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bwbaby

Grizabella in opening number?

As I was watching the DVD of Cats I was watching the Opening number, and it looked like Elaine Paige as a younger cat. She sang, "When you're walking alone" Is that her? And if so, is that just for the video, or does Grizabella always appear as a younger version of herself in the opening.
Natasha

Re: Grizabella in opening number?

bwbaby, it IS Grizabella. And not only in the video, but in the stage productions too
Misto

I read on another thread on this forum that Beth Robson (dance captain for the video) played Chorus Griz in Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats and The Naming Of Cats.



Misto
Natasha

Misto wrote:
I read on another thread on this forum that Beth Robson (dance captain for the video) played Chorus Griz in Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats and The Naming Of Cats.

REALLY?
Never heard about it...
I was sure it's Elaine Paige. The voice is hers I swear
Erikonil

In the close ups it is Mrs. Paige, but I wouldn't be suprised if someone else was in the costume for the pulled out dance shots. She is an older woman and might not be able to pull off the dance moves anymore.
Natasha

Erikonil wrote:
In the close ups it is Mrs. Paige, but I wouldn't be suprised if someone else was in the costume for the pulled out dance shots. She is an older woman and might not be able to pull off the dance moves anymore.

But Grizabella doesn't dance in "Jellicle Songs"!
Drumdraper

Grizabella does dance in Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats, but she isn't weaing her sequined dress and furcoat.
Natasha

Drumdraper, I meant the video... She just sings her solo line and walks away. And then appears again in "The Naming of Cats"
enkeli-kitten

I was sure it was Elaine Paige, and I've never noticed her extra character dancing in Jellicle Songs. I don't know about Beth Robson, is she actually credited on the DVD? Also, I don't believe it's "young Grizabella" I think it's just an extra swing put there for the sake of having more Cats.
Natasha

enkeli-kitten, believe me. The title of the song is "PROLOGUE", as far as I remember. That means it takes place BEFORE the rest of the musical. You've certainly noticed that Old Deuteronomy also wears another costume during this song and some other cats too. I don't think they couldn't find more actors to play these "additional" cats
Nemi

Looking at some stills from the video JSJC dance number, I actually can't see Chorus Grizabella anywhere... not even in the pyramid. But it is definately Elaine Page who's there for the solo-lines and closeups.

Natasha, no need to get defensive, dear. I don't think Enkeli meant it that way.

I've been under the impression that, since it's a prologue, none of the character are 'who they really are.' That is to say, they're all just there to introduce the show, not to be their individual character. That's why Gus, Deuteronomy, Tugger, and Grizabella are there in 'chorus form'. Of course, swings would be there too... that's how it goes.

"Chorus Grizabella" is played by the person who plays Grizabella, and could possibly be an example of what Grizabella used to look like, but it's not necessarily so, as it isn't really 'part of the storyline' at all. None of the cats are even at/part of the ball until Victoria invites them.

And enkeli-kitten, Beth Robson is credited on the DVD, though I've never pinpointed where she was... it's said she covered for Rosemarie Ford at one point? It was discussed earlier...
enkeli-kitten

Quote:
Natasha, no need to get defensive, dear. I don't think Enkeli meant it that way.


Thanks Nemi. I just meant that having young Grizabella seems strange, not that the prologue isn't really a "prologue." I guess I agree with Nemi, it's sort of an introduction.

Ok, I'll watch out for Beth Robson in the credits and in Jellicle songs.
abbeycat

yes Beth is Griz in a very quick Blink-and-you-miss-it type way, when they are coming into the naming of cats formation before they start chanting it is Beth. she is also gumbie at the end of act one and i think shes bomb for a few shots (havent watched it for ages though to be certain).
In the london production (uk tour and H'Burg) griz appears in JSFJC and dances also, she jumps from the pyramid and takes the boot so it eliminates her from the jump splits and then reform in the fourth group of 'scepitcal cats, dyspeptical cats' she stay on stage until 'but i tell you a cat needs a name thats particular...' when the cats go out into the audience she can slink off to get ready into granny griz (as i called her once,lol) un noticed.
I know in the Swedish production they had separate Griz and Young Griz, but i dont know about other prods sorry !
Drumdraper

I swear I saw Grizabella in the video dance for the first part of Jellicle Songs. She dances with everyone and once they begin to circle the stage, she disappears until The Naming of Cats. I'll have to look and see.
Etcetera Kitten

Nemi wrote:
"Chorus Grizabella" is played by the person who plays Grizabella, and could possibly be an example of what Grizabella used to look like, but it's not necessarily so, as it isn't really 'part of the storyline' at all. None of the cats are even at/part of the ball until Victoria invites them.
Yes that is true. Tugger, Deut and Griz wear different costumes so they don't draw the attention on their quite different looks during the first dance (Tugger's mane and Griz's peculiar coat would steal the spotlight). Also, if you go on Michaela Oloffson's (I LOVE her art) website you can even see that she did some drawings of "Pre-Grizabella" from different productions. BUT I don't remember seeing her dance in Jellicle songs, I think she hides after her solo line.

Nemi wrote:
And enkeli-kitten, Beth Robson is credited on the DVD, though I've never pinpointed where she was... it's said she covered for Rosemarie Ford at one point? It was discussed earlier...

I didn't know about that one hehe, I'd need to check. I do know thought that Jo Bingham played Victoria in some parts of the Pekes and the Pollicles.

@Abbeycat: When you say Beth Robson played the Gumbie, do you mean the part where she keeps Jemima from touching Griz? Because that would explain why I think she looks odd haha! Or may be it's just me. I had never heard this one. Where do you guys learn such wonderful facts? You will always amaze me ^^
abbeycat

@Etckitten..yep, thats the bit!
the reason i know what i do is because i have seen Cats at least 100 if not more times in the London production(and about 50/60 in europe/uk tour and twice on bway) so you get to know what the cast 'move' like so its easy to see/spot them when they play other characters...Beth as Griz for example. I also got to know a few cast members and you hear funny stories and back in 98 when it came out on video i stayed in for a week (pretty much not sleeping as i was too excited) and watched it till it snapped (yes, a week!). Good job it was school holidays or i would have had a LOT of explaining to do! lol! Laughing
enkeli-kitten

Omigosh is it really??? Surprised I never, ever noticed that it wasn't Suzie McKenna there...I totally thought it was her, I even have pics of her in my McKenna as Jenny page...uh-oh!!!!!
Misto

http://www.elainepaige.com/cats6.html
This is from the official Elaine Paige website, so this means that the close-ups were her.



Misto
Rumblepurr

Clarification

If you will look at the Music List, the FULL title of the first dance number is:

PROLOGUE: Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats.

On the video, Ken Page has on a "chorus costume" and no beard...
John Partridge is basically wearing his unitard, but no "mane" (You can, however, see the snaps that will attach it on the V of the leopard print.)

Cool Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat
Alonza0

I know, this thread was ages ago, but I'm bored.

Young/Chorus Griz also appears in London.
Thought you guys might want to see:

London 98:


London 99:


London Finale:


Also is this Beth Robson playing Jenny that you talked about? It's from the part where she pulls Jem away from Griz. You can see Jem's headfur a little to the right. Does anyone have a picture of Beth Robson without make-up? I haven't found one.


One last thing, here is a cast list of the movie Cats from IMDb.com that lists Beth Robson, as well as others, who played in the movie, although we didn't see them. Also, it curiously does not list Paul Baker and Vikki Coote as the voice-overs of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, although it appears that they might have at some time considering that their names are between David Arneil and Helen Massie's.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0173714/fullcredits
abbeycat

yep! that's her!

this is a pic of her as a human,lol!from Carryl's site, its quite an old pic (at least 1996 if not earlier)
http://www.carryl.com/cats/actors/r/bethrobson.jpg
Etcetera Kitten

Yeah that is definately the Beth Robson as Jenny bit. She looks sweet lol. And that piccie of her looks from the 80s. Oh well!
littlgriz

Re: Grizabella in opening number?

bwbaby wrote:
As I was watching the DVD of Cats I was watching the Opening number, and it looked like Elaine Paige as a younger cat. She sang, "When you're walking alone" Is that her? And if so, is that just for the video, or does Grizabella always appear as a younger version of herself in the opening.
yes it is her and yes griz sings that line all the time
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