Rum Tum Tugger

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Rum Tum Tugger
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats / Cats character
Created by T. S. Eliot
Portrayed by
In-universe information
Species Cat (Maine Coon) [1]
GenderMale
Affiliation Jellicle cats

Rum Tum Tugger is one of the many feline characters in the 1939 poetry book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, and in the 1981 musical Cats which is based on Eliot's book. Rum Tum Tugger is a rebellious Jellicle cat who loves to be the center of attention.

Contents

The role of Rum Tum Tugger was originated by Paul Nicholas on the West End in 1981, and by Terrence Mann on Broadway in 1982. Then, in the 1998 video production, he was performed by John Partridge. Jason Derulo portrayed Rum Tum Tugger in the 2019 film adaptation.

Origins

In T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats , Rum Tum Tugger is described as a rebel cat who cannot help but be difficult. He is never satisfied with what you give him;

The Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat: [1]
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.
If you set him on a mouse then he only wants a rat,
If you set him on a rat then he'd rather chase a mouse.

The Rum Tum Tugger is characterized as notoriously hard to please, constantly setting himself apart from others by deliberately doing the opposite of what is expected. By the end of the poem, the reader is left with the impression that he is deviously self-centered and takes pleasure in his contrarian nature. Performers playing this role are often described with the three words: "perverse, preening, and independent."

Musical

Character

Rum Tum Tugger is a rebellious and unappeasable cat. [2] He loves the limelight, [2] while at the same time enjoys being seen as an individual by separating himself a little from the tribe. A ladies' man, the female kittens (Victoria, Etcetera, Electra and Jemima) are in awe of him, and he flirts openly with almost every female cat in the 1998 film adaptation (especially Bombalurina), although Demeter seems to dislike him deeply. He also admires Mr. Mistoffelees, even going so far as to sing a ballad about how talented he is. [3] His older brother, the serious and responsible Munkustrap, often has to keep him in line. [4]

Rum Tum Tugger is often portrayed as a rock star-esque cat, [5] and Andrew Lloyd Webber has stated that part of the character is intended to be an homage to Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones. In an attempt to modernize the show, Rum Tum Tugger was revamped into a street rapper in the 2014 West End revival. [5]

The role is usually played by a rock tenor [6] with a strong falsetto register. [7] [8]

As a major character part, Tugger is a principal singing role with several solos. He sings solo in his own song, "The Rum Tum Tugger", as well as "Magical Mr. Mistoffelees". He sings "Old Deuteronomy" with Munkustrap.

Appearance

Rum Tum Tugger is a black tomcat with leopard spots on his chest and a wild mane; he wears a spiked collar and a belt covered with silver rhinestones. [9] His cat breed was said to be Maine Coon, because of his wild mane and being portrayed as much bigger than the other cats. [1]

Notable casting

The role of Rum Tum Tugger was originated by Paul Nicholas in the West End in 1981, [10] and by Terrence Mann on Broadway in 1982. [11] The character was played by Antoine Murray-Straughan and Marcquelle Ward in the 2014 and 2015 West End revivals respectively, [12] [13] and by Tyler Hanes in the 2016 Broadway revival. [14]

On screen, he was played by John Partridge in the 1998 film adaptation, and by Jason Derulo in the 2019 film adaptation. [15]

Related Research Articles

<i>Old Possums Book of Practical Cats</i> Book of poems by TS Eliot

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (1939) is a collection of whimsical light poems by T. S. Eliot about feline psychology and sociology, published by Faber and Faber. It serves as the basis for Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1981 musical Cats.

<i>Cats</i> (musical) 1981 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Cats is a sung-through musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is based on the 1939 poetry collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. The musical tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles and the night they make the "Jellicle choice" by deciding which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life. As of 2024, Cats remains the fifth-longest-running Broadway show and the eighth-longest-running West End show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grizabella</span> Fictional character

Grizabella the Glamour Cat is a main character in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats. Lonely and decrepit, Grizabella seeks acceptance from the other Jellicle cats but is initially ostracised. She sings the most famous song from the musical, "Memory".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Deuteronomy</span> Character from Cats

Old Deuteronomy is a character in T. S. Eliot's 1939 Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and its 1981 musical adaptation, Cats. He is a wise and beloved elderly cat, further serving as the Jellicle patriarch in the musical. The role of Old Deuteronomy was originated by Brian Blessed in the West End in 1981, and by Ken Page on Broadway in 1982. Judi Dench plays Old Deuteronomy in the 2019 film adaptation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Partridge (actor)</span> English actor and television presenter

John Partridge is an English actor, dancer, singer, panelist and television presenter, who is probably best known for the role of Christian Clarke in the long-running BBC television soap opera EastEnders, having joined the cast in January 2008. He has worked extensively as a singer and dancer in musical theatre, portraying Rum Tum Tugger in the official film production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats.

Mr. Mistoffelees is a character in T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and its 1981 musical adaptation, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. Mistoffelees is a young black-and-white tuxedo cat with magical powers that he cannot yet fully control. He is a featured dancer and his signature move is the "Conjuring Turn", consisting of 24 consecutive fouettés en tournant. His chorus identity is sometimes named Quaxo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer</span> Fictional characters from T. S. Eliots 1939 poetry book

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are fictional characters in T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. The Jellicle cat duo are mischievous petty thieves who often cause trouble for their human family. Although originally published as part of a collection, the poem "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" was published as a standalone book by Faber and Faber in 2018.

Terrence Vaughan Mann is an American actor and baritone singer. He is best known for his appearances on the Broadway stage, which include Lyman in Barnum, The Rum Tum Tugger in Cats, Inspector Javert in Les Misérables, The Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Chauvelin in The Scarlet Pimpernel, Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, Charlemagne in Pippin, Mal Beineke in The Addams Family, Charles Frohman / Captain James Hook in Finding Neverland, and The Man in the Yellow Suit in Tuck Everlasting. He has received three Tony Award nominations, an Emmy Award nomination, and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munkustrap</span>

Munkustrap is a Jellicle cat from T. S. Eliot's 1939 poem "The Naming of Cats". He is a principal character and the main narrator in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1981 musical Cats, which is based on Eliot's poems.

Jennyanydots is a fictional character from T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. She is also a principal character in the 1981 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats, which is based on Eliot's work. Jennyanydots is a seemingly lazy Jellicle cat who sits around all day, but at night, she becomes very active as she rules the mice and cockroaches, forcing them to undertake helpful functions and creative projects to curb their naturally destructive habits.

<i>Cats</i> (1998 film) 1998 British film

Cats is a 1998 British direct-to-video musical film based on the 1981 stage musical of the same name by Andrew Lloyd Webber, itself based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (1939) by T. S. Eliot. Lloyd Webber oversaw orchestration and called on Gillian Lynne, the show's original choreographer, to train the cast members. David Mallet served as the director of this production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skimbleshanks</span> Fictional character

Skimbleshanks is a character in T. S. Eliot's 1939 book of poetry Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1981 musical Cats, which is based on Eliot's book. The character is portrayed as a bright and energetic orange tabby cat who lives and works on the mail trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jemima (cat)</span> Main character in the musical "Cats"

Jemima is a principal character in the musical Cats, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on the poetry of T. S. Eliot. The youngest member of the Jellicle cats, she is idealistic and very accepting of others. She becomes the first cat to accept the outcast Grizabella back into the tribe.

"(Of) The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles" is a poem by T. S. Eliot included in Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, his 1939 book of light verse. It is also included in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1981 musical Cats, which is an adaptation of the book.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jellylorum</span> Fictional character

Jellylorum is a principal character in the musical Cats. One of the Jellicle cats, she is usually portrayed as a motherly caretaker and is principally a vocalist. The musical is based on the 1939 collection of poems by T. S. Eliot from Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, and Jellylorum is named after the poet's own cat.

"Gus: The Theatre Cat" is a poem by T. S. Eliot included in Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. Known as "The Theatre Cat" due to his career as an actor, Gus is an old and frail, yet revered, cat, who "suffers from palsy, which makes his paws shake." His coat is described as "shabby" and he is "no longer a terror to mice or to rats."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demeter (cat)</span> Character from the musical Cats

Demeter is a main character in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats. The musical is an adaptation of T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, and the character's name is given in the poem "The Naming of Cats". Demeter is a very troubled and skittish female Jellicle cat. The role was originated by Sharon Lee-Hill in the West End in 1981, and by Wendy Edmead on Broadway in 1982. Daniela Norman played this role in the 2019 film adaptation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bombalurina</span> Character from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Cats"

Bombalurina is a principal character in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats. The musical is an adaptation of T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, and the character's name is given in the poem "The Naming of Cats". Bombalurina is a flirtatious, confident female and mischievous cat with a distinct red coat. The role was originated by Geraldine Gardner in the West End in 1981, and by Donna King on Broadway in 1982. In the 2019 film adaptation, she is played by Taylor Swift.

<i>Cats</i> (2019 film) Film directed by Tom Hooper

Cats is a 2019 musical fantasy film based on the 1981 West End musical Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber, which in turn was based on the 1939 poetry collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. The film was directed by Tom Hooper, in his second feature musical following Les Misérables (2012), from a screenplay by Lee Hall and Hooper. It features an ensemble cast, including James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift, Rebel Wilson and Francesca Hayward in her film debut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Hanes</span> American actor

Tyler Jonathan Hanes is an American actor, singer, dancer and choreographer best known for his work in Broadway musicals.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Eliot, T.S. Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.
  2. 1 2 "Rum Tum Tugger". Cats the musical (official website). Archived from the original on 19 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  3. ↑ "Mr. Mistoffelees lyrics". Metrolyrics. Archived from the original on October 23, 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "Munkustrap". Cats the musical (official website). Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  5. 1 2 Singh, Anita (7 July 2014). "Cats: classic musical to feature a rapping cat". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  6. ↑ "Cast / Vocal Requirements: Cats". The Musical Company. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  7. ↑ "Cats". Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  8. ↑ "Cats Audition" (PDF). Vereinigte Bühnen Wien. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  9. ↑ Sternfeld 2006 , p. 132
  10. ↑ "Original London Cast List". Really Useful Group. Archived from the original on 15 August 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  11. ↑ "Original Broadway Cast List". Internet Broadway Database . Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  12. ↑ Shenton, Mark (24 October 2014). "Complete Casting Announced for Cats at London Palladium". Playbill . Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  13. ↑ Shenton, Mark (28 September 2015). "Full Casting Announced for the Return of Cats to London Palladium". Playbill . Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  14. ↑ "Inside the Playbill: Cats – Opening Night at the Neil Simon Theatre: Cast". Playbill . Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  15. ↑ Schaefer, Sandy (13 December 2018). "Cats Movie Musical Officially Begins Filming; Full Cast Revealed". Screen Rant . Retrieved 21 March 2019.
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