Everything Else
HEAVYSIDE OR HEAVISIDE?
The actual correct word is "Heaviside". T.S. Eliot wrote "Heaviside" in all his poems, so that is what it is. However many people on the internet write "Heavyside", probably because this is how it sounds in the songs.
THE INCREASE IN CAST AND SWING NAMES
The first Cats production in London didn't have many of the Cats that are named in the movie. There was no Admetus, Asparagus, Electra, Etcetera, Plato, Pouncival, and no darling Tumblebrutus *cries*. However, they did have a Cat called George, who didn't appear in the movie. The second production, at Winter Garden in America, had Etcetera, Plato, Pouncival and Tumblebrutus *yaay*, but no George. As Cats got bigger, people started to give the nameless chorus, or "swings" as they began to be called, names. By the time of the movie, Admetus, Asparagus and Electra were usual characters around the world. Often, particulaly in countries where the lyrics are translated, swings are invented especially for the particular production.
WHY ARE THERE TWO ASPARAGUSES?
You might have wondered why, when a cat is supposed to have a name that's particular, both Gus the Theatre Cat and the brown tom are called Asparagus. This is simply because the late Sir John Mills who played Gus the Theatre cat couldn't also play Growltiger, being quite elderly and not a dancer. In stage shows, the actor playing Gus the Theatre cat dances in the rest of the show and also plays Growltiger. So, Tony Timberlake is playing Asparagus as the dancer, and Sir John Mills is playing Asparagus as Gus. In London, Tony Timberlake would also play Gus the Theatre Cat and Growltiger. Hope that made sense!
ARE MUNGOJERRIE AND RUMPELTEAZER'S VOICES DUBBED?
Yes and no (but mostly no)! In the credits at the end, it shows that Mungo (Drew Varley) and Teazer (Jo Gibb) had their parts sung by other singers. However, the only part these other singers actually do is Rumpelteazer's giggle and Mungo's sssh! So Drew and Jo are singing the song, after all. Yay!
WHY IS JEMIMA'S VOICE DUBBED?
Veerle Casteleyn, who plays Jemima, comes from Belgium and was Jemima in the production there. The directors wanted her for her childlike appeal and "wide-open face". However, she had a lot of trouble pronouncing the English lyrics, so she was dubbed by Helen Massie so the words could be understood.
WHO ARE THE TWO TOMS THAT DON'T GET CREDITED?
These are Plato and Admetus. They don't get their name in the credits, because they also play more prominent characters. Bryn Walters is Plato (the cat who dances the mating dance with Victoria) and Macavity, so he is credited as Macavity. Similarly, Frank Thompson plays Admetus (hard to spot, he stands behind Bustopher Jones while B.J is sitting on the hat, and makes funny faces) and the Great Rumpuscat, so he is credited as the Rumpuscat.
WHO IS EXOTICA AND WHY IS SHE IN THE MOVIE?
Femi Taylor plays Exotica. She played Tantomile in the original Broadway production. The directors wanted her to be in the video, but they already had a Tantomile, so the character of Exotica was created especially for the movie.
