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 music 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


 * 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


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


 * Jemima and Jellylorum sing "Grizabella the Glamour Cat" instead of Demeter and Bombalurina


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


 * Munkustrap fights Macavity


 * 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

Original (1983-1998)

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


 * Tugger wore a white Elvis-inspired costume


 * "Bustopher Jones" uses the shortened Broadway version


 * "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" uses the original London arrangement


 * Jellylorum and Sillabub's reprise of "Grizabella" was retained
 * Mistoffelees does not sing in 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


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


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


 * Cassandra and Tumblebrutus dance a pas de deux on the giant tire


 * Before "The Moments of Happiness", the cast dance in pairs including Cassandra and Tumblebrutus, Tantomile and Gilbert, Rumpus Cat and Jemima, Rumpleteazer and Sillabub, Bombalurina and Mungojerrie, Ensemble Macavity and Victoria, Carbucketty and Demeter


 * 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 whereas previously he did not
 * One of the magic tricks Mistoffelees pulls during his song is to cause Gilbert to levitate


 * 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


 * Jellylorum sings the "Curious Beast" line in "The Rum Tum Tugger" that is usually sung by Bombalurina in western productions


 * The reprise of "Grizabella" has been cut


 * Sillabub sings the lines in "Bustopher Jones" that are usually sung by Bombalurina in western productions.


 * New music arrangement for "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer", using the upbeat modern 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


 * Cassandra and Tumblebrutus dance a pas de deux on the giant tire in the middle of the "Jellicle Ball" (instead of Victoria and a male cat as is usually the case in Western productions)


 * Before "The Moments of Happiness", the cast dance in pairs including Cassandra and Tumblebrutus, Tantomile and Gilbert, Rumpus Cat and Jemima, Rumpleteazer and Sillabub, Bombalurina and Mungojerrie, Ensemble Macavity and Victoria, Carbucketty and Demeter


 * 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)