Skimbleshanks

Last updated
Skimbleshanks, played by Reed Jones in the original Broadway cast of Cats. Skimbleshanks.jpg
Skimbleshanks, played by Reed Jones in the original Broadway cast of Cats .

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.

Contents

The role of Skimbleshanks was originated in the West End by Kenn Wells in 1981, and on Broadway by Reed Jones in 1982. He was portrayed by Geoffery Garrat and voiced by David Arneil in the 1998 film adaptation, and Steven McRae in the 2019 film adaptation.

Origins

The T. S Eliot poem begins as a parody of Rudyard Kipling's poem "l'Envoi" (also known as "The Long Trail") from Barrack-Room Ballads and Other Verses. Compare the first few lines of Kipling's

There's a whisper down the field where the year has shot her yield,
And the ricks stand grey to the sun,
Singing:--'Over then, come over, for the bee has quit the clover,
And your English summer's done.'
You have heard the beat of the off-shore wind,
And the thresh of the deep-sea rain;
You have heard the song--how long! how long?
Pull out on the trail again!

with Eliot's

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.'
All the guards and all the porters and the stationmaster's daughters
They are searching high and low,
Saying `Skimble where is Skimble for unless he's very nimble
Then the Night Mail just can't go.'

Skimbleshanks is described as living on the Night Mail overnight express train that travels on the British West Coast Main Line (WCML) between London Euston and Glasgow Central. He is however not exclusively based on the WCML, as he has visited Dumfries on the Glasgow South Western Line, then terminating at Glasgow St Enoch; but he spends most of his time on the WCML, allowing him to visit stations such as Crewe, Carlisle, and Gallowgate, all of which are on this line.

Although originally published as part of a collection of poems, Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat was published as a standalone picture book by Faber and Faber in 2015. [1]

Character

In the musical Cats , Skimbleshanks is depicted as a bright and energetic older cat who lives and works on the mail trains. [2] He is a meticulous control freak, [3] [4] though he has a tender side that comes out in his interactions with Jennyanydots and the kittens. [2] He is a figure of great importance in the train's operation; it will not leave without him, and he frequently looks in on the passengers and crew to ensure that everything is running smoothly.

The role of Skimbleshanks is meant to be played by a high baritone or tenor [3] [5] who is trained in classical dance. [4]

Appearance

Skimbleshanks is an orange tabby cat; [2] he has a stiff collar and wears a brown waistcoat with a pocket watch chain. [6]

Notable casting

The role of Skimbleshanks was originated in the West End by Kenn Wells in 1981, [7] and on Broadway by Reed Jones in 1982. [8] In the 2016 Broadway revival, he was played by Jeremy Davis. [9] On screen, the character was played by Geoffrey Garratt in the 1998 video version of the musical, [10] and by Steven McRae in the 2019 film adaptation. [11]

Beginning in March 2019, the Rinkai Line in Tokyo, Japan, uses a jingle of "Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat" as its train departure melody at the Ōimachi Station for the train to the Shin-Kiba Station. [12]

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 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.

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.

<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.

"Memory" is a show tune composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Trevor Nunn based on poems by T. S. Eliot. It was written for the 1981 musical Cats, where it is sung primarily by the character Grizabella as a melancholic remembrance of her glamorous past and as a plea for acceptance. "Memory" is the climax of the musical and by far its best-known song, having achieved mainstream success outside of the musical. According to musicologist Jessica Sternfeld, writing in 2006, it is "by some estimations the most successful song ever from a musical."

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.

<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">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.

<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.

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

Macavity the Mystery Cat, also called the Hidden Paw, is a fictional character and the main antagonist of T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. He also appears in the Andrew Lloyd Webber 1981 musical Cats, which is based on Eliot's book. Macavity is a cunning criminal and con artist; he possesses mystical powers and is the antagonist of the musical.

Jellicle cats are a fictional type of feline from Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, a 1939 collection of light poetry by T. S. Eliot. Jellicle cats were adapted for the 1981 stage musical Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber, where the wide array of diverse Jellicles is central to the musical's worldbuilding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gallowgate Central railway station</span> Former railway station in Scotland

Gallowgate Central railway station was located in Glasgow, Scotland and served the Calton area of that city via the Glasgow City and District Railway. Gallowgate Central was on the Bridgeton Central branch of the modern North Clyde line, now closed.

<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.

References

  1. ↑ "Skimbleshanks". Faber and Faber . Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Skimbleshanks". Cats the musical (official website). Archived from the original on 19 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Cats". Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Cats Audition" (PDF). Vereinigte Bühnen Wien. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  5. ↑ "Cast / Vocal Requirements: Cats". The Musical Company. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  6. ↑ Sternfeld 2006 , p. 132
  7. ↑ "Original London Cast List". Really Useful Group. Archived from the original on 15 August 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  8. ↑ "Original Broadway Cast List". Internet Broadway Database . Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "Preview and Cast of Cats". PBS. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  11. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 8, 2018). "'Cats' Cast: Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Steven McRae To Play Skimbleshanks". Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  12. ↑ "『キャッツ』出演俳優がりんかい線大井町駅の一日駅長を務めました！" (in Japanese). Shiki Theatre Company. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.