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The Broadway musical Cats has once once more been filmed for our entertainment. Simply the new Universal picture show starring Taylor Swift and Idris Elba will be much different than the VHS version I inexplicably owned every bit a kid.

If y'all were not so lucky equally to own a copy of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical growing up, the trailers for the flick may be incommunicable to understand. Hither's everything we know virtually the "definitely not CGI" Cats film that will hit theaters this yr.

What is Cats?

The original Broadway musical, which clocks in around two hours and xx minutes (whew!), was created past Andrew Lloyd Webber. It lifts near of its lyrics from Old Possum's Volume of Practical Cats, a 1939 book of poems past T.S. Eliot. These poems tell the stories of typical cat characters, such equally "cat that breaks all your shit," and "cat that gets really hyper at night."

Webber had been a fan of the book as a child, and in the 1970s he began setting the poems to music. Considering of the poetic source material, the musical doesn't have a strong, shall we say, plot. It's likewise entirely sung-through, and much of the story is conveyed through trip the light fantastic.

Cats debuted in 1981 on the West Finish. Fun fact: Webber had to remortgage his firm to secure the funds! The struggle was apparently worth it, every bit Cats won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical.

The new live-activeness Cats picture show is directed by Tom Hooper, best known for directing The Rex's Speech and Les Misérables. But it's not the kickoff time Cats has been filmed: In 1998, a version of Cats staged specifically for direct-to-video release was directed by David Mallet, who directed many of David Bowie and Queen's music videos. We practise not notwithstanding know the long-term effects of Cats on the children who discovered it on VHS, but speaking simply for myself, it made me bisexual.

Universal Pictures

What is Cats most?

Cats is an anthology-mode musical that takes identify over the course of one night. The cats assemble in a junkyard and introduce themselves in song, making the example for why each one is worthy to enter the Heaviside Layer, the true cat equivalent of Heaven, to be reborn every bit a younger, hotter cat. The proceedings are overseen past the delightfully rotund and kind Deuteronomy, although the shadow of the dread criminal true cat Macavity looms.

Each song is generally near a cat introducing itself, or a cat telling a story near its life. During the night, a washed-up old cat named Grizabella attempts to join the festivities several times, but is rejected. The other cats judge her ragged glaze and colorful by, and shun her.

After the pb cats accept their moment in the spotlight, Deuteronomy decides that Grizabella deserves to arise to the Heaviside Layer, and up she goes.

What ... did the Cats expect like

In the phase musical, the performers apparel in tight fur-patterned suits with fuzzy collars, arm warmers, leg warmers and fuzzy headpieces with ears. They wear cat face pigment. These extremely tight catsuits are the source of much babyhood confusion or distress surrounding the Cats VHS.

In the film, at that place are no catsuits or face paint! The cat fur, tails, ears, and whiskers are added digitally.

"It was one of the coolest things I've seen," Taylor Swift, who plays Bombalurina, told Entertainment Weekly. I want to know what else Taylor Swift has seen.

"Information technology'southward not animated," Swift said. "And it'south not movement capture. It's somehow this new way that hasn't been done before. And they're giving us a tail that moves naturally, and ears and whiskers."

(At this twelvemonth's CinemaCon, an effect for theatrical exhibitors, Universal showed a behind-the-scenes video of Cats that showed the actors in move capture suits, which just goes to evidence, yous tin can't believe everything Taylor Swift says.)

Andrew Lloyd Webber himself appeared on Good Morn Great britain and confirmed that "they've got this technique [...] which isn't like CGI, but information technology turns you into a cat."

"And then you know it'south Taylor Swift ... but she's a cat." He said that Taylor Swift wanted to see that part of the trailer ten times.

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How did actors prepare to be in Cats?

"We had this thing chosen 'cat schoolhouse,'" said Taylor Swift, again to EW. "You could learn almost how to create the motions of cats, how to think similar they think, how to sense things the manner that they do, carry yourself the way a cat would. I learned a lot."

Nosotros demand to know more than.

Why is the "Memory" song such a big bargain?

"Memory," sung by Grizabella, a role normally reserved for a non-dancing extra with killer pipes, is one of the only songs in Cats that doesn't come from a T.S. Eliot poem. It'due south also arguably the best, or at to the lowest degree most memorable song in the show. During the song, Grizabella remembers being young and happy, and vows to live another day in the hopes that she will feel happy again with the sunrise. Information technology's incredibly lamentable and cute!

Subsequently the musical's debut, "Memory" won All-time Song Musically and Lyrically at the 1982 Ivor Novello Awards (give me an alibi to write about Ivor Novello and I'll do it). Obviously when Andrew Lloyd Webber's male parent heard the song, he told him it "sounds like a 1000000 dollars," which is accurate, because it's the reason people buy tickets to Cats.

Speaking from personal experience, I in one case made a bunch of people watch clips of Cats during a political party, and "Memory" was the merely song where anybody shut upwardly and stopped making jokes. It's very practiced.

Universal Pictures

What does "jellicle" mean?

The cats in Cats are Jellicle Cats. It'southward difficult to pinpoint what exactly "jellicle" is supposed to mean, but according to a Telegraph study, the phrase comes from T.South. Eliot'southward very young niece trying to pronounce the words "dear picayune true cat."

From the song "The Jellicle Ball," we acquire that Jellicle Cats are black and white, Jellicle Cats are rather pocket-sized, Jellicle Cats are merry and brilliant, and pleasant to hear when they caterwaul (jury is out on that one). That being said, the same song confirms that Jellicle Cats are "of moderate size," so what is the truth? Additionally, the cats that nourish the Jellicle Ball are of a diverseness of coat patterns — far more the simple "black and white" that the lyrics suggest.

Which actors play the cats cast in Cats?

Idris Elba as Macavity

A dastardly criminal they telephone call "the Hidden Paw," Macavity (a mystery cat) is likewise the "Napoleon of Offense," making him a feline analog to Arthur Conan Doyle'south Moriarty. It'due south interesting to cast such a big proper noun in the Macavity role, because in the stage product he doesn't take any songs — the function is normally played by a chorus fellow member, who switches dorsum to a regular cat when Macavity is offstage. The movie will likely expand the function to take full advantage of Elba's capabilities.

Insubordinate Wilson as Jennyanydots

Jennyanydots is a gleeful seamstress true cat who is extremely lazy during the day, simply runs effectually all night long. She also teaches beetles how to dance.

Universal Pictures

Judi Dench as Old Deuteronomy

Onetime Deuteronomy is a loving, soft senior cat who is securely respected by the community. He (or she in the instance of the flick) is shown swell reverence past the other cats, with the exception of Macavity, who is a menace to the aging feline.

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Ian McKellen as Gus the Theatre Cat

Gus is an elderberry cat with shaking paws who has made a career on the stage. He sings about his memories of performing as Firefrorefiddle, the Fiend of the Fell, and Growltiger, the scourge of the Thames. In stage productions, Gus, like Macavity, is played by a chorus member who changes for the function. He's a major tear-jerker! Other cats have to help him around considering he's also old!

Taylor Swift as Bombalurina

Bombalurina is a sexy cat who is horny for Rum Stomach Tugger and Macavity, merely Rum Tummy Tugger rejects her, and she resists Macavity out of female solidarity. In the stage product, Bombalurina and her friend Demeter are the principal singers, appearing in virtually of the songs. Their standout duet is "Macavity." Historically, Bombalurina is extremely hot, radiates sexual energy, and also made me gay.

Daniela Norman as Demeter

Demeter is Bombalurina's friend and duet partner — they're literally ever together. She is likewise a morally flexible cat, but she shares a dark past with Macavity and is actually afraid of him.

James Corden as Bustopher Jones

Another extremely large cat of the upper course who is a fellow member of many clubs. He is nevertheless friendly to his street-living counterparts. Notably, he weighs 25 pounds.

Ray Winstone as Growltiger

Growltiger is a pirate who lives on a barge! The graphic symbol does not appear in the 1998 Cats movie; in the stage product, his song "Growltiger'south Concluding Stand up" is part of Gus's retentivity of performing every bit Growltiger on the stage. Accordingly, he's usually played past the same thespian who plays Gus. Not so in the motion-picture show.

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Jennifer Hudson equally Grizabella

Grizabella is a lonely onetime true cat who has been shunned by the other Jellicle Cats, possibly considering she is implied to be a sexual activity worker, which is bad praxis on the function of the Jellicles. Grizabella is probably the most coveted and well-known role in the play, and is usually played by a celebrity or respected Broadway dame.

Steven McRae as Skimbleshanks

The Railway Cat! Skimbleshanks works on a railroad train and always makes sure it runs on time.

Laurie Davidson as Mr. Mistoffelees

Oh! There never was a cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees! Mr. M is a lovable young tuxedo true cat who is besides a magician. He's cheerful and handsome, and can disappear into sparse air!

Robert Fairchild as Munkustrap

Munkustrap is the Cats equivalent of an MC. He's a cool-headed leader, and introduces basically every damn vocal (but his personality is frankly boring).

Universal Pictures

Jason Derulo as Rum Tum Tugger

Rum Breadbasket Tugger is the handsome bad male child of Cats. He's an alpha loner who performs a office similar to Munkustrap, but and so much hotter. A lot of times he waves his butt and the power of it knocks out whatsoever female cats in his vicinity. Still, he respects Old Deuteronomy, even though he mostly stays on the fringe of the Jellicle song-and-dance routine.

In the original stage production, he summons a pastiche of Mick Jagger, with a leopard-patterned chest and a rock star vibe. In a 2014 revival, Andrew Lloyd Webber himself decided it was a practiced idea to update Rum Breadbasket Tugger and make him a rapper, and besides to call this the "street cat" version of Tugger, which seems, I dunno, racially insensitive. This version of Tugger was phased out in 2016 because information technology was universally despised.

Naoimh Morgan as Rumpleteazer and Danny Collins as Mungojerrie

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are athletic and playful young cats who will destroy everything in your abode. They are also thieves, going after both food and valuables indiscriminately.

Jonadette Carpio equally Syllabub

Because of her youth, Syllabub doesn't judge Grizabella every bit harshly as the others, and is the first to accept her. This is more often than not an ensemble role, with one huge, huge exception: She joins in "Memory" in the 2d act, and her singing is what gives Grizabella hope.

Mette Towley as Cassandra

Cassandra is an elegant cat who looks very singled-out from the others, as she has no fluff. Presumably she'south non a hairless cat — she's certainly a nada of some kind. In the stage production, hers is a dance-heavy office with no solo songs. She does a lot of dramatic, meaningful posing.

Francesca Hayward equally Victoria

Victoria is a demure white cat who tin can do some truly mind-melting ballet. This is the nearly hard dance role in the show.

Laurent Bourgeois as Socrates

This is plain a role created for the 2019 moving picture, which is nuts because there are so many cats in the musical. Laurent Bourgeois is one of Les Twins, a pair of French dancers who are famous for performing complex, synchronized dance moves. This volition no uncertainty be a dance-heavy role, and I would have suggested he play "Tumblebrutus." That being said, the Greek philosopher naming gives him synchronicity with ...

Larry Bourgeois as Plato

Plato is another swing role in the stage production. Though the character is in the ensemble for almost of the show, he also plays Macavity during the climax, earlier switching back to Plato. Generally, Plato is a playful young cat. The part is very able-bodied, which is no doubt why Larry Bourgeois was cast. Expect Plato and Socrates to perform some elite-tier dances together. Sometimes Plato besides plays The Rumpus Cat, simply that function also goes to...

Bluey Robinson equally Alonzo

Alonzo is another chorus member who has some standout moments: Namely, he can portray The Rumpus True cat during a song in which this individual breaks up a fight between some warring neighborhood dogs. He as well fights with Macavity when the latter comes to ruin the party.

Eric Underwood equally Admetus

Admetus is an ensemble true cat with no solos, and in some productions the role has been renamed "Plato." Which raises the question: What the hell is this motion picture doing with both Admetus and Plato? Where is Tumblebrutus?

Freya Underwood as Jellylorum

Jellylorum is named after T.S. Eliot's ain cat! She's a matronly true cat who cares for the aging Gus, and stops cat fights from breaking out in the group. She is also 1 of the first to come effectually to accepting Grizabella into the group, even though she shuns her at outset.

Zizi Strallen every bit Tantomile and Jaih Betote as Coricopat

A pair of creepy twin kittens who are psychic. I'k not fucking with you. In the musical, they don't have whatever solo songs, and mostly exercise eerie synchronized dance moves. One would have thought these roles perfect for Laurent and Larry Bourgeois, who are, again, literal twins.

Melissa Madden-Greyness as Griddlebone

Yet some other famous criminal true cat, Griddlebone is the lover of Growltiger the pirate. In the phase show, Jellylorum usually performs equally Griddlebone, who appears during Gus'southward retention of Growltiger's Final Stand. She'due south a vain soprano cat whose operation is a satire of opera divas.

Tommy Franzen, Aaron Jenkins, Chrissy Brooke, Yasmin Harrison as the Ensemble

Kinda seems cheap since at that place are so many leftover cat names out there, like Carbucketty, Elektra, Etcetera, Exotica (possibly not), Pouncival, and George.

Abigayle Honeywill as Cockroach

I am dying to know what "definitely non motion capture, just a human with cockroach parts" looks like.

Joel Swedensky as Mouse Ring (trumpet)

Yep.

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Do cats have ... relationships?

Yes, and it's so much more than complicated than you might assume. In Human activity 1 at that place's a sequence chosen "The Jellicle Ball," which is a nine-and-a-half-minute dance sequence. It's a notoriously difficult sequence that's broken into many short sections. Ane of these is normally known as "sensuals" or the "pas de deux," or to fans, "the mating dance." In this department, Victoria does a sensual dance with one of the male cats, generally Plato, Admetus, or Tumblebrutus (where is he!).

This digs into the Cats deep lore: Depending on the staging, different cats appear to pair off. In the headcanons section of the Cats Musical Fandom website, fans have spun out a truly impressive amount of theories based on who interacts with who during the bear witness. For example, Plato and Victoria are oft seen together, but Mr. Mistoffelees is the only true cat to picket her solo dance, and he touches her leg during "Invitation to the Jellicle Ball."

And depending on the choreography of a specific production, interactions can alter entirely! Oh, well, I never!

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Source: https://www.polygon.com/2019/7/18/20696129/cats-2019-musical-trailer-explained

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