| − | '''Cats''' is a popular musical by [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]], taken from the 1939 book "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by [[T.S. Eliot]]. | + | '''Cats''' is a popular musical by [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]], taken from the 1939 book "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by [[T.S. Eliot]], the famous [[American]]-born poet who moved to [[England]]. In 1997, '''Cats''' broke the record previously held by ''The Chorus Line'' as the longest-running show on [[Broadway]], attaining 6,138 performances.<ref>https://www.vulture.com/2019/12/yes-cats-was-once-the-longest-running-show-on-broadway.html</ref> |
| − | The musical features the goings-on of a group of cats called the Jellicle tribe. They are led by "Old Deuteronomy", a heavy-set cat who has lived long enough to bury 99 wives and has fathered numerous kittens (in one song it is mentioned that the entire Jellicle tribe, in fact, consists entirely of his offspring, thus explaining their god-like reverence of him). Every year, Old Deuteronomy chooses one cat to go to the "Heaviside Layer"<ref>In real life, the "Kennelly-Heaviside Layer" is part of Earth's ionosphere, but in the musical it is a metaphor for [[Heaven]].</ref>, to later be reborn as a new Jellicle member; tonight is the night he will make his decision. | + | The musical features the goings-on of a group of cats called the Jellicle tribe. They are led by "Old Deuteronomy," a heavy-set cat who has lived long enough to bury 99 wives and has fathered numerous kittens (in one song it is mentioned that the entire Jellicle tribe, in fact, consists entirely of his offspring, thus explaining their god-like reverence of him). Every year, Old Deuteronomy chooses one cat to go to the "Heaviside Layer,"<ref>In real life, the "Kennelly-Heaviside Layer" is part of Earth's ionosphere, but in the musical it is a metaphor for [[Heaven]].</ref> to later be reborn as a new Jellicle member; tonight is the night he will make his decision. |
| | One older female cat, Grizabella, wants to be the one chosen. A one-time glamour cat, her carefree youth has long passed, and she is now ostracized by the tribe. Her character is known for the song "Memory", which is considered one of the classic songs of musical theater. | | One older female cat, Grizabella, wants to be the one chosen. A one-time glamour cat, her carefree youth has long passed, and she is now ostracized by the tribe. Her character is known for the song "Memory", which is considered one of the classic songs of musical theater. |