Growltiger's Last Stand

Growltiger's Last Stand is a dream sequence in the musical "Cats", in which Gus the Theatre Cat reminisces about one of his favourite roles, playing the fearsome pirate Growltiger.

In addition to Gus changing into Growltiger onstage, the number also features Jellylorum as Griddlebone, the Raffish Crew, and the Siamese.

Due to filming time constraints, the whole sequence was cut from the 1998 movie.

Song
"Growltiger's Last Stand" is a poem from T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, as well as a song from the musical derived from that book.



The original concept was for Growltiger and Griddlebone to perform a Puccini-style aria "In Una Tepida Notte", however when Susan Jane Tanner was cast as Jellylorum/Griddlebone, the decision was made to simplify the vocal part and make the duet a drinking song "Billy Macaw", offering as much comedic potential without the demands of a legitimate soprano part. When the show transferred to Broadway, Andrew Lloyd Webber took the opportunity to revert to the original plan and include the Aria.

Besides the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical setting in Cats the English composer Humphrey Searle composed a musical setting of "Growltiger's Last Stand" as the second of his Two Practical Cats for speaker, flute, cello and guitar.