the Tugger, for in his song, he evidently refuses her and saying the word "no". So she's just the sexy cat. On the other hand in the video at the background I think it was Pouncival who was trying to get her attention, but of course he's a kitten so he was as well making fun of her.

Misto and Victoria are for me just a couple of cat dancers. I don't see them mated but very good friends. Moreover Victoria in the video is mated with Plato. Though I don't see her with him either, it seemed more of a kind of ritual. She had to come of age by pairing, don't understand why, but she did.

It's strange because in the video Plato is very flirtatious with the Tugger, and I really see him having a crush on the sexy tom. Slash, I know, but who cares, these relationships do exist!

Cassandra and Misto... well just a magical couple, like Cassandra being just his hostess. That's all.

Coricopat/Tantomile: twins
Mungo and Rumple: sibilings a part from the well known relationship of partners in crime.
The reason why I don't see any kind of mating relationship there in both couples is the colour of their "fur" (unitard).

Gus could be grandad or father to Jellylorum

Mistoffelees just a pupil of Bustopher Jones.

Probably Alonzo tries to flirt with Cassandra, but nothing going on seriously, because he seems to be another flirtatious cat.

Etcetera... how could she be paired! she's just a kitten, probably in that age that girls never think of boys as a possible mate, but more an annoying thing making fuss all over the place. Same for Electra.

There was something between Demeter and Macavity. But I don't see Jemima being daughter of anyone. I see her more as an abandoned kitten that still keeps her collar.

So definetely my only couple would be Munkustrap and Demeter, and just probably and in the past, something between Grizabella and Deuteronomy, something more similar to the flirtatious relationship between Bomba and Tugger.

[Spanish_Rumple]

Oh! I was missing the attraction that Jennyanydots feels for Bustopher Jones!!! "toodlepimp!"

[ConverseSneaker]

Jemima-I always guessed that she was the kitten of Tantomile. In Moments of Happiness, there's a shot in the movie of them and Coriopat and I'm always surprised to see how much they all look alike.

[Flitterbug]

Not really a relationship idea per say... But I always want to see Bustopher Jones get more love, especially in fanfiction. I mean, yes, I know sometimes the tours/actors make him look utterly horrible, but as a character he's great!

I dont get why nobody pairs queens with him in fanfiction. He's all class, a real gentleman. And so what if he's a bit round? He'd look silly skinny! (Yes, I am secretly a BJ fangirl.)

[Rumblepurr]

To be fair, there are so many factors involved that one cannot firmly establish relationships in the musical CATS.

1 ) The musical CATS has been produced as two major productions (NY and London) as well as several World productions, numerous regional productions and a video.

2 ) During the run of any one production, several performers play the same part. Although they have a basic foundation of the character, each performer can interpret their own part (within reason). One concept given out was that each performer is given three personality traits that is inherent to their character - all else is up to their interpretation...

3 ) Relationships can change depending upon the production, the performers involved in the production and even the performers involved with other performers... The characters of Demeter and Munkustrap are good examples. In the UK production, Deme goes to Munkustrap. In the US production, she goes to Alonzo. During one run of the US production the performers playing Munkustrap and Cassandra were going together outside the theater, and they played it that way on stage as well. In the Japanese production, Munkustrap seems to be connected to Sillabub...

4 ) Your own perception of the characters and what takes place can differ by what you see and interpret. Your own personal POV and how you feel about the characters, the music, the movements - all have a place in how you perceive relationships and personalities... Your personal feelings and moods at the time you view a show can play a part in this interpretation as well.

5 ) Despite anyone's feelings about the RUG Video of CATS, this version is readily available almost worldwide, can be watched anytime, and can be stopped & replayed to the point of wearing out the media. In many cases, this version is the one a person sees first before they can get to a live performance. Without Winter Gardens and New London, one has to rely on tours, and they do not always come close to a person's location... Despite the numerous editing problems, this version is still a "production" one can view and interpret...

Thus, relationships between characters are influenced by which production you see, who is playing the character, who is playing the other characters around them, and the person watching all this... This statement indicates the reason why some people see siblings while others see mates; why some people see character X with character Y while others see them with character Z; and even why some people see multiple relationships like the "triad" concept in certain fanfictions.

With some of this in mind, one has to remember that when you read fanfiction (regular fiction as well) you are entering someone's world. This world is NOT your world - it is the sole possession of the author(s). Everything in that world has a personal reference and reason - and that includes the character's personality and their relationship to everyone around them. A reader can like it, love it, dislike it, hate it or be indifferent to it at their leisure. However, a reader must at least respect the author's interpretation, and attempt to accept that interpretation in the reading of the fanfiction, or simply not read stories by that author.

Respectfully submitted,
Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat

[Spanish_Rumple]

Ok... that last paragraph was written probably for what I've said. I think...

Just a detail, in case it goes for what I've said, I don't like that idea but I do respect it, which is something veeery different.

I started reading your chronicles some time ago... but you've written so much that trying to keep up to date was now impossible for me, so I've stopped. But I come and go from time to time whenever I look for something to entertain me or distract me a little from work. Though what I specially like is to read bits and take a look at the drawings connected to those bits. You know I tend more to visual elements... so that's why I like to see images of what I read, and see how people represent it.

[brizejellicle]

I have to agree with Rumblepurr, the relationships change between the different productions and even within a singular productions as cast members change.

I first saw CATS in NYC when I was in 5th grade, I hardly remember the relationships I saw because the whole show was so overwhelming. The next time I saw it was the video which I wore out watching over the next few years. The relationships I see in the video are the ones I usually think of when people ask about relationships. I few years ago I saw a private theater company's production and they had relationships I'd never seen before or since then. My last time seeing it was over this past summer when the US Tour came nearby. I was surprised by how close Demeter and Alonzo were (he mirrored her dance during Macavity) because I usually think of the video or London links.

Other examples of differences in productions would be the lack of the Dark Twins in the US Tour cast as well as I believe in Japan. Japan also has both a Jemima and a Sillabub whereas most productions have one or the other and the 'Dark Twins' there are Tumblebrutus and Cassandra. There was also a white and blonde Tugger in Japan for awhile (think they have the 'normal' black leopard pattern now).

You can't use fanfiction as a basis for relationships because each individual's interpretation of the show is different and no one has to agree on what they believe the relationships are.

*(Sidenote: Rumblepurr, I can't wait for the next update of BTC and I think this weekend I'm going to begin re-reading TJC and the other stories )

[Vice]

I think that it all up to interpretation. I tend to base mine off of a hybrid of the various videos, productions and pictures I've seen.

I think Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are siblings.
I'm particularly fond of the Skimbleshanks/Rumpleteazer pairing, due too several publicity photos from (I believe) the madrid production.
I'm also fond of Jemima being the youngest of all of the Jellicles.
I think Victoria and Quaxo/Mistoffelees are siblings, and Quaxo/Mistoffelees is a close friend of Tugger's.
I like the Quaxo/Mistofelees X Cassandra pairing.
Tugger, Munkustrap, and Macavity are all brothers. (Alonzo too, but only if it's the Broadway/US tour Brown version.)
Gus and Jellyourum are father and daughter.
Macavity has raped Demeter in the past, and Munkustrap is her protector/lover.
Bombalurina is attracted to Macavity, but is with Tugger.
Tantomile and Coricopat are twins/lovers.
Exotica and Cassandra are sisters.
Demeter and Bombalurina aren't sisters, but rather close friends.
I think that Grizabella is the mother of Tugger, Munkustrap, Macavity, and Alonzo.

[MunkustrapQC]

Will it look weird if it's Munkustrap (me) that will make the slow part (the lift) with Victoria during the Jellicle Ball?
Normaly it's Plato but she's (yes it's a girl who'll do it) not able to do it so I will..

[enkeli-kitten]

Well, Munku does dance with Victoria in the video in Jellicle Songs...personally I wouldn't mind, but if you want to be strict about relationships Munkustrap and Demeter are usually portrayed as a couple and it might be a bit wierd for the Jellicle 'protector' to mate with the youngest queen. But I shouldn't think it would matter to most people watching the show! And it's much better that Munku would do the dance than two girls doing it ^^

[MunkustrapQC]

You're right!
At least 90% of the people who'll watch our show don't know the relationships between the Cats so I don't think it will be a big problem!

[Magical_Mr_Mistoffelees_G]

Victoria & Mr Mistoffelees aren't mates!
Misto is not a kitten or an adult sorta inbetween(lets just say teenager)
Victoria is a kitten
and They're BROTHER AND SISTER!
Mistoffelees isnt going 2 mate with his sister is he!?
that would be just wrong...

[Belle]

[Flitterbug]

It's a theory that I like. It's much better than the theory that just because they're black and white (and do the introduction together, which doesn't look very intimate to me) they'd go well together.

[Mungojerrie_rt]

Apparently, Gillian Lynne said that Munkustrap, Macavity and Tugger the three sons of Old D. Munkustrap is the leadership aspect, Tugger is the free spirit and Macavity is the power.
She has also said that Demeter's dance in Macavity when she caresses herself is her remembering when Macavity made love to her, back when she loved him. Then she snaps out of it and reminds herself of how he is now.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer do not always look the same. If you look at the original London and the Australian/World Tour productions, Mungo is very black and Rumple is very white. They put on the extra costume pieces to look the same.

And it is only really in some countries that Quaxo and Mistoffelees are the same, others they are separate. The same goes for Pouncival/Carbucketty, Tumblebrutus/Bill Bailey, Plato/Admeus and Jemima/Sillabub. Also, some countries don't have characters like Victor and George at all.

[Flitterbug]

You know, I honestly didn't know that. *innocent look* I doubt anyone else here did either.

(Hiya MJ.)

[MunkustrapQC]

[Mungojerrie_rt]

I don't have that. They don't sell the double disc version here. It's so unfair.