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afairytalestray · 4 months

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OK so on Saturday I got to go to Milan to see the Cats Il Sistina tour and HOLY GOD IT WAS AWESOME. I'm glad I studied the character designs in advance because a lot of the costumes are really different. I'm not typically a huge fan of nonreplicas but Il Sistina may well change that!

I've compiled my thoughts on the show here! Nb, I do not speak Italian so I'm not sure how close to the original lyrics the translation is 😅

There were no green goggles, but the Cats did come in through the audience. I had an aisle seat and Cassandra walked right past me! She was right there and so beautiful omg.

I've gotta get in right at the start that Simone Ragozzino is my new all-time favourite Mungojerrie. The most ever! A little guy. He got most of the acrobatics that Tumblebrutus usually does - apparently Simone used to be an acrobat/gymnast so that makes sense. He and Rumpleteazer were sufficiently chaotic but also clearly valued and beloved members of the tribe. Idk man Simone just got it. Tumble-jerrie ftw.

The cathedral from "round the cathedral" was changed to a Colosseum reference which I loved 😍

I'm obsessed with Demeter’s makeup from this tour actually. I'm personally not the biggest fan of cryptid-style makeup and looks in Cats in general, but I feel like Deme was balancing just on the edge and it really worked and I loved it. Maybe it was Viviana Salvo's acting as well - she was fabulous at toeing that line between stunning and unnerving!

Tugger and Munkustrap were super close! Munk was less annoyed by Tugger’s antics than normal and they did this thing at one point where Tugger was holding onto Munk who leant fully backwards off the edge of the stage - it was like a trust exercise and I was a fan. Their rendition of Old Deuteronomy was lovely and their voices worked so good together! Tugger was definitely Munkustrap’s second in command of the tribe. I wish Tugger was a bit more Tugger in appearance, he seemed very yellow with not a lot of detail on his costume, but the personality was hundo p present and accounted for. He did the "bite is worse than your bark" line in Jellicle Songs and legit barked at the end.

Jennyanydots was fabulous! Instead of a big coat she literally wore a giant ball of wool, and one of the props was giant knitting needles and the start of what might have been a giant scarf - it took 6 of the Cats to carry it. It actually worked super well for Milan, which is known for fashion and fabrics - there's even a giant sewing needle sculpture outside Cadorna Station! It was probably a happy coincidence but I enjoyed it!

Victoria's role was changed quite a bit, her solo was totally different and the pas de deux was gone. There also kinda just... wasn't the big small first touch Vic and Grizabella moment, which I was sad about, but if Griz's big moment wasn't "TOUCH MEEEEEE" in the translation, I'm not so bothered by it. I wish Vic had a bit bigger of a role because I love her, but she was killing it whenever she was on stage.

We are all stan pink Jemima, she had such a lovely voice too. Her and Alonzo were playing with a tennis ball during the interval and it was adorable.

My beloved Coricopat and Tantomile were lying in the Mouth of Truth prop after Moments of Happiness; they had their usual role of translating Old Doots through Jemima so I thought their placement here was deliberate! They weren't always fully in sync which I kinda liked, it was like they were allowed to be their own characters rather than just "the twins". I definitely got the impression that Tantomile was the older sister which hella backs up my hcs about her!

Gus was absolutely WILD. He comes in after Jellylorum has done her whole first part of the song in this raggedy old tradiotional Sherlock Holmes-style beige plaid coat instead of being there but kinda out of it the whole time. At first he wasnt keen on replaying any of his roles, but then all the others were like please please please and he relented. I think they were calling him (or his role) Romero? Idk if that's an Italian reference I just don't get? They did Pekes and Pollicles (one of the above had been changed to chihuahuas!) and then the bold Rumpus/Romero appeared... in a red satin bath robe and holding a sabre??? I need to look up this reference! Dude didn't just intimidate the pollicles, he straight up cut a couple of them down with his sword! Grandpa woke up and chose violence 😂

There was no trash train in Skimbleshanks 😭😭 there were giant glowstick things that changed colours though. Skimble and Bustopher were played by the same actor which is a combo I haven't seen before. Skimble was definitely still everyone's favourite train dad, all the characters were totally hyped for his song. HE DID TAP LIKE IN 2019. It was really cool how they did it, all the music stopped and he started a call and response tap dance with some of the other characters. The background showed an animated video of going through a train tunnel, like from the perspective of a train driver! The tap was gradually speeding up and became the sound effects of a train setting off and moving through the tunnel. I'm not explaining this super well but it was SO cool.

The Macavity Fight was quite different. There wasn't him disguised as Old Deuteronomy and then unmasked. What happened was he showed up and caused some shenanigans and then disappeared. There were about 4 of him around, so it looked like he was teleporting around the stage and audience! Bombalurina and Demeter performed his song which was absolutely fantastic (seriously how do these actresses actually manage to dance like that and sing at the same time?? Goddesses), after that he showed up again and the full cast was involved in the fight. Munkustrap still got the good choreography, but the whole tribe was involved trying to protect Old Deuteronomy. Tugger was definitely a protector in this production, he was very involved. Jerrie got KO'd a good few times, and Macavity absolutely destroyed poor Jenny! It felt like all of them were trying to protect their family and I really liked that. Despite that, Macavity was still able to win and successfully kidnap Old Doots!

"Mungojerrie, RUMPLETEAZER, Griddlebone" they let my girl do crime again!

Mistoffelees and Quaxo were besties, and Misto was REALLY enjoying Tugger's song I'm just saying. Delighted to announce Il Sistina Misto was a fruity little guy. He didn't get the terrible bore line, sad face, that went to Quaxo, but tbh idk how they translated that so it could be totally different! At one point Alonzo was holding him back at the start of Tugger’s song! We then saw a sponge-like Misto who picked up behaviours from the others around him, like he wasn't too sure of himself. This is actually one of my favourite Misto hcs so i was so chuffed to see it so clearly. He then helped Alonzo rein George (at least I think it was George!) in from going mental fanboy at Tugger. He was originally curious about Griz but then adjusted to hissing upon seeing the others. This fully went forward into his song. They did some big choreo changes. It was significantly less dance-heavy than traditional Misto performances and had a stronger focus on him being magic. There was a levitating box that they spent a lot of time with - Magician's Assistant Cass got in, but then she didn't disappear? She just popped back out again after the box had been rotated a few times. Some of the Kittens were waving their hands under the box to prove there was nothing holding it up and looking amazed which was adorable though. There was also a bit where Misto put some cards into a hat, the hat got passed down a line of Cats and then at the end they just sort of flew out? Like idk maybe they changed the lyrics where they're describing different magic tricks and it all makes sense! I THOUGHT THE CONJURING TURNS WERE GONE, but they were just moved to the very end of the song and cut down quite a bit.

Ok BUT LISTEN, à la 2019, the poor boy tried and failed twice to bring back Old Deuteronomy and then just sort of flopped in the corner all defeated but then BOYFRIEND TUGGER HELD HIS HANDS AND GOT RIGHT UP CLOSE AND WAS LIKE I BELIEVE IN YOU BABE and omg for real those actors knew EXACTLY what they were doing Tuggoff nation RISE. I'm always a red-sheet-turned-cape stan but I can definitely get behind the sparkly tail coat and playing card bowtie. He also had this handkerchief that he threw up in the air and it became a magic wand. I have no idea how and it was very silly so obviously I loved it. Although I wasn't massively into the choreo changes (ballet dancer Misto 5eva), Pierpaolo Scida was a magnificent Misto and I adored him - he was so cute! The little background actions and looks he did were so in character with how he interpreted Misto! Also he was beautiful you can't change my mind.

Malika was such an intense Grizabella - 10/10. She was proud but so vulnerable. She walked right past me when she first came in and lads, she did the whole show in these massive stilettos - absolute queen. At one point it literally rained on her on stage! During her first Memory, Old Deut was really watching her, and at the end of it he approached her, but she ran off when she saw him. I thought it was a super cool character moment, like she knew she wanted to be accepted, but wasn't quite ready for it. Even after the big Memory and Old Deuteronomy declared her the Jellicle Choice, Victoria approached her, but she was still too scared to let her, and it was Jemima who finally was able to reach her and bring her in. At the end she just kinda disappeared off stage - there were no flying tyres or magic stairs in the circus tent!

During the bit after the bows some of the cats were out in the audience and Tugger scared the absolute crap out of this one woman by poking his head in between her and the person sitting next to her. Iconic. Also during the latter part of the interval the audience was allowed to come up to the edge of the stage where some of the actors were goofing about in character. This mf pretended to cough up a hairball and now I have it on video. I also got some close ups of Teazer and the beautiful Bomba!

The Italian Junkyard was fabulous! It was mostly roman landmarks like Piazza Navona and Bocca della Verità, but there was also Michelangelo's David (which I'm pretty sure is in Florence) above the orchestra! There was also a giant marble foot, an Italian-style water fountain, and a broken column. My favourite prop was the bench, it's elevated at the back left of the stage and the cast were using it like a slide to enter the stage! Also it seemed to be Misto’s preferred location to lounge.

In conclusion, I will never get over this.

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yoa-artblog · 10 months

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The Shiki Cats Post TM

28.05.23 Show

I had the chance to see Cats in Nagoya last month and I still can´t believe it! I was also able to meet an internet friend who also loves the show and it was overall such a nice experience <3

Some pics are blurry but I was shaking haha, shiki was one of my most wanted to see shows, the photos I had seen were always so colorful and looked like so much fun! It did not dissapoint, tough it was very different to the 98 movie (the version I'm the most familiar with) and the past Intl. Tour (The only other version I've seen live) so I was furiously writting notes on things that stood out to me soon after the show.

• Tantomile (she looks like Cassandra) is the first cat you see on stage.

• They do the trapeze bit for jellicle songs for jellicle cats!!!!

• Munk was 😳😳😳 very good voice, super cute with the babies.

• They have both Syllabub and Jemima, Silly is the kitten, the one that helps Griz out, Jemima is a young adult cat.

• The gumbie trio were Tantomile, Jellylorum and Jemima.

• The beetles had wings they could move around as part of the choreo.

• Tugger has one yellow, spotted leg and it makes him look like he's wearing those pants with only one leg??? Very slutty, we love that for him.

• Munk sings the terrible bore line.

• Jellylorum sings the curious beast line.

• Grizabella still has the old cat design, we love to see it.

• Jerrie and Teazer don't do the cartwheels 💔💔💔💔💔

• Teazer is the cutest thing ever though, she was so fun!! I couldn't stop looking at her the whole time, she's already one of my faves but she is PERFECT in shiki.

• There was a little bit where Teazer and Tanto were cuddling behind Old Deut and Teazer kept pawing at her for attention and I melted.

• Pekes and Pollicles is still Munk's number through and thorough. The dog costumes were very cute and there were many different versions and "materials".

• The Rumpus Cat suit has muscle padding?????

• Shiki said Bombastrap rights and I owe them my life. You could see them cuddling on the bg at various points through the show.

• Pass de deux is performed by Tumblebrutus and Cassandra. (Cori and Tanto designs).

• No orgy???? They do dance in pairs but there's no """cuddle""" pile.

• Overall less horny and more playful.

• Tuxedo Mask Macavity my beloved!!!!! I think that's a very fun design for Mac asldjclsjfjskd but the threatening factor is negative, he just looks very fluffy and cute.

• Mac's fur texture and length is very similar to Old Deut's so that's nice!! Loving the family resemblance.

• They do Growltiger!!! I loved seeing the boys in their little pirate costumes 🥺💖🥺💖🥺

• They choreographed the sword fight so the clanks would match the music and it was SO COOL.

• Jelly had such a nice voice.

• SKIMBLESHANKS THE RAILWAY CAT THE CAT OF THE RAILWAY TRAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Skimble has a little hat and my friend was telling me they change it for every city to match the uniform of the train conductors in that city. HOW CUTE IS THAT!!!!! 🥺🥺🥺🥺

• The girls are the passengers while the boys are the seats during the play pretend bit asdfkgjslnf

• The fake train has a window so you can see Munk is playing the conductor 🥺🥺🥺

• They also used a teapot as the chimney and it makes teapot sounds, I just loved everything about this number okay!!!!!

• The Macavity fight is a little weird because he doesn't take Munk 1v1 but rather is everyone against Mac from the beginning.

• I really wanted to see this specific Munk fight because of... reasons, so that's a bummer 😞

• Demeter has a deeper voice than what I usually hear for her, I really liked it.

• They let toms join the Macavity number!!!!!!! I was tunnel visioning into Munk but I'm pretty sure Alonzo and Tumble were there too.

• Misto comes down the rope!!!!!!!

• He does a lot more magic tricks, including making things and other cats fly.

• You can hear thunder crackling when he manipulates light, that was a very cool detail.

• Misto and Tugger have a lot of shared choreography, they do several different BFF handshakes 🥺

• Victoria is Misto's assistant for the big trick.

• Sillabub is the one who touches Grizabella first.

• UFO Griz

• They did this very cute thing after final bows where they kept coming to the stage as long as people were still clapping. They went and came back to the stage again at least 7 times until the theater turned up the lights 😹

#cats #cats the musical #cats 1998 #cats the movie #shiki cats

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white-cat-of-doom · 2 years

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If you wanted to know who was my favourite performer from Shiki CATS (at least currently, Yoshiko Hattori holds a special place in my heart as well), it is Miki Okudaira who plays Jellylorum/Griddlebone. She started in Shiki CATS during the Osaka 2016 run and has continued through to the current Fukuoka 2021 run, and will most likely be a part of the Nagoya 2022 run as well when it starts in July.

As Griddlebone, at a National Regional Safety Campaign event in Osaka, with Kenji Nishio as Munkustrap, 11 October 2016:

As Griddlebone, visiting the Imado Shrine in Tokyo, thought to be the originating location of the maneki-neko figurine, with Yuki Yamanaka as Rumpleteazer, Yuzuki Miyokawa as Sillabub, and Kazuya Kamikawa as Rum Tum Tugger, 22 April 2019:

In the Fukuoka 2021 run, 2021/2022 (photos from January 2022, execpt the Pyramid photo from October 2021):

(Namiko Hanada as Jennyanydots, Saeko Noda as Tantomile, and Mayumi Fujita as Jemima.)

(Kohei Nakahashi as Growltiger.)

(Kanako Fujiwara as Sillabub, Haruaki Tamai as Mungojerrie, Mayumi Fujita as Jemima, So Yokoi as Mistoffelees, and Ryuji Matsunaga as Tumblebrutus.)

In broader cast photos from Fukuoka 2021, where she has a look of surprised confusion on her face:

(Kenshin Mori as Rumpus Cat, Eiko Kataoka as Rumpleteazer, Yuki Takahashi as Old Deuteronomy, Taijun Kanemoto as Munkustrap, Yurie Sato as Bombalurina.)

Shoutout to her for always looking so happy and smiling, and for holding that long Griddlebone tail!

#CATS Musical #CATS the Musical #CATS Japan #Shiki CATS #CATS Osaka 2016 #CATS Tokyo 2018 #CATS Fukuoka 2021 #Jellylorum #Griddlebone #Miki Okudaira #This post serves no purpose other than to give me joy #The Griddlebone costume from Shiki CATS is the best #So floofy #I also love the yellow Jellylorum design

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the-cat-at-the-theatre-door · 4 years

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could u make a list of ur fav cats suit, how can I say it... Like, suit + makeup + wig... Ur favorites cats styles (?

Absolutely I can! Good question, let me see...

Okay my opinions on this are kinda boring because I like neutral and subdued colour palettes (warning I like yellow and gold so...most costumes I love are some variation of these shades). I will sort this into Tom and Queen costumes.

Toms

-Asparagus (Chorus Costume)

The list starts with me being predictable, of course, but what I appreciate about Asparagus' chorus costume is that it is, arguably, the most unique one while still blending relatively easily into the background due to its otherwise unremarkable colour palette/wig (like there is nothing all that special about his unitard design or wamers or tail, I’m aware). Most of the cats, in order to fluff out the human neckline, have the "shoulder fluffies". Asparagus is the only one who has what I will affectionately call the "yarn poncho", which comes in various thicknesses but I prefer this kind:

And, occasionally, yarn threaded pants:

Which are delightfully ugly gives him an even shaggier/fluffier appearance and I love it. The only other individuals who have manes/shaggy coats are Tugger and Old Deuteronomy (and Grizabella technically), but none of them have this detail in their original chorus costume, just their main character costume. This detail was removed from the 1998 Video (unknown as to why since Tony Timberlake wore it on stage), and from the Broadway Revival (probably because Asparagus pretty much disappears early on in favour of Gus being a permanent fixture instead). A shame really, because it makes him immediately recognizable and easy to pick out.

The quality of his makeup varies for me since the whole purpose is to make it easy to paint over for Gus and Bustopher changes (Much like Plato). For some versions that means he's completely white in the face with little dimension, but I prefer when they add subtle details like striping or line work.

-Alonzo (Broadway and Broadway Based)

I have expressed before and I will express again that my unpopular CATS opinion is that I overall prefer Broadway based "golden" Alonzo costumes (and character) over London based black and white ones. This is absolutely not to say that I dislike the London costume because that isn't true. I like it very much it's very striking. But I think I prefer the golden Alonzo costumes because:

A. There is something very visually pleasing to me about gold and black Alonzos being paired with gold and black Demeters, and a Gold/Silver protector duo.

B. I like the earthy palette, the dual-toned muzzle, the fluffy tail, and the warmers (it makes for a more muted image when Alonzo is slinking around in the BG, particularly when shadowing Demeter)

C. The gold/black/brown is, imho, far more flattering to a variety of different skin tones than the clown white is. The neutral colour palette ties the makeup together very nicely, particularly when patches of skin are left bare (like on the face or the hands), as it often continues into the costume itself giving the whole ensemble more unity.

Also I just like it? I don't know why.

- Skimbleshanks (London Chorus and Number)

Skimble's costume is one of those that I like both chorus and character version of, because they're both very well coordinated palette wise. I love the chunky, organic weaves in his warmers and tail. I love the vest and the little bell! I love the complexity of his makeup, which is one of the hardest to do in the show. The wig can be very hit or miss for me depending on how it's styled. Some of the more recent wigs in the revivals and tours haven't been great tbh.

Skimble also has the benefit of having my favourite arm warmers in the show when they look like this (because elbow patches):

I want a pair. I should make myself a pair. But the patches daunt me.

Honourable Mention goes to the hundreds of Austrian crystals and stones that are hand attached to Mr. Mistoffelees' velvet costume during his number (of which Marlene Danielle collected when they fell off on stage and kept them in a vase in her dressing room) because sparkly *_*.

Queens

-Demeter (Broadway based)

The only notable difference between London and Broadway Demeter's are the styling of the wigs and I LOVE the much more exaggerated spikey, punk-like styling of these wigs let me tell you. If she doesn't look like there are three tons of gel in her hair it isn't spikey enough.

I feel like it gives her character an edge, which is a nice contrast to the overall softness of her makeup. There's also a simplicity to Demeter's makeup design that is well complemented by the more complex patterns on her unitard.

Though Bomba’s design is very similar, I prefer Demeter’s for whatever reason. I just like golds and yellows, I guess. I think the only thing I don’t like about Demeter’s design is her lipstick (particularly when it’s red) because I find it sticks out too much and looks odd.

-Jellylorum (Original Paris)

I have spoken about her before, but I love how elegant this design is. The Original Paris wigs are my favourite wigs (because I like big wigs I cannot lie), and ones that were styled like Jelly’s were particular favourites:

Like she’s still classic Jellylorum colours but the warmers soften her silhouette while the wig and makeup sweep her features up. It’s just a very beautiful design to me, idk why.

-Rumpleteazer (Japan)

I don't need to explain myself here. Look at how cute she is:

I love the tiger stripes and I love her wig and I love her makeup. I do like the garter belt straps of the London design, but I can live without them. I wish her pearls were white to make them stand out a bit more like in the London design though.

Honestly I love a lot of the CATS costumes so it’s difficult to narrow them down, but I would definitely put these particular characters in the top ten.

#jellicles ask because jellicles dare #cienceira #costuming #see if you can guess who i chose before clicking read more

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white-cat-of-doom · 2 years

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I've come to the party late, I'm afraid, but here's a question: let's say you're completely in charge of a production's costuming/makeup, and you are allowed to use whichever production's baseline style you want - no restrictions and mixing different styles is allowed and encouraged. Which costumes and makeup would you use for your favourite characters (and why)?

Thank you for the ask! No one is ever late to send me asks, especially you Jemi. You have given me perhaps too much freedom of choice, so I apologize for the protracted wait.

I recently outlined my favourite characters in another ask.

I am fairly basic, some may say traditional, in my choices, but I admire the creative differences across the decades of the musical. I am a fan with how more recent productions having been generally making the characters more fluffy in appearance, whether through arm or legwarmers, tails, or the shoulder fluffies. If it was up me, every production would have super fluffy tails like the recent Mexico tours, but as that borders on non-replica, I will only mention it here. As I go through the characters, you may start to notice a trend in key design elements found in certain production and years.

Jellylorum

I have always slightly preferred a more yellow coloured Jellylorum design found in US or Shiki productions, so my baseline design for the unitard would be the original Broadway production, as worn by Bonnie Simmons. The yellow colouring gives more colour compared to the UK based designs, which I also adore. I would have the late US Tour 4 wig, armwarmers, tail, and makeup (see Jeanne Montano), with the Asia Tour 2020 or Vienna Revival legwarmers. All these choices are because I love having a Jelly with more floof, and she deserves a full set of warmers. She gets the braided collar with the small gold charm found in the Broadway Revival/US Tour 6 to finish the design.

The makeup from US Tour 4 I think incorporates a few similar looks from other international productions from around the same time, such as Hamburg, past productions such as Paris or Amsterdam, all while also not being too far of a departure from the UK design.

Shoutout to CATS (2019) for their Jellylorum design because I adore the orange tabby design with the floofy white-tipped tail and paws.

I do also love the non-replica Gothenburg 2006/Stockholm 2009 design for Jelly, because their design is of a white cat with black accents, and I am a basic person who loves white cats.

(Pictured are Bonnie Simmons from the Original Broadway Cast in 1982 and Jeanne Montano from US Tour 4 1997-1998)

Victoria

Speaking of white cats, everyone probably knows that I live for floofy cats, and for me no one is more important in that regard than Victoria. I know that she has not the most exciting design, but she is my favourite. I picture Victoria to be a Traditional Persian cat (no brachycephalic cats please and thank you), either purely white or with a hint of silver.

For a baseline, I would have to go with China 2012 for the unitard design, the wig from the mid to late 90s Broadway/US Tour 4, the arm and leg warmers from Cast 1 of the RCCL (or the Vienna Revival or even CATS (1998) for that matter), and the tail from late Hamburg or the Australian Tour 1989. All these choices are made to make Victoria as floofy as possible. Victoria gets the pink jeweled collar from CATS (1998) because she is loved.

Makeup wise, (I am boring and) I would go with how Kirstie Tice from US Tour 4 does her Victoria makeup because she manages to have character with next to no colour. This also applies to mid to late 90s Broadway/US Tour 4 Victoria, as I love the almost completely white makeup. I also love how Sophia McAvoy (RCCL Cast 1 and UK Tour 2016 in 2016 and 2017) or Hannah Kenna Thomas (specifically hers in the Vienna Revival) do theirs. It is very recognizable as Victoria (not that there is much doubt), while adding some pink to her nose, eyes, and lips. It is a bit more colour to the very white design, without becoming excessive, and is basically a distillation of the London makeup designs. China 2012 makeup is great as well.

I would change the golden accents typical of the Victoria design to silver. I have to mention that I do absolutely love the silver accents for Victoria from Shiki productions, but it is maybe a tad bit too much? I want more subtly.

The reason behind all these design choices for Victoria is that they would be remind me of my silver Chinchilla Persian cat who passed away a few years ago.

I also love the non-replica Italian Tour design, as she is very white with a brilliantly floofy tail. My kind of thing!

(Pictured are Miao Sijia from China 2012 and Kirstie Tice from US Tour 4 1994-1995)

Jennyanydots

The baseline for Jenny's design would be US Tour 6, specially how Emily Jeanne Phillips' unitard with the more orange looks compared to actors later on. I do love the Asia Tour 2020 design as well, but I feel Jenny should have those leopard spots. The warmers would be either the same US Tour 6 ones that Emily had, Asia Tour 2020, or Vienna Revival. The wig would be based on the Hamburg design as it has a bit more white, and is nice and round in shape, while having more volume than other productions. Tail wise, it is hard to decide because they are so few pictures, but judging by how the late Hamburg tails look for everyone, let us go with that.

Jenny's makeup would be based on how Ellie Nunan did hers in Asia Tour 2020, as she added a bit more little details on top on the recent traditional UK designs that borrow a small bit from the Broadway Revival.

Of course, we cannot forget the Gumbie Coat and Tap costumes! The Gumbie Coat with hat and gloves would be the Amsterdam 1987/Paris 1989 design because I find the little additions of grey and orange to the coat add some personality, and I adore the fact that the hat looks like Jenny found it, took it for herself, and added some whiskers. The Gumbie Tap costume would be the Shiki based design. The taps shoes would based on Broadway Revial/US Tour 6 with all the rhinestones, because as Holly Megan, Jennyanydots in Asia Tour 2014 and the Australia/New Zealand Tour 2015 and Swing in Asia Tour 2020, says, you need to be sparkly!

Shoutout to Shiki for making Jenny almost exclusively orange. Also, shoutout to the Paris Revival for naming the Gumbie Cat 'Pouffi'. Both good stuff.

Mexico Tour 2013/2018 Jennys are fun as well with their respective Gumbie Coat and Tap costumes.

(Pictured are Emily Jeanne Phillips with Rose Iannaccone as Rumpleteazer from US Tour 6 in 2019 and Mary Illes from Paris 1989)

Jemima/Sillabub

The answer will be split into two because I tend to view them as different characters in certain situations, but more importantly because I can have two designs that I can go with. Plus, Jemima is my second favourite character design.

I have always loved the look of later year London production Jemimas (which for the most part is how Jemima is standardized now), and that would be the unitard baseline. The Jemima wig would be based on either Zurich 1991 or Copenhagen 2002, because they both have the look of pre-revival Jemima and adds a larger amount of colour. I am not sure why they changed the wig for the London Revival and subsequent productions, the shape just does not look great. Some recent productions such the Vienna Revival, Asia Tour 2020, or UK Tour 2016 (from 2017 onwards) are slightly better for wig shapes, but the non-Equity US Tour 6 not so much, especially the ones for the swings. I would do away with the gloves and have the armwarmers from Zurich 1991 with legwarmers from the Vienna Revival, all to add floof. The tail would be from Zurich 1991 as well, but I would change it slightly so that it is not segmented, and instead all floof. She would have the collar from the Vienna Revival, as it is a modern take on the London jewelled/spiked design.

The makeup design would be how Kimberly Partridge (London 1993-1995) did hers as I think it perfect captures the Jemima look, while having a few extra details.

For Sillabub, I would use the Australian/New Zealand Tour 2015 unitard (which is technically Jemima but the design is based on the Australian design where the character is named Sillabub; Australian productions made the name change between Asia Tour 2014 and Australia/NZ Tour 2015), which (I think) have some more floof and yellow/white colour compared to the preceding Australiasia 2007-2010 Tour/Asia Tour 2014 designs. Hamburg also has a fantastic unitard design, with the golden colour along with the traditional black. She would have the mid Hamburg wig and tail (like Stephanie Spellman), as I find the Australian design wigs to be a bit too large. The arm and leg warmers would be from US Tour 5, for some added floof, and the collar from Paris 1989, which has some nice gold accents in addition to the normal silver.

Makeup wise, I would use the US Tour 4 design, specifically how Michelle Kelly did hers, as I like the colour and subtly. Stephanie Spellman's makeup from Hamburg comes in a close second.

I do not think that I like any non-replica looks enough for Jemima to specially mention them.

(Pictured are Alexandra Jay from London 1999-2000 and Kimberly Partridge from London 1993-1995; I unfortunately could not find a picture of the Sillabub design aside from large group photos)

Demeter

My golden queen is probably the easiest for me to design, as everything except the tail will be based off Ella Nonini (UK Tour 2016 in 2018 and Asia Tour 2020), who I consider to look just like John Napier's original Demeter sketch from 1982.

The unitard would be based off hers in the UK Tour 2016 in 2018, as I think it has a touch more gold than the one from Asia Tour 2020. The wig and leg warmers would be from Asia Tour 2020, as they are a bit bigger and more floofy than in the UK Tour 2016. The gloves would be from Asia Tour 2020 as they look a bit less yellow and remove the orange gradient. Her makeup would be from Asia Tour 2020, not that it is really any different than from 2018, but it may be slightly more refined. Her collar would be the one from Asia Tour 2020. The only departure would be the tail, which would be from Hamburg, because it is floofy.

A shoutout again to Gothenburg 2006/Stockholm 2009, this time for the grey Demeter design with a fancy pink bow. I do also love the grey Demeter from CATS (2019) and her pink collar and nose.

(Pictured is Ella in the UK Tour 2016 in 2018 and Asia Tour 2020)

#CATS Musical #CATS the Musical #The White Cat speaks #Floofy Cats are my thing if you could not tell #This ask has made me realize how many subtle differences there are across all productions for character design #Even smaller aspects such as collars are quite different between modern productions #When I first read this I thought you wanted me to go through every character #Which I would be fully willing to do #You just would not get an answer for a while #And I took long enough already #Jellylorum #Victoria #Jemima #Sillabub #Jennyanydots #Demeter

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