I found this footage a day too late for Greycat day, but look! She can have a little Bombashanks. As a treat.
And if we go with the theory that Grizabella isn't Munkustrap's mother but a former lover - look, there's another lovely triad on the other side! That sweet look Demeter gives her. Demeter's just so happy to have Grizabella and Munkustrap reconciled and to be able to show her the same love and acceptance that she found in the Junkyard..!
(Meanwhile Tuggoffelees...)
This is from an interview with some cast members on the closing night of the original London production. Tugger is John Partridge, Benjamin Tyrrell is Mistoffelees, Ross Finnie is Skimbleshanks, Alexis Owen-Hobbs is Bombalurina, Summer Strallen is Greycat, Barbara King is Demeter, Chrissie Hammond is Grizabella, and Jack Rebaldi is Munkustrap.
She audibly gasps when she feels Victoria touch her hand—can't believe that she's cradling a paw in hers.
Victoria encourages her and introduces her to Coricopat, then Skimbleshanks and Tugger move in (so tender!).
There are heads in the way, but Demeter gets an emotional face-touch—and then, of course, it's on to Munkustrap and Deuteronomy.
Vienna revival, March 2022: Carin Filipčić as Grizabella, Hannah Kenna Thomas as Victoria, Jan-Eike Majert as Coricopat, Tommie Luyben as Skimbleshanks, Alex Snova as Tugger, Nicholas Li as Admetus, Anneke Brunekreeft as Demeter, Alexander Auler as Munkustrap, and Gerben Grimmius as Deuteronomy.
Lauren Louis (Demeter, left) and Tayler Harris (Grizabella) would like to tell you about Jellicle cats, but Tugger (Zach Bravo) is too busy in the background demonstrating exactly what Jellicles can and do.
2021–22 US tour cast, on their first day of tech rehearsals (10 September 2021).
Demeter, in the Hamburg production, seems to be new to the tribe, and takes some time to settle in and find her voice. But even by the end, she's still finding her courage: it takes her a great effort of will to do what she's been longing to do all night, and that is to reach out to Grizabella.
'Grizabella the Glamour Cat' is, of course, the first time we've heard Demeter really raise her own voice and articulate for herself. In 'Gumbie Cat' she follows the example of Bombalurina and Jellylorum. Here, she immediately wants to extend the same welcome to (or at least talk about) Grizabella.
She finds it difficult, and is startled (and grateful?) when Bombalurina joins in - though she also immediately defers to her.
When Grizabella enters at the end of Act I, Demeter tries to reach out, but flees before she can make contact. And it isn't time yet - not for her, not for Griz, and not for the tribe.
Gradually, over the course of the night, Demeter finds her footing within the tribe - for herself. But at the final moment, she can't bring herself to step forward and make that one contact she yearns for above all.
Jelly and Misto hand Grizabella over from the kittens to Bombalurina. By now we're used to Bombalurina being Demeter's voice, and so - though we see Plato and Cassandra there - we're immediately looking past them to the next two cats, Demeter and Alonzo.
But Demeter is hiding behind him... she can't quite pull herself into the front line, but she'll do it, any moment now...
... but she doesn't. She takes too long. We were waiting for that moment, but she missed her chance.
.... or did she?
Grizabella greets Skimble and Jenny, and is about to touch hands with Munkustrap before being passed on to Deuteronomy, when...
... she feels a touch on her back. And... it's the touch she's been waiting for all along.
Even Munkustrap waits, soft and patient, before reaching out a reverent paw to remind her of her ultimate destination.
... no, wait. let's see that again in the 1995 video.
Oh, Alonzo. This time we can see that he gently encourages her (literally, in the sense of 'increasing her courage') and then receives her back into a hug afterward.
What a good boy.
This is a deliberate directorial and acting choice. Demeter yearns to touch her but doesn't have the courage. She lets her go past, and just before that final moment where she's given over to Munkustrap's hands and the mysticism of the moment, Demeter manages to touch her, and make her turn back. Demeter is her final moment of contact with earthly love, and welcome, and forgiveness.
And by now, who would understand that better than Demeter?
1. A stranger in the tribe
2: Finding her place
3: Finding her voice
4: Reaching out
(munk be like time for your ritual sacrifice honey, let me present you to the dirty mop)
