Asparagus

     Asparagus is a character from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, Cats.

Appearance
Asparagus is a brown, gray and black cat. He is often portrayed as one of the more elderly cats, especially in shows where he doubles as Gus the Theatre Cat, who is an elderly, frail, shabby cat who 'suffers from palsy, which makes his paws shake'.

Personality
Little of Asparagus' personality is known; assuming he is also Gus the Theatre Cat, he had a long history as a successful actor, and quite enjoyed it, until his age prevented him from it.

Role
Asparagus himself appears throughout the whole show; in the film, he was played by Tony Timberlake.

Relationships
Alonzo: Some fans believe Alonzo is Asparagus' son.

Jellylorum: Many fans believe Jellylorum and Asparagus are mates, while others believe they are siblings.

Jennyanydots: Some fans believe Jennynaydots and Asparagus are mates, while others believe they are siblings.

Pouncival: Some fans believe Pouncival is Asparagus' son.

Skimbleshanks: Some fans believe Skimbleshanks and Asparagus are silbings.

Tumblebrutus: Some fans believe Tumblebrutus is Asparagus' son.

Song
In its only major deviation from the poem, the song modifies one short passage from the poem: "He once played a Tiger — could do it again — Which an Indian Colonel pursued down a drain." to "I once played Growltiger — could do it again" and uses this to segue into the song "Growltiger's Last Stand", wherein Gus recreates his role of Growltiger, a pirate cat. At the end of "Growltiger's Last Stand", Gus returns in a short reprise.

"Growltiger's Last Stand" does not appear in the 1998 filmed version of the musical – Aparagus only sings his initial song. This was primarily due to the age of [|Tony Timberlake], who played Asparagus in the filmed version, as well as time restraints.