[MsJellicle]

I haven't done one of these in awhile.

Let's discuss Cassandra. Purebred or not? Mystic cat or just one of the 'guys'? Rich owner? Judgemental? How do you see her?

~MsJ

[Mistoteazer]

I feel that Cassandra is a victim of pride. She can show it at times, but it probably wasn't as bad as Grizzabella. Whenever I first saw her in the video, I was stunned because she was such a great dancer in her flexibility and to me, flexibility= mysterious. I think she hides some charactaristics from the audience. I felt that she didn't INTERACT with other cats as much and isn't really close to the other Jellicles, but again she shows that she's willing to sacrifice herself for them (ex. in mr.mistoffelees' song, she was willing to bring back Old Deut. for the chance that maybe she didnt come back (?)
Those are my craaazy thoughts.

[QuaxoCoricopat]

I've generally seen her portrayed (in writing at least) as a sort of bratty spoiled Queen, who can be very vicious and cruel.

I've always seen her as a cat that has an owner that coddles her, but she's not completely spoiled by it. She's quite aloof, I think, more like Bustopher Jones. (I'd actually like to see her singing in Bustopher Jones vs. Bombalurina...)

I don't know if she's pure-bred or not... she's some sort of Siamese/Burmese mix maybe...

[Idiosylph]

Cassandra is one of the few Jellicles that I am 100% sure is a purebred cat. I've seen her played as everything from aloof to friendly depending on the actress, so I'm not going to go either way on that. I've tended to go the Abyssinan in terms of breed for her, but only because I haven't seen an oriental shorthair with her markings.

[Rumblepurr]

I agree that Cassie is most likely a purebred, and cared by wealthy humans at that. Her actions are all mysterious, aloof and a bit exotic. She gives us the line "were you there when the Pharaohs comissioned the Sphinx?" in the Jellicle Songs - which tends to make me think of royalty. I tend to see her as a High Priestess of Bast... when "cats" were regarded as demi-gods...

The three words given to a performer by Trevor Nunn (Source unknown) are: haughty, disdainful, lonely... My favorite performer to date is Summer Strallen as a regal yet naughty Cassie... What she did to a steward at Edinburgh during intermission was something that will last me for a long time...

In my fanfiction, I viewed her as a psychic - third name: Mindwalker. She was telepathic, and could touch memories. At her darkest, she could alter or shield memories. As a result, she tended to be alone and aloof. I mated her to Tugger because she would always be mysterious to him, and thus he would never tire of her.

Respectfully submitted,
Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat.

[Clairvectra]

I found a Meaning of her name from http://www.20000-names.com/female_c_names.htm

Her meaning was

CASSANDRA: From Greek name meaning "ensnaring men."

That makes alot of sense to me, in the shows ive seen she has been greatly admired by many of the male cats.

Iv also heard somewhere that Cassandra meant a clairvoyant or something, so maybe she IS Psychic?

[Flitterbug]

Cassandra, the name, doesn't mean psychic. The psychic reference refers to the famous greek psychic of myth, a woman who was cursed so that though she would make predictions nobody would listen to them or believe her. Though there is a slight indiscrepancy there, since many versions of the myth spell her name with a K rather than C.

Character-wise, I feel she's often misunderstood. Because she moves differently and looks differently fans feel threatened by her presence. Therefore, she is a snob, spoilt, and all manner of other things when in fact I personally think that she's just... well, different.
More self-contained. Grace doesn't make a snob, and nor does being purebred make anyone a cow. I dont think she harbours any special powers. She's special enough in herself.

[Bill_Calhoun]

I always percieved Cassandra as quite... not stuck-up, but a little up herself?

An interesting point raised by 12 year old brother (slowly converting him to musicals ), was that in 'Grizabella the Glamour Cat', she dances; she is the 'new' glamour cat, the role Grizabella once held within the Jellicles.

As for mystic... I don't see it. She doesn't, for example, sense the arrival of Grizabella/Old Deuteronomy, or Macavity, whereas Coricopat, Tantomile, Mistofolees, and Skimbleshanks all do (Skimble less so, but he detects Grizabella before the other Cats beside the 'mystics').

I think she is owned by someone who spoils her; not neccessarily rich (posh owner doesn't breed a posh cat; look at Mungo and Rumple!), but one who spoils her and gives her more than she could ever want/need. Her regal characteristics, coupled with her 'Sphinx' line in 'Jellicle Cats' shows she believes she is worthy of the pampering she obviously receives.

This said, I can't help but like her

And in the DVD version (Obviously not plausible in the stage versions), she and Exotica bear a very striking resemblance. In my opinion, anyway :/ It might just be the short hair, exotic look thing

[Moongewl]

I think she's more attuned to magic than most cats, but a vessel for it rather than a user of it. That's why Mistoffelees chooses her to help him bring back Deuteronomy.
Personalitywise, I think she holds herself apart, but only because she finds no one else in the group like her.

[Etcetera Kitten]

I really love Cassie's character. I see her as a purebread queen cat, of may be say 2-3 years old max. She has to be living in a wealthy house, and that is why she has such high manners.

I don't think she deliberately tries to look disdainful and haughty. I think that she just can't help it, but that what she really wants after all are her cats friends, and to have fun with them no matter if they are "lower class". She may stay aside some times, but then thats just because she likes to daydream, she looks like she is in her own world. And I also think she loves Munkustrap, but that shell eventually end either with Misto or Alonzo.

As somebody alreade explained, she sacrificed herself to get Old D back, which proves that she isnt all that proud. Besides, my opinion is that the other jellicles enjoy her company because she brings them stuff to learn from the higher class. That, and her elegance and beauty! I think that kittens (especially Victoria) may look up at her and try to pick her best qualities and manners. But those are just my two cents.

[Tuggers_Babe]

When I look at Cassandra I see her as very aloof, mysterious, keeps herself to herself and doesn't really like to get too close - maybe thinks she is a little better than the rest of the Jellicles?

I think she likes to make her own judgements about the rest of the tribe and although she is part of it she also likes to sit by on the sidelines and observe what is going on around her.

I can't quite work her character out, she keeps you guessing which I think makes her very interesting. Cassandra is very beautiful and I think she knows it and that really comes across in her character but overall she is very kind and will join in with everybody else once she lets herself go and loosens up a little.

Ok thats me done!!

x Tuggs Babe x

[turkeylion]

well, i am currently the dance captain for my third production of cats, and will be doing it again in august...

cassandra is a purebred absynnian cat. there are only two purebreds---her and misto, you can tell because they have braided tails. she is HIGHLY psychic (her cat is not a siamese, but an old african breed that was "there when the pharoahs comissioned the sphinx). she even briefly goes into a trance during "jellicle cats have moonlit eyes" and joins the circle late for "quiet enough in the morning hours..." because of that. this all comes from broadway via my director, who played cassandra on the tour and bway as well....any other cats questions? feel free...

[Bill_Calhoun]

[MsJellicle]

[Rumblepurr]

I believe we went through breed possibilities in a thread not too long ago, so here is a refresher on the Abyssinian cat...


Top (left): Abyssinian bottom (left): Scottish Fold

All you need to do to make Cassandra on of these cats is to add the white facial mask and bib... Again, we do a little makeup fudging because we want to see her expressions. The only negative to this is the very prominent ears as seen in the picture - the typical Cassie ears are very much like the Scottish Fold breed... as seen in the second picture. On the Scottish fold, we run into the problem of the tail...

I like turkeylion's explanation. Also, let us give some credit here - the Director played CASSANDRA in both Tour and Broadway!!! I would hope she knows what she's talking about in that case.

turkeylion??? Did your director have these three words to form her character: Haughty, Disdainful, and Lonely???

Even though I called her a Burmese, I can understand making Cassie an Abyssinian. Regardless who is right or wrong here, we have to love this Queen. I enjoyed at least two actresses/performers who played this role.

Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat.

[littlgriz]

[Swan]

[Spanish_Rumple]

Sorry for not having noticed this post...

Cassandra: I see her as purebreed cat with a lot of pride. A sort of sibiling in temperament as Alonzo (black and white). But not psychic. Sensual, but she doesn't show like Bombalurina, and that's what makes her be appealing, because she doesn't show a need for toms. Aloof but not a loner. A stuck up probably.

[Bill_Calhoun]

[Cassandra]

I know many theories have been tossed around about the breeds of certain characters (Tugger, Deut, etc.), but the only official word I think we've received on this is Cassandra. All the others have been fan theories, IIRC.

That said, I've heard of two possibilities for Cassandra's breed, coming from more than one actress who's portrayed her: Abyssinian and Siamese.

My opinion? I'm more inclined to go with Abyssinian. I think I pointed out in another post that we see Siamese later on in the show (the Aria), and they look nothing like Cassandra. They have the color points on their arms and legs like we would expect Siamese to have.

I wish I had this one picture of an Abyssinian I saw in a book one time. The spitting image of Cassandra, it was.

[Rumblepurr]

See my last post on page one for the Abyssinian breed - June 01 - 9:35pm

[Pawzxx]

cassie's cool! very classy n all that!

[Cassandra]

A couple picture references:

Abyssinian

Siamese

I found quite a few Aby pics that looked like Cassandra, but very few Siamese that looked like her. That Siamese pic was the first one I found that came close, but I don't even know if that one is purebred. It kind of looks like a mix.

I also think variations in the costume make her look like different breeds. The Abyssinian above reminds me of the London Cassandra (cream patch only on the front), while that Siamese reminds me of the Broadway Cass (cream patch on front and back with more defined points on the arms and legs).

[Cassandra]

[SadieCass]

The self-proclaimed breed expert returns for this thread.....

That Siamese is a purebred. There are purebread Siamese with color elsewhere beside their points. Happens more often than not...the pics you see are usually of the 'show' cats...which require the defined points.

The phrase of the Pharoahs being an argument to her NOT being Siamese...well, the only reason the breed got that name is because the original result of creating the siamese breed was given as a gift to the king of siam...from a pharoah.

The French Cass...pure Siamese points...stunning costume...and the mask argument? Could you imagine trying to emote/project with make up like that? Your face dark dark dark? Creative license.

Yeah, I believe she's siamese, can you tell? I do agree that London/video seem much more Aby than Siam...but I still believe her to be a Siamese.

I also am of the firm belief that she is mystical...she picks up on the emotions of others (the Deanna Troi of CATS)...which makes her more withdrawn. She is not "snooty" per se...but holds very high standards. No tolerance for the kittens, sticking more with the adults. She dislikes the flaunting of Bomba, but maintains her own sexiness and allure. She is close to a few males, fewer females. And, while she remains haughty most times, she becomes very involved in the Ball (possibly because she picks up on the excitement of the others)...to the point of leading the queens out in part of the number (not in video).

I also think she has a friendhsip w/ Misto...why she's chosen for the magic trick. She is friendly with Munk, Alonzo, and Tugger...Tugger and her probably have a "Come here...no, get away" type relationship...they are both 'perfect' in their own eyes...drawing them closer until they annoy each other again and move on...on again off again. Perhaps at one time she was involved wtih Alonzo...but they decided friendship was better...

That is all I have for now...I have a lot more in my head, but it isn't organized quite yet.

And yes, she is my favorite queen, can you tell?

[Swan]

[Jelliclaw]

My opinion: She...does not...have...a breed.

That's what I think with all the cats!

1 - They're junkyard cats...no need for breeds.
2 - The person who originally designed the costumes (I forgot his name) did not know much about cats, so he didn't really 'assign a breed' to them, aside from the tabbies, though tabby isn't a breed...however if he wanted her to be purebred, I'm sure he'd base her upon a Siamese. -nod-

[turkeylion]

not to start an argument, because at the end of the day none of this matters, but

that is not "how my director played her," bill, stephanie did bway and national tours and worked with gillian on it....i think she knows what she is talking about

stephanie never really used the words haughty and disdainful...cassie is just above everyone else, she hates griz, blah blah, i could go into more detail, but i am tired and need to nap...it was painfully hot on stage last night (puking after the ball...hooray)

[Pawzxx]

Puking on stage....after the ball? The Jellicle ball?

whoa....what character do you play??

[Jemima57]

I usually consider Cassandra as a purebreed, an Abyssian, living in a rich family. I don't think she's a mystic cat.
The words haughty, disdainful, and lonely really fit her. I remember Candice Evans playing her, so elegant ... she is the one who gave me interest to this character.

[SapphireNight]

Cassandra looks a lot like a Brown Burmese, like my cat Midnight. I'll try and find a pic of her for you, but she looks a lot like Cassandra. Very dark rich brown colour, which is lighter on her underside, and her coat lightens/darkens in certain areas like the contours of her body. cant really describe her coat all that well, but there is a good possibility Cassandra could be a Brown Burmese. And i can tell you, our older Chocolate Burmese Sapphire is very aloft- she knows her own mind, and holds herself with a sort of air of intellegance. Ill try and find a good pic of them soon.
Otherwise, i also say Abyssian is also a very good match.

(ps, i appologise if i get the colour type wrong. I believe those are the correct UK colour types, but i might have got the diff colours mixed up.)