Japan 1983/Score

The Shiki Japan Production opened in 1983 and was originally based off the original London production. The show went through a major overhaul in 1998 (from the Fukuoka run) that introduced new choreography, staging and character designs. Alterations to the music were also made, including the removal of "Pekes and the Pollicles". Another round of revisions were made in 2018 (from the Tokyo run), including the reintroduction of "Pekes and the Pollicles" and updated arrangement for "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer".

Notable features of the Japanese Scores:

General

 * Tantomile is the first to appear onstage, posing under the rising lighting rig during the overture.


 * Grizabella is included in "Jellicle Songs" and "Naming of Cats" in an ensemble costume (as a calico cat similar to Jemima's design)


 * Mistoffelees sings the first half of the "Invitation to the Jellicle Ball", but it is Coricopat who dances with Victoria instead


 * Jennyanydots makes her entrance from an oven instead of a car boot


 * The Gumbie Trio are Jemima (an adult cat in this production), Jellylorum and Tantomile


 * The Beetles' Tattoo are dressed as cockroaches
 * Jellylorum sings the "Curious Beast" line in "The Rum Tum Tugger" that is usually sung by Bombalurina in western productions.


 * All the female cats fawn over and dance with Tugger during his song, except Sillabub (a newborn kitten in this production) who isn't interested in Tugger and doesn't join in.
 * Jemima and Jellylorum sing "Grizabella the Glamour Cat" instead of Demeter and Bombalurina.
 * Sillabub sings the lines in "Bustopher Jones" that are usually sung by Bombalurina in western productions. Jennyanydots and Jellylorum retain their usual lines in this number.


 * Sillabub sings the "I believe it is Old Deuteronomy" line that is usually sung by Coricopat and Tantomile in western productions.


 * Cassandra and Tumblebrutus dance together on the giant tire during the "Jellicle Ball".


 * There is no mating dance in the "Jellicle Ball".


 * In "The Moments of Happiness", Old Deuteronomy channels his wisdom into Sillabub himself, rather than through Coricopat and Tantomile.


 * After "The Moments of Happiness" (during the music interlude leading up to "Gus"), the cats briefly dance in pairs: Cassandra and Tumblebrutus, Tantomile and Gilbert, Rumpus Cat and Jemima, Rumpleteazer and Sillabub, Bombalurina and Mungojerrie, Ensemble Macavity and Victoria, Carbucketty and Demeter.


 * The Aria is sung in "Growltiger's Last Stand". The "Chi e la? Mi amore! ... Sono qui" lines are sung in Italian, but the rest of the song is in Japanese.


 * The full sword fight music is retained in "Growltiger".


 * Skimbleshanks’ hat is a railway conductor’s hat from the location the show is being performed in.


 * Macavity doesn't have henchcats and instead kidnaps Old Deuteronomy on his own.


 * The staging of "Macavity the Mystery Cat" has all the ensemble dancers join in instead of just the females ones.


 * Demeter is still the one who exposes Macavity's disguise.


 * The Fight is mainly between Macavity and Munkustrap, though the other cats do join in throughout. Macavity drags Tantomile across the stage during the fight, instead of Demeter as in western productions.


 * Sillabub (not Jemima) sings the soprano parts in "The Moments of Happiness", "Daylight" and "Memory"


 * Sillabub, not Victoria as in Western productions, is the first cat to touch Grizabella


 * A giant paw descends from the ceiling and lifts Grizabella to the Heaviside Layer.

Original (1983-1998)

 * Two cast recordings of this score exist: 1985 Japanese cast recording, 1989 Japanese cast recording


 * Tugger wears a white Elvis-inspired costume


 * "Bustopher Jones" uses the shortened Broadway version


 * "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" uses the original London arrangement


 * Jellylorum and Sillabub sing the reprise of "Grizabella"


 * Mistoffelees sang the second verse of his song.


 * Mistoffelees's song costume was almost entirely black

Long Run (1998-2018)

 * One cast recording of this score exists: 2001 Japanese demo (four tracks only)


 * Tugger's white costume was changed to a Mick Jagger-inspired leopard print on a black leather base


 * Tugger pulls a female audience member up to the stage and dances with them during his song


 * "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" uses the original London arrangement


 * "Pekes and the Pollicles" was cut in its entirety


 * Jellylorum and Sillabub sing the reprise of "Grizabella"
 * Before the fight, Macavity pops up in various places around the theater


 * Mistoffelees' song costume was changed from all black to the typical black jacket with a fluffy, white bib


 * Mistoffelees sings the second verse of his song.
 * One of the magic tricks Mistoffelees pulls during his song is to cause Gilbert to levitate which is caused by giving Gilbert his cane


 * Bombalurina is Mistoffelees' assistant when he performs the magic trick to bring back Old Deuteronomy

Modern (used since 2018)

 * One cast recording of this score exists: 2019 Japanese cast recording


 * Tumblebrutus, Gilbert, and Rumpus Cat sing the "Terrible Bore" line in "The Rum Tum Tugger".


 * Tugger no longer pulls a female audience member up to the stage during his song, and instead dances with them in the aisle.


 * "Bustopher Jones" uses the full London version instead of the shortened Broadway version.


 * "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" has been updated to use the modern upbeat 4/4 score


 * "The Pekes and the Pollicles" was reintroduced in 2018 after being cut in 1998; it is sung by Munkustrap with a solo dance by Rumpus Cat in the second half
 * The "Macavity" interlude, first introduced in the 2016 Broadway revival, has been added - sung by the queens right after the loud crash interrupts Old Deut's "Pekes and Pollicles" conclusion.


 * The reprise of "Grizabella" is cut.


 * Macavity's costume was changed so he no longer wears a hat and cape


 * The "Macavity Fight" uses the music arrangement from the 2016 Broadway revival


 * Mistoffelees no longer sings in his song


 * Victoria is Mistoffelees' assistant when he performs the magic trick to bring back Old Deuteronomy (previously it was Bombalurina)