Munkustrap

Image:Munkustrap.jpg as Munkustrap in the 1998 Cats film.]]

Munkustrap is a Jellicle cat from T. S. Eliot's 1939 poem "The Naming of Cats".{{cite web

|url=http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/t__s__eliot/poems/15121

|title=The Naming of Cats

|access-date=2008-03-13 }} He is a principal character and the main narrator in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1981 musical Cats, which is based on Eliot's poems.

Munkustrap is the storyteller and guardian of his tribe. The role was originated by Jeff Shankley in the West End in 1981, and by Harry Groener on Broadway in 1982. Then, in the 1998 video production, Munkustrap was performed by Michael Gruber. Robbie Fairchild portrayed the role in the 2019 film adaptation.

Character description

Munkustrap is the protector of the Jellicle tribe; he is brave, level-headed and dependable. As the tribe's second-in-command after Old Deuteronomy, he oversees the Jellicle Ball and ensures that everything runs smoothly. He functions as the show's main narrator, singing several songs and introducing many of the other cats. When Macavity attacks the tribe, it is Munkustrap who fights him off. Munkustrap's relationship with the other characters is depicted in the musical: he reveres Old Deuteronomy, watches out for the reckless younger members of his tribe.{{harvnb|Sternfeld|2006|pp=130–131}}{{cite web|url=https://www.catsthemusical.com/characters/munkustrap|title=Munkustrap|publisher=Cats the musical (official website)|access-date=20 March 2019|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325153710/https://www.catsthemusical.com/characters/munkustrap}}

He is usually depicted onstage as a tall, grey tabby cat with a commanding presence. The role is meant to be played by a baritone.{{cite web|url=https://themusicalcompany.com/show/cats/cast-requirements/|title=Cast / Vocal Requirements: Cats|publisher=The Musical Company|access-date=2 April 2019}}

Notable casting

The role of Munkustrap was originated by Jeff Shankley on the West End in 1981,{{cite web|url=http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/cats/cast/origlondon1981.htm|title=Original London Cast List|access-date=30 March 2019|publisher=Really Useful Group|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815020451/http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/cats/cast/origlondon1981.htm |archive-date=15 August 2008}} and by Harry Groener on Broadway in 1982.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=4186|title=Original Broadway Cast List|access-date=30 March 2019|publisher=Internet Broadway Database}} Other notable performers include Gary Martin, Bryan Batt, John Partridge, Rob Marshall, David Burt, and Jeffry Denman. In the German-speaking world premiere of Cats, Steve Barton played the role of Munkustrap/Dance Captain in the Theater an der Wien. In the 2011 German tour, Matthew Goodgame played the role of Munkustrap. The character was played by Callum Train in the 2014 West End revival,{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/complete-casting-announced-for-cats-at-london-palladium-com-333989|title=Complete Casting Announced for Cats at London Palladium|work=Playbill|date=24 October 2014|first=Mark|last=Shenton|access-date=26 March 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=26 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326101720/http://www.playbill.com/article/complete-casting-announced-for-cats-at-london-palladium-com-333989}} and by Andy Huntington Jones in the 2016 Broadway revival.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/playbillpagegallery/inside-playbill?asset=00000152-d6f4-d39d-a95f-fef413a00000&type=InsidePlaybill&slide=3|title=Inside the Playbill: Cats – Opening Night at the Neil Simon Theatre: Cast|work=Playbill|access-date=24 March 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=24 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324054006/http://www.playbill.com/playbillpagegallery/inside-playbill?asset=00000152-d6f4-d39d-a95f-fef413a00000&type=InsidePlaybill&slide=3}}

On screen, Michael Gruber portrayed Munkustrap in the 1998 Cats film adaptation.{{cite web |url=http://www.reallyuseful.com/shows/cats/shows-archive/cats-cast-lists/1998-film|title=1998 Video Cast List|access-date=30 March 2019|publisher=Really Useful Group|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407095655/http://www.reallyuseful.com/shows/cats/shows-archive/cats-cast-lists/1998-film

|archive-date= 7 April 2010}} Robbie Fairchild portrayed the role in the 2019 film adaptation.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/robbie-fairchild-munkustrap-universals-cats-1203049195/ |title=Robbie Fairchild to Play Munkustrap in 'Cats' Movie Adaptation (EXCLUSIVE) |first1=Justin |last1=Kroll |date=November 29, 2018|access-date=March 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043847/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/robbie-fairchild-munkustrap-universals-cats-1203049195/|archive-date=March 6, 2019|url-status=live}}

References

=Print sources=

{{cite book|title=The Megamusical|first=Jessica|last=Sternfeld|year=2006|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-34793-0}}

=General references=

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, T. S. Eliot, Harcourt, 1982, {{ISBN|0-15-168656-4}}
A Cat's Diary: How the Broadway Production of Cats was born, Stephen Hanan, Smith & Kraus, 2002, {{ISBN|1-57525-281-3}}

Category:Characters in Cats (musical)