Synopsis
CATS -
SYNOPSIS
Act One: When Cats are Maddened by the Midnight
Dance
At rise, the audience finds itself in a huge junkyard.
Onstage, a special breed of cats known as Jellicle cats are
making their way to the junkyard (Jellicle Songs for
Jellicle Cats). Suddenly they spot the audience and realize
the audience doesn't know what makes Jellicle cats special
from ordinary cats. Jellicle cats are each give three names
each, one name given by their human owners, one name that
is unique and fits only that cat's personality, and one
name that is so divine that only the cat knows it and still
contemplates over it (The Naming of Cats).
But the most special thing about Jellicle cats is that they
are able to have the opportunity to be reborn, which is the
reason the Jellicle cats gather together in the junkyard
that night. It is the night of the annual Jellicle Ball,
where Old Deuteronomy, the eldest Jellicle cat, "through a
silence you can cut with a knife announces the cat that is
to be reborn." (Invitation to the Jellicle Ball).
The first cat competing for a spot in heaven is
Jennyanydots, The Old Gumbie Cat. Fooling her masters into
believing she is dormant during the day, Jennyanydots comes
alive and useful at night. Instead of chasing the mice and
insects, she teaches them music and crochetting so they
don't ruin the house with their destructive behaviors.
The next cat is The Rum Tum Tugger, a curious yet suave cat
who annoys his masters with his mischief and fickleness.
Suddenly, the Rum Tum Tugger is interrupted by an uninvited
guest, Grizabella, the Glamour Cat. Grizabella begs the
cats to let her come to the Jellicle Ball, but the other
cats ostracize the faded beauty, alienated by her
"lady-of-the-night" ways.
The third cat in competition is "Bustopher Jones", the
sophisticated "cat about town". Fattened by high society
living, Bustopher Jones is a well-liked cat among the
Jellicle Cats, unlike Grizabella. Suddenly, the cats are
scared off into hiding when they hear some ominous noises,
frantically whispering, "Macavity!" Two cats don't go off
into hiding, the unsavory duo Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer.
Both are professional "cat" burglars who cause all sorts of
mischief while they burglarize the houses. When the other
Jellicle cats come out of hiding to watch the two croon
over their stolen goods, they chase Mungojerrie and
Rumpleteazer out of the junkyard.
Finally, the awaited moment of the Jellicle Ball has
arrived. Old Deuteronomy has come to the Jellicle Ball. The
old cat is welcome by worship, praise, and kisses. No
Jellicle cat has ever been as great as Old Deuteronomy.
When Old Deuteronomy is seated, Munkustrap entertains him
with the tale of "The Awefull Battle Between the Pekes and
Pollicle Dogs". Finally, The Jellicle Ball begins. The cats
start to dance the night away while Old Deuteronomy ponders
which cat deserves the honor to be reborn.
The ball is once again crashed by Grizabella, who feels she
also deserves a chance to compete. The other cats
disdainfully leave her alone to find another spot in the
junkyard to dance. Unbeknownst to Grizabella, Old
Deuteronomy is listening to her cries as she dreams for a
second chance to regain her beauty and change her behaviors
(Grizabella the Glamour Cat (Reprise)).
Act Two: Why Will the Summer Day Delay--When Will
Time Flow Away
At rise, Old Deuteronomy is surrounded by the Jellicle cats
in another part of the junkyard. He announces that he will
choose the cat who "has found meaning to the happiness he
or she has experienced" (The Moments of Happiness).
Jellylorum then introduces the next candidate, Gus: the
Theatre Cat. Gus was once one of the greatest actors of his
time. As he recounts some of his exploits in the theatre,
Gus realizes that theatre today is not what it once was. He
relives in his mind one of his favorite plays,
"Growltiger's Last Stand." His memory is so detailed that
the audience can literally see Growltiger's ship, the
leading lady Griddlebone who joined him in the romantic
"Ballad of Billy Macaw", and the actors who played his
nemeses. Soon the memory of the play fades and Gus finds
himself back in the junkyard, with his theatre legacy a
fading memory.
The next cat to compete is Skimbleshanks, the Railway Cat,
who believes in extreme efficiency and reflects that in his
work at the train station. As Skimbleshanks entices the
Jellicle cats with his daily life at the railway station,
the Jellicle cats hear the ominous noise they heard
earlier. Macavity, the Mystery Cat has shown up uninvited
to the Jellicle Ball. Angered by not being invited,
Macavity and his henchman spirit Old Deuteronomy away so he
cannot decide which cat will go to heaven.
As Munkustrap and some of the other Jellicle cats look for
Macavity and Old Deuteronomy, Demeter and Bombularina
whisper about the crimes this wicked cat has committed in
his lifetime. He has even defied the law of gravity! His
evilness has caused his to be feared by most Jellicle cats.
Finally, Munkustrap and Alonso have found Macavity without
their leader. They try to fight the answer out of him, but
he is too powerful. Macavity tries to make a grand escape
only to gets electrocuted from a nearby generator. When the
smoke clears, Macavity is gone. And now there's no way to
find Old Deuteronomy.
The Rum Tum Tugger suggests that maybe if they conjure up
magical Mr. Mistoffelees, he can help bring back Old
Deuteronomy. Before anyone can summon this magical cat, Mr.
Mistoffelees appears with his smooth moves and magic
tricks. With a wave of the cape, he successfully recovers
Old Deuteronomy, unharmed. The Jellicle cats rejoice. Mr.
Mistoffelees has saved the day!
For the third time, Grizabella comes back to the junkyard,
tired of the shabby treatment she has been receiving from
her fellow Jellicle cats. She explains how she wants to be
reborn for a second chance to live differently--to live
like the happy memories she has of when she was beautiful,
before her years of prostitution (Memory).
After Grizabella is through, it is obvious to Old
Deuteronomy which cat should have the honor of going to
heaven. The Jellicle cats finally kneel out of respect to
the cat who will be going to be reborn-Grizabella! Old
Deuteronomy escorts Grizabella on a flying tire "up to the
Heaviside Layer past the Jellicle Moon and the Russell
Hotel" when Grizabella is to be reborn (The Journey to the
Heaviside Layer).
It is almost morning. The Jellicle Ball is over for another
year. As Old Deuteronomy adjourns his fellow Jellicle cats,
he reminds them of their special privileges as cats (The
Ad-dressing of Cats). Soon all of the Jellicle cats return
home and the junkyard is quiet again for another year.