GREAT PERFORMANCES: CATS (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramatic arts programs. This program showcases a film version of the Broadway musical "Cats." A group of cats, known amongst themselves as "Jellicles," meet at a junkyard ("Prologue: Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats") and explain their naming conventions ("The Naming of Cats"). They have gathered for their annual "Jellicle ball" ("The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball"), where they are to be visited by their leader Old Deuteronomy, who is to choose one amongst them to ascend to the "Heaviside Layer," where they will be reborn into a new life. Various Jellicle cats assemble, each of them introduced and expounded upon, such as Jennyanydots, a "Gumbie cat" who sleeps by day and leads packs of mice and cockroaches at night ("The Old Gumbie Cat") and "Rum Tum Tugger," a "curious cat" who is haughty, perpetually dissatisfied, and the object of the female cats' desires. A pall falls over the proceedings when an old, ragged-looking cat enters; she is "Grizabella: The Glamour Cat," who was once beautiful but has succumbed to the depredations of age and is shunned by the others. Next to arrive is "Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town," a portly, gentlemanly cat who fancies himself a member of high society. Also making an appearance are "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer," a pair of near-identical cats with a penchant for thievery and mischief. Finally Old Deuteronomy arrives, inspiring reverence in the Jellicle cats ("Old Deuteronomy"). He is described as an elder cat who has "lived many lives in succession." To entertain Old Deuteronomy, the Jellicles reenact the tale of "The Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles," a vicious fight between two families of cats broken up by a flashy cat known as the Rumpus Cat. Old Deuteronomy attempts to address the Jellicles, but they scatter at the approach of the mysterious and dangerous cat Macavity. Old Deuteronomy calls them out of hiding ("The Song of the Jellicles") and they emerge for a dance at the Jellicle Ball. Grizabella arrives again and tries to dance like the others, but her age and infirmity prevents her from doing so. She laments on her current state and longs for her younger days ("Memory"). Old Deuteronomy tries to explain to the other Jellicles about Grizabella's situation ("The Moments of Happiness"), but they do not seem to listen. "Gus: The Theatre Cat" is introduced, another old cat who tells tales of his younger days performing on the stage. He too is wistful about his youth and leaves when he becomes emotional over it. Next is "Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat," a cat who lives on a train car and believes that his responsible for the operation of the entire railroad. Macavity appears again and kidnaps Old Deuteronomy, and the other Jellicles remark about his devious and criminal nature ("Macavity: The Mystery Cat"). Old Deuteronomy returns, but it is actually Macavity in disguise. The Jellicles discover him and engage him in a fight, managing to wound him and force him to escape. To retrieve Old Deuteronomy, the Jellicles enlist the aid of Mistoffelees, a cat magician ("Mr. Mistoffelees"). Mistoffelees makes Old Deuteronomy appear, much to everyone's delight. Soon the time for Old Deuteronomy's choice is at hand ("Jellicle Choice/Daylight"). Grizabella returns and is again shunned, but Old Deuteronomy allows her the chance to address the other cats. She pleads with the other cats, appealing to them to allow her to move on to a new life and leave her unhappy past behind ("Memory [reprise]"). Her plea succeeds and Old Deteronomy leads her in an ascent to the Heaviside Layer ("The Journey to the Heavyside Layer"). Grizabella completes the last leg of the journey alone, disappearing into the sky. The show ends with Old Deuteronomy and the Jellicles giving some advice about how to treat cats ("Finale: The Ad-Dressing of Cats").
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: November 2, 1998 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:75255
- GENRE: Drama; Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Music
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1972-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Gary Lucchesi … Executive Producer
- Jac Venza … Executive Producer
- John Walker … Senior Producer
- Andrew Lloyd Webber … Producer, Music by
- David Horn … Series Producer
- Andy Pincheta … Line Producer
- David Mallet … Director
- T.S. Eliot … Based on "Old Possum's Book of Cats" by
- Gillian Lynne … Choreographer
- Elaine Page … Cast, Grizabella
- John Mills … Cast, Gus the Theatrical Cat
- Ken Page … Cast, Old Deuteronomy
- Rosemarie Ford … Cast, Bombalurina
- Michael Gruber … Cast, Munkustrap
- John Partridge … Cast, Rum Tum Tugger
- Aeva May … Cast, Demeter
- Geoffrey Garat … Cast, Skimbleshanks
- James Barron … Cast, Bustopher Jones
- Jo Gibb … Cast, Rumpleteazer
- Drew Varley … Cast, Mungojerrie
- Susie McKenna … Cast, Jennyanydots
- Jacob Brent … Cast, Mistoffelees
- Susan Jane Tanner … Cast, Jellylorum
- Phyllida Crowley Smith … Cast, Victoria
- Bryn Walters … Cast, Macavity
- Veerle Casteleyn … Cast, Jemima
- Tommi Sliiden … Cast, Coricopat
- Kaye Brown … Cast, Tantomile
- Karl Morgan … Cast, Pouncival
- Leah Sue Morland … Cast, Electra
- Jo Bingham … Cast, Etcetera
- Fergus Logan … Cast, Tumblebrutus
- Tony Timberlake … Cast, Asparagus
- Jason Gardiner … Cast, Alonzo
- Femi Taylor … Cast, Exotica
- Frank Thompson … Cast, Rumpus Cat
- Rebecca Parker … Cast, Cassandra