The Rum Tum Tugger

"Rum Tum Tugger loves being center of attention, and that's good, because he has a rock-star personality to suit that, and he carries this sort of anarchic energy that's just awesome to play."

--James Keam, Rum Tum Tugger 

(Okay, the obvious challenge here is for me not to be horribly biased. The Rum Tum Tugger is probably my least favorite character after Pouncival...and not just because they're Bombalurina's love interests! They're just so...don't get me started.)

The Rum Tum Tugger is handsome, sexual, arrogant, and independent. His first entrance as a "chorus cat" portrays him as proud, and this idea continues throughout the show. His more official entrance later on is his greatest moment, but he is reluctant to give up the spotlight. He seems very annoyed when Grizabella arrives, interrupting his dance, and holds a grudge against her nearly to the end of the show, although he does encourage her to sing "Memory" and to rise to the Heaviside Layer.

He enjoys the attention of the she-cats, although he generally pushes them away. The few female cats who don't participate in his dance (Demeter, Jellylorum, Jennyanydots) he goes after with more strength. Grizabella, being too old, is of no use to him. He likes to play with the hearts of everyone else, especially Bombalurina, and then to break their hearts.

Because he looks somewhat like Macavity, some people wonder if they're brothers, especially considering Bombalurina's relationship to both. The Rum Tum Tugger disappears during Macavity's big moment, but returns in time to suggest Mr. Mistoffelees as a way to restore Old Deuteronomy. He seems to be good friends with Mr. Mistoffelees, although he could just be presenting him as a way to add to his own spotlight, or maybe as revenge for Quaxo (see Mr. Mistoffelees post for information on Mistoffelees versus Quaxo) making fun of him during his own song.

Useful Facts About the Role

The Rum Tum Tugger is greatly a dance role--leads several dances during the Jellicle Ball. He also does a lot of singing and acting, and has a few speaking lines that describe Mr. Mistoffelees. His voice I think is not so much a musical theater voice as a classic rock voice, or maybe pop...I'm not really sure. I just know it's very modern and is supposed to be attractive.

There is probably a costume change involved between The Naming of Cats and his official entrance, but there's time, and the change isn't too complicated.