Munkustrap

Michael Gruber as Munkustrap in the 1998 Cats video.

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.

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 "Awefull Battle of the Pekes and Pollicles". As the defender of the tribe, Munkustrap fights Macavity. He also seems to know Mr. Mistoffelees well, as he stops him from getting to Grizabella in the film and signals him to use his powers from time to time in the film.

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

Cast

Actors who have portrayed Munkustrap have included Harry Groener, Gary Martin, Bryan Batt, John Partridge, Robert Amirante, Jack Rebaldi, Rob Marshall, Jeffry Denman, Tug Watson (CATS Worldwide Tour) and Ian Laskowski. 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. John Partridge portrayed the part in Germany. In the 2006-2008 UK tour which also travelled to Portugal and Italy, Dean Maynard played Munkustrap. In the recent^[when?] German tour, Matthew Goodgame played the lead role of Munkustrap. Roy J. Brown played the part at Theo Ubique.

References

1. ^ "The Naming of Cats". http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/t__s__eliot/poems/15121. Retrieved 2008-03-13. 

• 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