Act I

Act I begins with the Jellical Cats gathering in a dark junkyard. They have come for the Jellical ball. Their opening song, Jellical Songs for Jellical Cats, gives us an explanation of what it is that makes a Jellical cat special and different from other felines. In The Naming of Cats the audience is instructed in the meanings of the various names that cats have. There are their everyday names that their families use. There are fancier names that are a bit more dignified. Then there are the names only the cat himself knows. It is this name that the cat is meditating upon when he appears to be deep in thought.

It is with the Invitation to the Jellical Ball that we find out why the cats have come together. Tonight is the night that the leader of the Jellicals comes to choose the cat who will journey to the "Heavyside Layer" and on to a new life. It is while we are awaiting the arrival of Old Deuteronomy that we begin to meet each of the various cats.

The first cat we are introduced to is The Old Gumbie Cat, Jennyanydots. She spends her days sleeping and lounging around the house. It is not until night when her family goes to bed, that the Gumbie Cat comes to life. She sets about the house making sure everything is in order. She teaches the mice to crochet and puts the cockroaches to work.

Next we meet The Rum Tum Tugger. He is a curious and particular cat. If you offer him one thing, he wants the opposite. He likes being difficult and he will always do just as he pleases.

Now a new cat has come to join the group. It is Grizabella, the Glamour Cat (Betty Buckley). However, she is not welcomed by the other cats. Instead, she is rejected. It seems that many years ago, Grizabella left the others to join the outside world. When she left, she was a beautiful and glamorous cat, but she has not fared well over the years. Her coat is now torn and stained. Although the other cats are cruel to her, Grizabella does not give up. She leaves the junkyard but she promises to return and be admitted back into the group.

Bustopher Jones is not a small kitty. He's a "twenty five pounder" who's always well dressed in his white spats and black suit. He spends his time strolling down St. James Street constantly eating at his favorite clubs. He observes a routine and is of the opinion that he is in his prime. He also enjoys flirting with Jennyanydots. Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer are whom we meet next. They are a team that is always playing around, usually causing something to break. They are acrobats and comedians. They are also cat burglars, taking everything from articles of clothing to pieces of jewelry to food. If something in their household is found to be broken or missing, most likely it is because one or both of these cats have been there.

Finally our leader has arrived. Old Deuteronomy is greeted reverently by the other cats. He is a very old and very wise Jellical Cat. He has had many wives and children. He's lived numerous lives, and now he spends his time sitting in the sun on the wall at the vicarage. He's slow in his old age and therefore must be careful in his movements.

Now that everyone is present, The Jellical Ball can begin. Suddenly there is a crash and the cats scatter, but Old Deuteronomy calms them down. They begin their dance and start to celebrate their once-a-year gathering. Once more they are joined by Grizabella who so desperately wants to be a part of this happy family again. The other cats still continue to reject her, so she thinks back onto happier times when she was her younger, beautiful self. She asks for the cats to accept her, to reach out and touch her, but they refuse and Grizabella departs into the darkness.

Act II

Act II finds that the ball is over. The cats are now resting and thinking about The Moments of Happiness. It is with this quiet reflection that the cats can fully experience and understand what has gone on. We now continue to be introduced to the remainder of the cats. The next cat is Gus: the Theatre Cat. He is an old cat who worked with the greatest stars in his days. Now he spends his time telling stories of his past triumphs. In his prime, he was a huge star, able to play every part. His dream now is to make a "return" to the stage. In his fantasy, "Growltiger's Last Stand" including "The Ballad of Billy McCaw" we learn the story of Growltiger (a part Gus once played with great success) who was the roughest, toughest cat that ever lived. His nickname was "the Terror of the Thames," a title he relished. He was hated by all the foreign cats and had many enemies. Growltiger and his beloved, Griddlebone, eventually meet their end at the hand of some Siamese sailors.

Skimbleshanks: the Railway Cat brings us out of Gus' dream. Just as the Old Gumbie Cat makes sure that her house is in order, Skimbleshanks takes care of his train. It will not leave unless he is aboard, for Skimble makes sure everything is all right. As long as he is on the train, nothing will go wrong.

Macavity: the Mystery Cat finally makes an appearance after causing yet another loud crash. Macavity is known as "the Napoleon of Crime" for he is the one who controls everything. He's a master criminal who never gets caught for he always has an alibi. No matter where you look for him, he will not be there. By the time that Demeter and Bombalurina have finished telling his story, he's gone once again, this time taking Old Deuteronomy with him. He returns, though, to the scene of his crime in disguise (as Old Deuteronomy) but is caught by Munkustrap. A skirmish occurs and in an effort to get away, Macavity causes the lights to go out.

In order to try to restore the lights and find Old Deuteronomy, Mr. Mistoffelees is brought in. He is a "conjuring cat" who can teach the greatest magicians a thing or two. He is clever and cunning and can play any trick. Naturally he is able to find Old Deuteronomy.

With Old Deuteronomy returned, the time has come for the Jellical Choice. Who will be the cat who is picked to go to the Heavyside Layer? Who will be able to have a new Jellical Life? It is now that Grizabella makes her third attempt to be welcomed into the group she left so long ago. She sings of her Memory of days gone by. She begs her fellow cats to touch her so that they will "understand what happiness is." Finally, her wish is granted. The Jellical Cats welcome her and accept her back into their world. Old Deuteronomy then announces that it is Grizabella whom he has chosen to be reborn into a new Jellical Life. She joins him on top of a tire that takes them up to the Heavyside Layer.

With the Jellical Ball completed, and the Jellical Choice made, Old Deuteronomy’s final task is to teach the audience about The Ad-dressing of Cats. He tells of how to treat a cat and what to expect from him. He lets us know that cats expect and are worthy of our utmost respect.

MUSIC BY: Andrew Lloyd Webber
BASED ON: "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by T.S. Eliot
PRESENTED BY: Cameron Mackintosh, the Really Useful Group Limited, David Geffen, and the Shubert Organization
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: R. Tyler Gatchell, Jr., and Peter Neufeld
DESIGNED BY: John Napier
CHOREOGRAPHY BY: Gillian Lynne
DIRECTED BY: Trevor Nunn
*additional material for "Memory" written by Trevor Nunn

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