Rum Tum Tugger/Street Cat

Rum Tum Tugger is a character in the musical Cats. Not to be mistaken with the original version of Tugger, this version of the Rum Tum Tugger is a hip-hop street cat rather than a Mick Jagger-esque rockstar.

This take on the character was used in several productions between 2014 and 2016, but has since been phased out in favour of the original.

Personality
"Perverse, Preening, Independent"

- Three Words

The Rum Tum Tugger is a rebellious young cat who clowns around for attention.

He enjoys being in the spotlight and has a small fan following of younger kittens and a few queens. His antics do not impress the more mature cats (typically Munkustrap and Mistoffelees), who are fed up with him.

He is indecisive and demanding, and only likes what he finds for himself. There is nothing he enjoys like a horrible muddle.

He sometimes nicknames other cats, calling Old Deuteronomy "Old D" and Mistoffelees "the Magi-coolest cat".

Role
"Male, ages 18-35, All Ethnicities

A charismatic and anarchic character, notoriously hard to please and sets himself apart from others by trying to be different; always does the opposite of what is expected of him. Rum Tum Tugger is deviously self-centered and relishes in being so; must have strong dance; funk and street styles a plus; principal."

- Casting Calls

For the 2014 London Palladium production, Lloyd Webber announced that he found the original Rum Tum Tugger "rather boring", and would update the character to a "street cat", giving him a rap song and hip hop choreography.

This alteration has had distinct changes on the dynamics within the show. He appears to rank below Mistoffelees and Mungojerrie in the pecking order, and the other kittens enjoy his mischief-making.

He spends much of the show removed from the ensemble and aloof, building fewer interactions than between other characters. He has a lot of interaction with the audience.

Between 2014 and 2016, he was included in each new production of Cats, notably both Palladium runs, the Blackpool production, Paris, the Australia/New Zealand tour and the 2016 UK/Europe Tour.

"Street Tugger" began to be phased out in 2016. The 2016 Broadway revival reintroduced the original Tugger, with the 2017 UK/Europe tour following suit. There is currently no production of Cats running that is using "Street Tugger".

Song
A rap song about the Rum Tum Tugger's un-obliging ways. The new song uses re-phrased elements of the original poem combined with rap verses created by Antoine Murray-Straughan.

Appearance
The Rum Tum Tugger is a tiger striped cat. He wears his wig in braids, a backwards black snapback, a printed vest top, gold/silver chain necklaces, and black and yellow leopard spotted drop pants over a tiger print unitard. He wears fingerless gloves and black or gold running shoes.

Controversy
Tugger's update has been met with criticism, , with both critics and theatre fans condemning the re-working of the character into a dated and offensive cliché. This resulted in the phasing out of the character from 2016 on, with the Broadway Revival and all major productions following it using the original Rockstar Tugger rather than the Street Cat version.