Munkustrap

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Munkustrap is a Jellicle cat, named in T. S. Eliot's poem "The Naming of Cats". ^[1] He is a principal character in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats.

[edit] The Musical

In the show, Munkustrap functions as a narrator, singing several songs and introducing many of the other cats. He is also the protector and second in command of the cats, after patriarch Old Deuteronomy; and directs them in the "Aweful Battle of the Pekes and Pollicles". As the defender of the tribe, Munkustrap fights Macavity. He and Demeter are usually portrayed as mates.

He is usually depicted onstage as a tall, silver tabby cat, but has occasionally been costumed differently. Although Munkustrap does perform a substantial amount of dancing in Cats, the role requires strong singing and acting as well.

[edit] Cast

Actors who have portrayed Munkustrap have included Harry Groener, Bryan Batt, Jack Rebaldi, Rob Marshall and Jeffry Denman. In the German-speaking world premiere of Cats, Steve Barton played the role of Munkustrap/Dance Captain in the Theater an der Wien, Dean Maynard in the 25th anniversary tour. Michael Gruber, an alumnus of the Broadway production, was chosen to play Munkustrap in the 1998 Cats movie. Yannick Vezina portrayed the role in the Quebec City premiere of the show.

[edit] References

• Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, T. S. Eliot, Harcourt, 1982, ISBN 0-15-168656-4
• A Cat's Diary: How the Broadway Production of Cats was born, Stephen Hanan, Smith & Kraus, 2002, ISBN 1-57525-281-3