Rehearsals are now underway for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record breaking musical Cats arrival at Blackpool Opera House on Thursday 9 July for eight weeks. Jane McDonald has already been announced to play Grizabella but as The Winter Gardens gets set to receive the felines, the full cast has now been confirmed; to celebrate, here’s the full line up, where possible, in the words of the source text Old Possum’s Book of Practicle Cats by TS Eliot (aka Old Possum).
Adam Linstead will play Old Deuteronomy:
“Old Deuteronomy’s lived a long time;
He’s a Cat who has lived many lives in succession.
He was famous in proverb and famous in rhyme
A long while before Queen Victoria’s accession.”
Javier Cid will perform the parts of Macavity and Admetus:
“Macavity’s a Mystery Cat: he’s called the Hidden Paw—
For he’s the master criminal who can defy the Law.
He’s the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad’s despair:
For when they reach the scene of crime—Macavity’s not there!”
Antoine Murray-Straughan as Rum Tum Tugger:
“The Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat:
If you offer him pheasant he would rather have grouse.
If you put him in a house he would much prefer a flat,
If you put him in a flat then he’d rather have a house.”
Mark Richardson as Quaxo and Mistoffelees:
“Well I never!
Was there ever
A Cat so clever
As Magical Mr. Mistoffelees!”
Harry Francis as Mungojerrie and Georgie Leatherland as Rumpleteazer:
“Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were a very notorious couple of cats.
As knockabout clowns, quick-change comedians,
Tight-rope walkers and acrobats”
Paul Monaghan as Gus, Growltiger and Bustopher Jones:
“Gus is the Cat at the Theatre Door.
His name, as I ought to have told you before,
Is really Asparagus.”
“Growltiger was a Bravo Cat, who travelled on a barge:
In fact he was the roughest cat that ever roamed at large.”
“Bustopher Jones is not skin and bones—
In fact, he’s remarkable fat.”
Evan James will play Skimbleshanks (The Railway Cat)
“There’s a whisper down the line at 11:39
When the Night Mail’s ready to depart,
Saying ‘Skimble where is Skimble has he gone to hunt the thimble?
We must find him or the train can’t start.’”
The rest of the Jellicle cats who meet to make what is known as “the Jellicle choice” and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer (aka heaven) and come back to a new life include:
Matt Krzan (Munkustrap), Clare Rickard (Jellylorum), Emma Lee Clark (Bombalurina), Anna Woodside (Demeter), Jane Quinn (Jennyanydots), Hannah Kenna Thomas (Victoria/ White Cat), Tarryn Gee (Jemima), Danielle Cato (Cassandra), Gabrielle Cocca (Tantomile), Luke Cinque-White (Carbucketty), James Titchener (Coricopat), Jon-Scott Clark (Bill Bailey), Jack Butterworth (Rumpus/Alonzo) and Jordan Shaw (Pouncival).
“Jellicle Cats are black and white,
Jellicle Cats are rather small;
Jellicle Cats are merry and bright,
And pleasant to hear when they caterwaul.
Jellicle Cats have cheerful faces,
Jellicle Cats have bright black eyes;
They like to practice their airs and graces
And wait for the Jellicle Moon to rise.”
They are joined by Megan Armstrong, Lindsay Atherton, Lucy Brushett, Oliver Ramsdale, Alex Pindar and Barry Haywood as swings.
CATS will be at Blackpool Opera House from Thursday 9 July to Saturday 5 September. Tickets start at £20 and are available now from www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk
