[SapphireNight]

Hey

A long while a go, I was doing a cats related search on the net, and I came across this sight which had a detailed description of the portrayed parings/family/friendship ties with the different cats for the different productions. They also had a general version, which showed the common connections between most productions. I think it might have looked like a map or a spider diagram, but I can’t be sure.

Anyway, what I was wandering was: does anyone think they know which site I might have stumbled across back then. I'm not particularly fussed about finding that exact site again, but I am trying to find one which gives connections not just about mates/parings, but also about possible family relations (daughter/sibs/parents etc) and character friendships portrayed in the different productions.

Does anyone know of such a sight, or possibly even a forum discussion? (Is there one here? I heard there might me, but I haven’t found it.)
If I remember this particular site mentioned this theory about Bomba being with Macavity in the past, but then he wronged/raped her being Macavity, but Demeter is their daughter. It’s a bit far fetched, but an intriguing read!

But what I am particularly interested about is connections specific to productions. When I saw Cats a few years ago (I believe it was the 3rd UK tour) the cast portrayed friendships different to the video (which was all I had had for about a decade). The main thing I remember was that Tugger was either best friends with Munkustrap, or they were playful enemies, trying to upstage each other or doing childish silly impersonations of each other/wiggle fingers on nose, poking tongue out at each other, that sort of thing. I was so overwhelmed by the experience, I can’t quite remember. What can other people remember of the characters which surprised or amused them?

[Rumblepurr]

Hmmm... Most people know the video, so you basically deal with the "UK version" of the show...

The most basic relationship that the UK Tour seems to emphasize is the Munkustrap/Demeter pairing. Sometime, they also show us the Mistoffelees/Victoria pairing as well...

When I finally got to see the UK version, I was in Edinburgh. The act between Tugger and Munkustrap seen by SapphireNight is similar to the one staged by Stuart Ramsey (RTT) and Norman Bowman (Munkus). During Jellicle Songs, these two had their own rock band during the dance with Norman on air guitar and Stuart on air-drums or doing karaoke with his tail. Later, during Skimbleshanks, they teamed up with Old Deuteronomy played by Nicholas Pound. All three would reach up to pull an imaginary train whistle, and go "Toot, Toot!" together... Stuart above, Old Deuteronomy on the tire, and Norman below - all three in sync.

My favorite was Cassandra, who was played those three nights by Summer Strallen. Everyone knows that Cassandra can be aloof and regal. Summer liked to party a little. Her Cassandra never "ran" with the rest of the crowd - she "hurried" at her own speed. Two things surprised me - One night, as Act Two was about to begin, Summer came down the House Left aisle. Stationed at the stairs to the stage was a steward (AKA usher)... You know how cats will sometimes arch against your leg when they are playful...? Summer came up to the steward and arched against his legs. After going by him, and I could see the relief in the steward's face too, (Note: The stewards are NOT supposed to interact with the cast) she stopped and turned around. She smiled at the audience, and then reached out to "bat" the steward's cort buttons. All during that time, I could see the "Go away, shoo" gestures that were in vain... Summer did this for a while until the Act finally started...

Was Summer finished? Maybe with the steward, but not with STUART... The Trailer had Tugger starting to go out when Cassie posed... Stuart came out, and grabbed a little Abyssinian "tail" - and then he ran off with Cassie going "Hmmm..." and then chasing after him...

The one surprise I wittnessed toward the end of my three-show visit was Barbara King doing Demeter's love-hate routine during "Macavity". On the video, Gillian is coaching Linda Brewer (Aeva May) on Deme indicating that "she hates Macavity's guts, but, oh, could he turn me on!" Right there, I could clearly see Ms. King give me the Deme I always wanted to see...

On the US Tour - Sharon Huneycutt and Chelsea Cicci gave me the Bomba I always like to see.

Regards
Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat.

[SapphireNight]

oh, that sounds so brilliant! I wish i could have seen Summer Strallen! that is such a great story!
What you described there is the 3rd UK tour, and it does sound familiar, but i so hate this, I CANT REMEMBER... sooo annoying. i was so overwhemed by seeing it again, and amazed at the new verses here and there (at the time it never entered my head that the film was edited!) and a whole extra song- which both scarily and amazingly i remembered from all those years back when i first saw a live performance (around about 8-10 years or so)- now that is frieky that i remembered the tune of Growltiger.....
anyway, sorry about getting off topic, was absorbed in my memories- or what little i can remember, anyway.
Please, I'd like to hear of other variations of little character querks and such!
and thank you Rumblepurr for your descriptions, very facinating. oh, and thankyou SO MUCH for actually replying!