Gus: The Theatre Cat
Encyclopedia
"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".
Gus, whose full name is Asparagus, is also a character in Andrew Lloyd Webber
's musical adaption of the book, Cats
. In the musical, the poem is used almost verbatim in the song "Gus: The Theatre Cat".
provide highlights of his career, contrasting his present state with his acting heyday. In that time, it was claimed, "He has acted with Irving
, he's acted with Tree
." He and Jellylorum stress in particular his creation of the role of Firefrorefiddle, the Fiend of the Fell
.
In its only major deviation from the poem, the song modifies one short passage from the poem:
to
and uses this to segue into the song "Growltiger's Last Stand", wherein Gus recreates his role of Growltiger, a pirate cat. At the end of "Growltiger's Last Stand", Gus returns in a short reprise
.
"Growltiger's Last Stand" does not appear in the 1998 filmed version
of the musical – Gus only sings his initial song. This was primarily due to the age of Sir John Mills, who played Gus in the filmed version, as well as time restraints.
Stephen Hanan originated the role of Asparagus 'Gus' and Growltiger as well as Bustopher Jones
.
In the most recent US National Tour the role of Asparagus/Growltiger was played by Bronson N. Murphy.
In a cover version of "Gus: the Theatre Cat" recorded by Sarah Brightman
, Gus' lines are recited by Sir John Gielgud.
Logan and Jessica meet an old man in the Senate Chamber
during their search for Sanctuary. The old man has many cats and references The Naming of Cats, explaining that each cat has three names: one common, one unique, and one that only the cat knows. He refers to one cat in particular: Gus, short for Asparagus.
The description in the original poem about Gus playing a "Tiger... which an Indian Colonel pursued down a drain" is a reference to the short story The Adventure of the Empty House
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
. In the story Colonel Sebastian Moran, chief underling of the infamous Professor Moriarty
, is said to have pursued a man-eating tiger down a drain during his military service in India, before his criminal career.
T. S. Eliot
Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot OM was a playwright, literary critic, and arguably the most important English-language poet of the 20th century. Although he was born an American he moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and was naturalised as a British subject in 1927 at age 39.The poem that made his...
included in Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats is a collection of whimsical poems by T. S. Eliot about feline psychology and sociology, published by Faber and Faber. It is the basis for the record-setting musical 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".
Gus, whose full name is Asparagus, is also a character in Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
's musical adaption of the book, Cats
Cats (musical)
Cats is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot...
. In the musical, the poem is used almost verbatim in the song "Gus: The Theatre Cat".
Gus in Cats, the musical
Gus appears shortly after the start of Act II of Cats where he and JellylorumJellylorum
Jellylorum is one of the characters from the musical Cats. She is generally a mature female role, principally a vocalist.-Actresses to have played the part:Susan Jane Tanner, Anissa Hartline, Lucy Horton, Lindsey O'Neil, Bonnie Simmons...
provide highlights of his career, contrasting his present state with his acting heyday. In that time, it was claimed, "He has acted with Irving
Henry Irving
Sir Henry Irving , born John Henry Brodribb, was an English stage actor in the Victorian era, known as an actor-manager because he took complete responsibility for season after season at the Lyceum Theatre, establishing himself and his company as...
, he's acted with Tree
Herbert Beerbohm Tree
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree was an English actor and theatre manager.Tree began performing in the 1870s. By 1887, he was managing the Haymarket Theatre, winning praise for adventurous programming and lavish productions, and starring in many of its productions. In 1899, he helped fund the...
." He and Jellylorum stress in particular his creation of the role of Firefrorefiddle, the Fiend of the Fell
Fell
“Fell” is a word used to refer to mountains, or certain types of mountainous landscape, in Scandinavia, the Isle of Man, and parts of northern England.- Etymology :...
.
In its only major deviation from the poem, the song modifies one short passage from the poem:
- "He once played a Tiger — could do it again — Which an Indian Colonel pursued down a drain."
to
- "I once played Growltiger — could do it again"
and uses this to segue into the song "Growltiger's Last Stand", wherein Gus recreates his role of Growltiger, a pirate cat. At the end of "Growltiger's Last Stand", Gus returns in a short reprise
Reprise
Reprise is a fundamental device in the history of art. In literature, a reprise consists of the rewriting of another work; in music, a reprise is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the...
.
"Growltiger's Last Stand" does not appear in the 1998 filmed version
CATS (film)
Cats is a 1998 direct-to-video film of the long-running West End production of Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. Lloyd Webber himself personally oversaw orchestration for the film and called on Gillian Lynne, the original show's...
of the musical – Gus only sings his initial song. This was primarily due to the age of Sir John Mills, who played Gus in the filmed version, as well as time restraints.
Stephen Hanan originated the role of Asparagus 'Gus' and Growltiger as well as Bustopher Jones
Bustopher Jones
"Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town" is a poem from T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and a song from the Cats musical which is based on that poem....
.
In the most recent US National Tour the role of Asparagus/Growltiger was played by Bronson N. Murphy.
In a cover version of "Gus: the Theatre Cat" recorded by Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
, Gus' lines are recited by Sir John Gielgud.
Cultural References
In Logan's Run (1976 film)Logan's Run (1976 film)
Logan's Run is a 1976 science fiction film based on the novel of the same name by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson. It depicts a dystopian future society in which population and the consumption of resources are managed and maintained in equilibrium by the simple expediency of killing...
Logan and Jessica meet an old man in the Senate Chamber
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
during their search for Sanctuary. The old man has many cats and references The Naming of Cats, explaining that each cat has three names: one common, one unique, and one that only the cat knows. He refers to one cat in particular: Gus, short for Asparagus.
The description in the original poem about Gus playing a "Tiger... which an Indian Colonel pursued down a drain" is a reference to the short story The Adventure of the Empty House
The Adventure of the Empty House
"The Adventure of the Empty House", one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is one of 13 stories in the cycle collected as The Return of Sherlock Holmes. Public pressure forced Conan Doyle to bring the sleuth back to life, and explain his...
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
. In the story Colonel Sebastian Moran, chief underling of the infamous Professor Moriarty
Professor Moriarty
Professor James Moriarty is a fictional character and the archenemy of the detective Sherlock Holmes in the fiction of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Moriarty is a criminal mastermind, described by Holmes as the "Napoleon of Crime". Doyle lifted the phrase from a real Scotland Yard inspector who was...
, is said to have pursued a man-eating tiger down a drain during his military service in India, before his criminal career.