Rumpus Cat

Karol Tymiński as The Great Rumpus Cat in the Polish production of Cats, 2007.

The Great Rumpus Cat is a fictional character from T.S. Eliot's book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, Cats.

The Great Rumpus Cat appears in the poem "Of the Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles."^[1] The poem describes a contentious encounter between a Peke and a Pollicle dog which eventually leads to the participation of other dogs and a great deal of barking, heard throughout the park. The Great Rumpuscat nonchalantly intervenes and scatters the dogs merely by his threatening appearance and a single great leap. The Great Rumpuscat is described as having blazing eyes, great jaws, and a fierce and hairy presence. Of the dogs in the poem, the Pollicle is referring to many types of dogs, whereas the Pekes, Poms, and Pugs all correspond to actual breeds. The Pollicle is a dog who is a stray and wilder than pets.

In Cats, the Jellicles put on a small play when their leader, Old Deuteronomy, arrives. The story is about how Rumpus Cat stopped two neighboring dog clans, the Pekes and Pollicles, from fighting.^[2]

Steven Wayne played the part in the original London West End production, doubling as George, and Kenneth Ard, doubling as Macavity created the part on Broadway. It appears, as his costume in the film version suggests, that he is considered a type of superhero in the Jellicle society. In the film version, Rumpus Cat is played by Frank Thompson who also plays Admetus.

References

1. M. K. Naik (1 October 1980). Mighty voices: studies in T.S. Eliot. Arnold-Heinemann. p. 32. Retrieved 15 August 2013. The very title of the poem on the Great Rumpuscat is suggestive: "Of the Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles: Together with some account of the Participation of the Pugs and the Poms, and the Intervention of the Great Rumpuscat".
2. Judith A. Steeh (1983). Cats. Bison Books. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-86124-093-7. Retrieved 15 August 2013. The rather small, black and white Jellicle Cats rest up all day so that they can dance all night; the Great Rumpus Cat single-handedly routs a whole army of Pekes and Pollicles; Mr Mistoffelees, the original Conjuring Cat, not only spirits away ...