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273:. However, the character is not sinister as the name implies, and instead is described by Eliot as being "the original conjuring cat", who is "always deceiving you into believing that he's only hunting for mice" — a mysterious, quiet and small black feline capable of performing feats of magic and sleight of hand. These traits are portrayed as amusing, not fearsome or particularly deadly.
367:, as a pure black costume would be completely lost under stage lighting. He wears two costumes, a basic black hatched leotard with white chest and fluffy warmers through the majority of the show, and, for his feature song, a more glamorous black velvet and rhinestone costume, with a black jacket fitted with electric flashing lights to make for a more spectacular entrance.
354:, is more nervous and unsure of himself. He is shown to actually have magical powers, including being able to levitate objects and able to pull objects such as mice and flowers out of his hat. He saves Victoria from a dog when Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer abandon her in a house and becomes her friend and confidant by the end of the film.
338:
training. Because the role's technical demands necessarily trump the performer's vocal abilities, the show permits multiple vocal tracks for the character—thereby allowing some dancers to sing quite a bit, while others do no singing at all. In productions where
Mistoffelees does sing, he is played by
362:
Although Eliot's poem is specific about
Mistoffelees's appearance being "black from the ears to the tip of his tail", the practicalities of stage costume mean he is usually portrayed as a black-and-white
331:", until the song was reworked to allow the two titular characters to sing it themselves. In some versions of the musical, his chorus identity is given a second name, "Quaxo".
296:, Mistoffelees is a principal role and maintains most of the same attributes as Eliot's original character, although he is a much flashier showman. He is portrayed as a young
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308:. Mistoffelees's dance solo consists of some of the most difficult choreography in the show, including his signature "Conjuring Turn" that comprises 24 consecutive
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304:. Mistoffelees has his own titular song in the second act of the show, during which he performs an extended dance solo; the song is usually sung by him and
168:
with magical powers that he cannot yet fully control. He is a featured dancer and his signature move is the "Conjuring Turn", consisting of 24 consecutive
300:
who is not yet able to fully control his magical powers. As the most prominent male dancer, he usually serves as a counterpart to the lead female dancer,
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457:, Mr. Mistoffelees is a ghostly shopkeeper who resembles the musical character, selling monster hunting gear with his “shopkeeping turns.”
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Although originally published as part of a collection of poems, "Mr. Mistoffelees" was published as a standalone book by
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In most productions, Mistoffelees also sings the "Invitation to the
Jellicle Ball" in the first act. In the original
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on
Broadway in 1982. Actors who have portrayed Mistoffelees onstage include
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340:
817:"'Cats' Cast Grows: Tom Hooper-Directed Musical Adds Laurie Davidson"
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267:
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15:
935:
A Cat's Diary: How the
Broadway Production of Cats was born
502:. Cats the Musical (official website). Archived from
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played Mr. Mistoffelees in a "Save
Broadway" sketch.
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The role is usually played by dancers with extensive
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But you'll find it next week lying out on the lawn.
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1245:The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles
245:You have seen it one moment, and then it is gawn!
860:"The Adventure Zone Versus Dracula - Episode 3"
375:The role of Mr. Mistoffelees was originated by
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183:The role of Mr. Mistoffelees was originated by
1183:Highlights from the Motion Picture Soundtrack
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8:
815:D'Alessandro, Anthony (25 September 2018).
1135:
992:
978:
970:
937:, Stephen Hanan, Smith & Kraus, 2002,
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399:of the show, Mistoffelees is portrayed by
164:. Mistoffelees is a young black-and-white
1165:Complete Original Broadway Cast Recording
598:
553:
233:He is always deceiving you into believing
66:Learn how and when to remove this message
523:
521:
29:This article includes a list of general
635:
633:
466:
225:He can creep through the tiniest crack,
1297:Literary characters introduced in 1939
823:from the original on 26 September 2018
613:"Happy Birthday, Andrew Lloyd Webber!"
243:And you think it is merely misplaced--
82:
667:
665:
223:From his ears to the tip of his tail;
7:
319:production, Mistoffelees also sang "
266:Mistoffelees' name derives from the
1020:Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
922:Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
259:Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
239:Or a spoon and a bit of fish-paste;
147:Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
93:Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
796:from the original on 28 March 2019
689:from the original on 30 March 2019
650:from the original on 30 March 2019
227:He can walk on the narrowest rail.
221:He is quiet and small, he is black
35:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
709:"Cast / Vocal Requirements: Cats"
528:Willmott, Phil (28 August 2015).
455:The Adventure Zone Versus Dracula
241:If you look for a knife or a fork
237:He can play any trick with a cork
229:He can pick any card from a pack,
1259:
1258:
948:Mr. Mistoffelees and other poems
530:"Who's your favourite Cats Cat?"
379:in the West End in 1981, and by
235:That he's only hunting for mice.
231:He is equally cunning with dice;
187:in the West End in 1981, and by
20:
924:, T. S. Eliot, Harcourt, 1982,
195:portrayed the character in the
1:
761:"Original Broadway Cast List"
611:Hom, Elaine (22 March 2018).
1287:Characters in Cats (musical)
645:Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
329:Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer
176:identity is sometimes named
890:Sternfeld, Jessica (2006).
731:"Original London Cast List"
570:"Cats: The Musical Numbers"
1313:
786:"Preview and Cast of Cats"
765:Internet Broadway Database
425:In 1980 the British actor
216:Mr. Mistoffelees (excerpt)
1254:
1013:
90:
896:Indiana University Press
846:2 November 2012 at the
431:Magical Mr Mistoffelees
323:"; and in the original
115:In-universe information
50:more precise citations.
1157:Musical cast recording
1123:Victoria the White Cat
680:Vereinigte BĂĽhnen Wien
250:
711:. The Musical Company
534:LondonBoxOffice.co.uk
500:"Mister Mistoffelees"
413:portrayed him in the
327:production, he sang "
203:portrayed him in the
191:on Broadway in 1982.
415:2019 film adaptation
348:2019 film adaptation
310:fouettés en tournant
170:fouettés en tournant
144:'s 1939 poetry book
1001:Andrew Lloyd Webber
735:Really Useful Group
574:Really Useful Group
443:Saturday Night Live
438:Neil Patrick Harris
397:1998 DVD production
156:Andrew Lloyd Webber
80:Fictional character
1238:The Naming of Cats
915:General references
429:released the song
421:In popular culture
321:The Old Gumbie Cat
140:is a character in
1274:
1273:
1199:
1198:
956:Faber & Faber
905:978-0-253-34793-0
866:. 25 January 2024
741:on 15 August 2008
580:on 13 August 2008
475:"Mr Mistoffelees"
393:George de la Peña
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1204:Film adaptations
1190:Beautiful Ghosts
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150:and its 1981
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1073:Jennyanydots
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868:. Retrieved
863:
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827:25 September
825:. Retrieved
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768:. Retrieved
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743:. Retrieved
739:the original
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620:. Retrieved
606:
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582:. Retrieved
578:the original
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389:Gen Horiuchi
385:Louie Spence
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1088:Mungojerrie
1043:Bombalurina
1025:T. S. Eliot
864:Maximum Fun
405:Ricky Ubeda
401:Jacob Brent
377:Wayne Sleep
254:T. S. Eliot
193:Jacob Brent
185:Wayne Sleep
142:T. S. Eliot
109:T. S. Eliot
48:introducing
1281:Categories
1113:Rumpus Cat
1093:Munkustrap
1063:Jellylorum
1053:Grizabella
1035:Characters
870:30 January
617:BroadwayHD
461:References
365:tuxedo cat
166:tuxedo cat
105:Created by
56:April 2014
31:references
1232:Accolades
1175:2019 film
1017:Based on
446:in 2009,
395:. In the
280:in 2015.
205:2019 film
197:1998 film
100:character
1265:Category
1078:Macavity
958:, 1990,
844:Archived
821:Archived
800:28 March
794:Archived
770:28 March
745:28 March
693:30 March
684:Archived
654:30 March
648:Archived
341:baritone
325:Broadway
317:West End
302:Victoria
199:, while
1139:Musical
1048:Demeter
715:2 April
622:4 April
584:4 April
539:4 April
510:4 April
440:hosted
358:Costume
346:In the
339:a high
152:musical
128:Species
44:improve
1147:Memory
1068:Jemima
962:
941:
928:
902:
641:"Cats"
484:4 July
336:ballet
174:chorus
172:. His
33:, but
1225:Other
1132:Music
687:(PDF)
676:(PDF)
436:When
268:demon
178:Quaxo
123:Quaxo
120:Alias
1216:2019
1211:1998
1006:Cats
960:ISBN
939:ISBN
926:ISBN
900:ISBN
872:2024
829:2018
802:2019
772:2019
747:2019
717:2019
695:2019
656:2019
624:2019
586:2019
541:2019
512:2019
486:2019
391:and
293:Cats
285:Cats
211:Poem
161:Cats
97:Cats
95:and
1058:Gus
1023:by
1003:'s
790:PBS
453:In
290:In
158:'s
131:Cat
1283::
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