Paul Mack

US Tour 1 - 06/1985 - Rum Tum Tugger

Interview - Chicago Tribune, 21st March 1986

...In the course of the show, there have been two babies, one marriage and one ``hot item``- Rumpleteazer and Rum Tum Tugger share a phone number.

``My lease was up, so it seemed silly not to,`` says Kelli (Rumpleteazer) McNally. She and Paul (Rum Tum Tugger) Mack have been dating since June.

``It`s great; this is the first relationship I`ve been in that wasn`t long distance, and that`s so hard.``

Out of costume, the cast members look remarkably unfeline. Yet several swear they`ve been recognized on the street. (It may have something to do with the ``Cats`` jackets they like to wear.)

``But I swear this happened,`` says Paul Mack. ``We (he and McNally) were at Ed Debevic`s and sombody spotted us. But he walked up and said, `You`re Rum Tum Tugger, and you`re Rumpleteazer, right?` Either he had very acute powers of observation, or he spent a lot of time studying our pictures in the program.

``Once, though, I came out of the stage door--I look much different out of costume--and some people said hi, and that they were waiting for `the Cat who`s like a rock star.` I told them that was me, and they said, `Come on, you are not.` So I left. People think Rum Tum Tugger is very tall, but I`m barely 5-11.``