Exotica is a minor character in the musical Cats. She initially appeared as a cameo in the 1998 film, played by original cast member Femi Taylor. However the name has since been used for ensemble or swing characters in some productions.
Personality[]
Exotica is considered by many fans to be a shy, mysterious and quiet cat, often associated with Coricopat and Tantomile, who are also described as mystical characters. She appears too rarely in the 1998 film to establish much character for her, other than giving her an air of mystery. When she does appear she seems to be a relaxed, confident part of the ensemble.
Appearance[]
Exotica generally appears as a dark brown shaded cat, similar to Cassandra but in a darker palette. She has a short wig that has rolled ears and subtle stripes similar to Tantomile, no fluff on her unitard, and dark leg warmers. It has been suggested she might be an Abyssinian cat. However in the "Skimbleshanks" number, and a few other shots, she is seen in a different unitard which is paler, far more conventional looking with fluff and hatching. This unitard might have been a Jellylorum spare costume, or altered from Jellylorum with more painting on the body. There is no apparent reason for this change, and it is generally assumed to be the result of a wardrobe malfunction.
Beyond the 1998 film, swing characters named "Exotica" seem to often draw from the "NBQ/Greycat" unnamed kitten design.
Gallery[]
Role[]
The character of Exotica was created specially as a cameo for the 1998 film. Actress Femi Taylor had played Tantomile in the original London production and had gone on to high profile film roles. Although another actress had already been cast as Tantomile in the film, the producers still wanted to include Femi Taylor in some capacity and so Exotica was created. Exotica is rarely seen on screen even in background shots.
Since the 1998 film, the character has been included as a named swing in the 2003 world tour, as well as an ensemble character in non-replica productions in Prague (2004), Sweden (2006), Oslo (2009), Italy (2009) and Mexico (2013).
Etymology[]
The name "Exotica" generally refers to a musical genre[1]. Within the context of names of Cats, it plays on the concept of "Exotic" breeds of cats such as Abysinnian, while sounding consistent with names such as "Electra" and "Jemima".
Cast[]
Performers who have played Exotica
Fandom[]
For fandom headcanons and theories, CLICK HERE.
- ↑ Exotica (disambiguation), Wikipedia