Hi all!!! I saw CATS a week ago it was brilliant!!! But i'm from Russia and it is really difficult to understend the meaning of the "Jellicle cat" and "Jellicle song" or "Jellicle moon". Could anyone be so kind to explain it to me? Looking forward to your answers =) Best wishes =)
Much of what you are asking might be found in T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. The poems written in the book were used for the lyrics of the musical, but it might help to actually be able to read and re-read the poems to get the meaning of "Jellicle Cats," "Jellicle Songs" and the "Jellicle Moon."
IF you cannot find it in the reading of the poems, then you might search your imagination. Many fans of this musical have interpretations on what a Jellicle Cat is, and this varies from an ordinary cat to a magically morphed being. The same could be said of "Jellicle Songs." For many fans, the "Songs" represent a musical "history" of the individual featured in the song...
The Jellicle Moon... This moon is usually pictured as being full with whispy clouds about the face - the one seen on the scrim background during the musical. Somehow, the Jellicle Cat can sense this moon, and know when the Jellicle Ball is about to commence. Fans might include other properties, and when this moon usually appears. For example, my interpretation is that a "Jellicle Moon" is the first full moon to rise near to May 1st - which is considered a Celtic High Holiday. For others, it is the moon closest to the Spring equinox... New Years Eve... or some other point ont he calendar that is considered special...
In many cases, what is considered "Jellicle" is first found inthe heart of T.S. Eliot, then the creative team of CATS, and finally in your own.
I hope this chain of thoughts helped, or placed you in a direction that will...
Hi!
My Cats brochures from Cats hamburg and stuttgart say, that Jellicle Cat means "dear little Cat". It's a childish expression, that TS Elliot made up.
Demabub
The saying was actually from T. S. Eliot's young niece. She pronounced "Dear Little Cat" as "Dea-lickle Cat," where the first syllable had the "Jay" sound. Likewise, she said "Po'-lickle Dog" for "Poor little dog." The niece supposedly had the Cockney style accent...
Information from T. S. Eliot: A Life by Peter Ackroyd.
