Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie

"I'm Rumpleteazer, and I'm part of a duo who is Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, and we're the two naughtiest cats in 'Cats', I suppose. We're always doing what we shouldn't, being where we shouldn't be, getting up to mischief, and creating a hassle for everyone else. The number 'Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer' talks through a process about when we decide to go out burgling one night, which we do often, of course. But she's lovable at the same time as being naughty and cheeky--she's always getting a clip around the ear from the older cats...but they like her really."

 --Jo Gibb, Rumpleteazer

Once again, there's not much I can say that will top that! What I do have to say is mainly some things about their relationships to the other cats, fan speculation, and (of course) useful facts for future Rumpleteazers and Mungojerries.

The two of them are very close, best friends and partners in crime, almost always seen together. Mungojerrie and in some versions Rumpleteazer get mention as agents of Macavity, but as Rumpleteazer dances in his song and Mungojerrie takes part in clawing him away, this is debatable.

A topic of fan speculation is whether Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are siblings or mates. Although their looking alike makes them likely siblings, the fact that in some productions they do the mating dance together and certain suggestive elements of their own song makes one wonder.

It is hard to tell exactly what either thinks of Grizabella, since they generally magically disappear when she's around. Like everyone else, they greatly respect Old Deuteronomy--he is just about the only cat/person they do respect.

Rumpleteazer is often one of the kittens who likes the Rum Tum Tugger. In smaller productions she may be the one squealing toward the end of his song.

In a production I saw, Mungojerrie often danced alongside the females, which made me wonder if he was gay...but since I have yet to hear of homosexual cats in the real world, I will leave it at that. Please don't attack me...it's just a theory!

Useful Facts About the Roles

Both characters do a lot of dancing and acrobatics. You have to be able to sing, but you don't have to be Julie Andrews or Idina Menzel. (Sorry, future Mungojerries--I'm not very well educated in the great male musical singers!)

The characters are comical and mischievous for the most part, with a little ego added in when they say their own names. Obviously you have to know the character and the story, but neither role is extremely difficult to play.
In smaller productions, they will cover Coricopat and Tantomile's lines and do their dancing, and there they may be portrayed as more serious or at least more insightful (see Coricopat and Tantomile).

Bustopher Jones

(I apologize for no picture...there are literally no good Bustopher pictures out there. All the ones I've found have gotten copyrighted.)

If Bustopher Jones was a modern-day human, his friends might well worry about him, for he is...um..."remarkably fat." He does little other than eat, drink and socialize, is twenty-five pounds (as opposed to the average cat, who is fourteen at most), and is only gaining in weight.

However, because he's a Jellicle Cat, and because he's a happy, easygoing character, we can only assume that this lifestyle agrees with him.

Bustopher, interestingly, looks quite a bit like an older, more overweight, less graceful version of Quaxo--the same black-with-white coloring, the same white tail-tip--so there is some speculation that they may be related.

Bustopher is a respected member of the Tribe, and the older queens seem to find him attractive, although the younger cats, especially Etcetera, seem secretly disgusted by him. Everyone defers to him, although he can be vain and inconsiderate. When he's in a good mood, he is very popular, and it seems to be a great honor to be noticed by him.

It is hard to tell what Bustopher thinks of Grizabella, since they are never on the stage at the same time. It is obvious that he is easily frightened, for he runs away at the first suggestion of Macavity.

Useful Facts About the Role

Despite the fact that Bustopher Jones has a whole song dedicated to him, it is actually the only time that he is onstage.
You need to have a pretty deep voice (I don't know the male vocal range, but I'd guess a baritone) to play him. It's not a challenging acting role, since all you need to do is walk very confidently and laugh easily. Bustopher never exactly dances, although the "walk" of his song is choreographed. The move that's closest to dance is when he, crossing and uncrossing his legs, nearly falls backward...or when walking, he wobbles forward and nearly falls offstage. (Please don't actually do so!)
Bustopher is usually played by a middle-aged actor, and I think in smaller productions may be played by the same actor that plays Gus, or even Old Deuteronomy.

Skimbleshanks

Skimbleshanks is--well, the railway cat. He is only formally introduced in the second act, during his song, but is a lead singer and dancer during the first. He is very playful and fun, always making the other cats laugh, although he sometimes goes overboard and has to be calmed down by one of his friends.
Ironically, during his song Skimbleshanks is very controlling, making sure that everything is in order on his train. He is very proud of his work, but is not egotistical...when Macavity interrupts his song his first thought is to protect the kittens.
Skimbleshanks seems to get along well with Quaxo...the two of them often come up with comical schemes of some sort. He is also very close to Jennyanydots, as whenever the cats are sitting down the two of them gravitate toward each other, and (in the movie) he watches her song from the back instead of dressing up as a mouse or cockroach.
Skimbleshanks shows no especial like or dislike of Grizabella...he seems wary of her, and keeps an eye on the younger cats when she's around, but doesn't hiss at her or spit on her, and towards the end (again, in the movie) he comes forward to help her when she stumbles.