"Macavity the Mystery Cat" is a song about the titular villain Macavity. It is performed by Demeter and Bombalurina, with other characters providing backup dancing and singing for the later portion of the song.
The entire scene involving Macavity is divided into two sections: the queens singing about him, and the Macavity fight sequence. This article is about the song, see here for the article about the fight.
Context[]
At the end of Skimbleshanks' number, the cats are all relaxed and enjoying themselves, when a crash of broken glass startles everyone. Now predictably, Demeter cries "Macavity?!" And indeed, from nowhere an evil, menacing figure with a booming laugh appears offstage. Before the cats can react, he disappears and reappears elsewhere in the theatre. Just as before, as soon as he has done so he disappears again, only to reappear onstage at last.
Putting the cats under his hypnotic spell, Macavity has his hench-cats kidnap Old Deuteronomy, before disappearing once more. The other cats either chase after them or go into hiding, in all directions, until only Demeter and Bombalurina remain on-stage.
Demeter starts recounting what she knows about Macavity. Bombalurina watches intently before joining in with a more down-to-earth perspective; while Demeter accuses him of grave and fantastical crimes such as jewel thefts, Bombalurina relates more mundane problems like missing milk and broken glass. Eventually most of the female cats return to the stage and join them in singing about Macavity.
History[]
The lyrics for "Macavity" are taken entirely from the T S Eliot poem of the same name from Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (1939). They have remained mostly unchanged over the years; the only exception is the original London line: "I might mention Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer, Griddlebone," which was changed when the show transferred to Broadway to: "I might mention Mungojerrie, I might mention Griddlebone."
While many productions in the 1980s and early 1990s included various male characters in the backing dance, most modern replica productions since then restrict it to the female dance characters; Rumpleteazer, Victoria, Jemima/Sillabub, Tantomile, Cassandra, and Electra and Etcetera if they are in the production. The exception among more recent productions is the 5th US tour, which included Pouncival and Tumblebrutus in the dance to make up for the lack of Tantomile in the production.
In many 1980s and early 1990s versions of the number, mainly US and European-based productions, Alonzo danced a "shadow dance" behind Demeter during her verse, shadowing her movements.
Music[]
"Macavity the Mystery Cat" is a sensual bluesy number, underpinned by Macavity's leitmotif.[1] The song is set in the 4/4 time signature and has a tempo of 86 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of C minor, and the chorus generally follows a chord pattern of Cm-Cm/Eb-F7-D7/F#-(G7). Demeter and Bombalurina's vocals span from A3 to C5. Parts of the lyrics are meant to be spoken instead of sung.[2]
Lyrics[]
Macavity's a mystery cat, he's called the hidden paw
For he's a master criminal who can defy the law
He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair
For when they reach the scene of crime, Macavity's not there
Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity
He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity
His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare
And when you reach the scene of crime, Macavity's not there
You may seek him in the basement
You may look up in the air
But I tell you once and once again
Macavity's not there
Macavity's a ginger cat, he's very tall and thin
You would know him if you saw him for his eyes are sunken in
His brow is deeply lined in thought, his head is highly domed
His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed
He sways his head from side to side with movements like a snake
And when you think he's half asleep he's always wide awake
Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity
For he's a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity
You may meet him in a by-street, you may see him in the square
But when a crime's discovered then, Macavity's not there
He's outwardly respectable
I know he cheats at cards
And his footprints are not found in any files of Scotland Yard's
And when the larder's looted
Or the jewel case is rifled
Or when the milk is missing
Or another peke's been stifled
Or the greenhouse glass is broken
And the trellis past repair
There's the wonder of the thing
Macavity's not there
Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity
There never was a cat of such deceitfulness and suavity
He always has an alibi and one or two to spare
What ever time the deed took place, Macavity wasn't there
And they say that all the cats whose wicked deeds are widely known
(alt) I might mention Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer, Griddlebone
(alt) I might mention Mungojerrie, I might mention Griddlebone
Are nothing more than agents for the cat who all the time
Just controls the operations: the Napoleon of crime!
Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity
He's a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity
You may meet him in a by-street, you may see him in the square
But when a crime's discovered then
Macavity, Macavity, Macavity, Macavity
When a crime's discovered then Macavity's not there!
International Versions[]
Audio[]
- "Macavity the Mystery Cat" from the 1981 London cast recording
- "Macavity the Mystery Cat" from the 1983 Broadway cast recording
- "Macavity the Mystery Cat" from the 2019 movie soundtrack
Video[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ The Megamusical, Indiana University Press (2006). Pages 146, 152. ISBN 978-0-253-34793-0.
- ↑ Cats: Songs from the Musical, Hal Leonard (May 1, 1982). Pages 88-96. ISBN 978-0881882001.