Interview with Jo Gibb (Rumpelteazer in the Cats video)

Interview transcribed from the Making of Cats with Jo Gibb

Interview trascribed from the Making of Cats with Michael Gruber (Munkustrap in the Cats video)

Interview trascribed from the Making of Cats with Elaine Paige (Grizabella in the Cats video)

JO GIBB INTERVIEW Back to Top

In a recent interview, Jo Gibb took some time out of her busy schedule to answer some FAQ's of CATS fans. Here are her responses.

1. Do you believe Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are brother and sister or mates? This is purely your opinion. It varies from fan to fan. I know some people would like to know what you think.
I definitely think they are brother and sister because there is (I am sorry to say) no sexual innuendo between them like there is between Plato and Victoria.

2. On "The Pekes and the Pollicles", there are a few points where it looks like Victoria is played by Jo Bingham instead of Phyllida. What's the deal there?
She is played by Jo Bingham because we were rushing on that scene and we did it last and we couldn't wait till Victoria got better for the retakes.

3. Why does Femi Taylor's costume change several times during the show?
Femi is a swing. If you look many of the other swings have changed. I really have no idea why though.

4. Who on the cover of the video actually is in the video? They don't look the same.
Only one is from the video and that is Jemima (Veerle Casteleyn). It is or was a recent cast picture of the west end.

5. What was it like working with Andrew Lloyd Webber? Like, what was he like? Was he strict or mean or really nice or what?
Andrew is a brilliant person to work with. He is strict because he likes perfection but also he is a great laugh.

6. What was your daily schedule like each day?
Get up at 6:00 eat breakfast. Travel to Adelphi Theatre, got there by 7:30. Straight into make-up and costume, that finished about 8:45 then start rehearsals until 6:00.

7. What was the overall best part about working with all the other cast members? And who was your favorite person to work with?
It was just great all the time they were such a laugh. Drew Varley was the best to work with because we have a social life together.

MICHAEL GRUBER, ON MUNKUSTRAP AND FILMING Back to Top

“Munkustrap is really the storyteller – he's entrusted with giving the information to the other, maybe younger Cats who have not been to the Jellicle Ball before. He gets up and says exactly what they’re here to do, he's also caretaker of the kittens, wants to make sure everybody’s safe, in all the Macavity scares he’s there, to – protect the trible. So he is the protector.

One of the highlights [of the film] is working with Sir John Mills. I mean, who would have thought? To see Gus played by an actor of age, and of theatrical heritage, I mean really, it puts a whole spin on it that I don’t think has ever been seen before. And Sir John…it’s like a lesson in acting, and to be able to sit back, and - I don’t think there was a dry eye, each time. And to be around his energy is something I will, you know, cherish my whole life.

I didn’t really expect [the film] to be this difficult. It’s probably been the greatest challenge of it because the focus hasn’t really been on figuring out what to do, it’s sort of been figuring out how to do it.”

JO GIBB, ON RUMPLETEAZER AND FILMING Back to Top

“I’m Rumpleteazer and I’m part of a duo, which is Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. And we’re the two naughtiest Cats, in Cats I suppose. We’re always doing what we shouldn’t, getting up to mischief, and creating hassle for everyone else. The number Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer takes us through a process of that, when we decide to go out burgling – which we do often, of course. But…she’s lovable at the same time, cheeky, she’s always getting a clip round the ear from the older Cats…but they like her really. (smiles)

It’s difficult to create an atmosphere for film. You’ve got to click it on (clicks fingers) and click it off. I’ve realised just how hard it is for TV actors or film actors, by comparison to stage actors, to grab a moment from nowhere, when they’ve been sitting down for a coffee and then they say “Right! Let’s go for that shot.”