#macavity decoy

[cryptidvoidwritings]

instagram stories: July 16, 2023

[junkyard-gifs]

Just when Munkustrap has trapdoor!Macavity at excellent nose-kicking height...

... a kitten jumps on his back. Isn't it always the way. Victoria, please be brave somewhere else.

Shiki production, Nagoya 20/7/2000. Kyoko Sato as Victoria, Shoichi Fukui as Munkustrap, and Macavity... I have no idea about the actor.

He's presumably not the actual Macavity actor, since that's a decoy and the real one will reappear at the back of the stage in a few seconds. My best guess, judging by which boys are visibly onstage during the Macavity fight (and which others are offstage but very unlikely to be Mac decoys, such as Misto) is that the two Mac decoys who pop up in front of and beside the stage are played by the actors of Skimble and Gus. I suppose there would be a pleasing symmetry if one of them was the Deut actor though! (And if it was Tugger that would just entertain me far too much.)

[white-cat-of-doom]

Excerpts of backstage life from the International Tour in China over the last two or so weeks.

Hazel Baldwin as Jennyanydots finds a scruffy friend in the form of Daniel Timoney as a Macavity Decoy.

Dressing normally, Daniel Timoney provides himself as Alonzo, with Emma Johnson as Cassandra.

A trio of weekend Swings, with Carrie Willis covering Tantomile, Jamie Armour covering Bill Bailey, and Meghan Peploe-Williams covering Rumpleteazer.

Jesse Chidera as Rum Tum Tugger with Lucy May Barker as Grizabella.

Jesse as Rum Tum Tugger once more with Deja Linton as Tantomile, who in turn is with Bailey Johnson as Coricopat.

Striking a pose, with Liam Mower as Mistoffelees, Emma Johnson as Cassandra, and Charles Croysdill as Carbucketty.

Up close and personal with Marco Venturini as Admetus and Daniel as Alonzo.

11 to 20 October 2024.

[jelliclekay]

I am aware Oasis has no swings, so they have to do stuff like this, but having the Grizabella performer be the Macavity decoy is SO funny to me in ways I can't explain

[theimpossiblescheme]

Threat Level

(Cesare the henchcat’s getting a brief turn in the spotlight for @bombawife‘s OC week!  Trigger warning for violence and blood ahead.)

Right off the top of his head, Alonzo could think of at least twenty different ways he could have died since he was a kitten.  Wandering the streets too malnourished and frail to stand without stumbling.  Having his ribs crushed by cars.  Squashed beneath construction ladders.  Territorial alley cats.  Macavity’s claws.  Macavity’s teeth.  Macavity sending henchcats twice his size to “keep an eye” on him.  All the most recent occasions were Macavity’s doing.

And getting his throat ripped out by his brown-nosing little lackey… this was not allowed to be how he died.

Snarling at the top of his voice, he bent his shoulder toward the corner wall and slammed against it, making Cesare on his back take the brunt of the impact.  Thud–thud–thud!  Cesare let out a yowl with each slam and attempted to hold on tighter by clawing at his neck from the front.  But with one final thud! that sent Alonzo’s teeth clattering, Cesare finally let go.  Before he could slide too far down the wall, Alonzo turned over his aching shoulder and sliced his claws across Cesare’s muzzle.  Blood dripped across a harlequin face and golden paw as the two faced each other, gasping for breath… Alonzo sorely tempted to put the bastard out of his misery.  Payback for all the years wasted in that hellhole.  For Demeter, for Jemima, for Bomba, for all of them.

Then Cesare smiled.  The same slimy, self-congratulatory smile he knew Alonzo hated so much, made even worse through bloodied teeth.  “It won’t make a difference,” he muttered, head dropped to his chest, voice muffled.  “You’re more than welcome to kill me… it won’t change a damn thing.”

He was baiting him.  Alonzo knew he was baiting him.  And damn him, he still couldn’t leave it alone… grabbing fistfulls of Cesare’s fur, he yanked him upright until they were nose to nose.  “What is Macavity planning?  Tell me, and I might make it quick.”

Cesare actually laughed.  “I’m not at liberty to tell some–”

Another slash across the face shut him up.  So did a set of claws under his chin.  “Tell me.”

“Why?  You won’t be able to stop him.”  There was a derangement in Cesare’s eyes that Alonzo had never seen before–that he would never admit frightened him.  “By the end of the night, there won’t be just one of you sent up to die.  He’ll be making that choice for you.  One by one by one.”

Alonzo’s head spun–Macavity was coming to the Jellicle Ball?  He couldn’t tell if that was brave or stupid… or if it was simply a matter of catching as many cats in his crossfire as possible.  Either way–”There’s nine of us and one of him.  He won’t get very far.”

“Oh, come on now, I know you’re not that stupid.  You know very well how many of him there are.”  Cesare laughed again, and Alonzo’s blood ran cold to remember.  The hulking, faceless cats Macavity used as his decoys.  No one knew their names, no one could even remember seeing them out of shadow–they could have been anyone.  They could have been the cat standing next to you, or some spirit or demon Macavity had conjured for his own purposes.  But no matter how much the question burned on your tongue, you knew better than to ask.  You didn’t want to know.  If the whispers were to be believed, there was too great a chance Macavity might take your face and replace it with his own.

“Though really,” Cesare went on, “he only needs three.  One for you lot”--he ticked off one claw–”one for the old fool”--another claw–”and one”--the third he slid along Alonzo’s chin–”for his sweet little Goldie–”

What happened next, Alonzo couldn’t explain.  He must have blacked out for a moment.  One second, there was Cesare; the next, there was a blinding pain in his forehead and Cesare on the ground.  More blood seeping from his own forehead, body sprawled in a heap.  Still breathing shallowly.  Damn shame, he thought distantly, like someone else’s voice echoing in his head… and he had to shake out his ears to make sure it wasn’t.

“Alonzo!”  Another voice–Bomba’s as she came bounding down the wall to meet him.  “I heard a voice–was it–?”

“Yeah.  Yeah, it was.”  But he didn’t want to waste any more words on Cesare.  “We have to get back to the Junkyard.  Macavity’s planning on crashing the Ball.”

Bomba quirked an eyebrow and nodded down at the prone henchcat.  “Did he tell you that?”

“This wasn’t a taunt, Bomba–this was serious.  He’s coming after Old Deuteronomy.”  He swallowed past the sudden bile in his throat.  “And Demeter, too.”

There was a terrible moment where Bomba’s face became a mask of terror, but it soon steeled into a look of grim resolve, tail lashing behind her as she prepared to run again.  “Well, we’ve still got time if we hurry.”

Alonzo didn’t need to be told twice.  And he made sure to kick some dirt over Cesare for good measure on his way.

[junkyard-gifs]

1. Tugger, Carbucketty, and Admetus (Filippo Strocchi, Joel Morris, and Cameron Ball, UK tour 2014)

2. The Gumbie trio (Laura Colclough as Demeter, Noelani Neal as Bombalurina, and Charlotte Scott as Jellylorum, Oasis cast 9).

3. Rumpelteazer, Mungojerrie, and Coricopat (Anna Carina Buchegger, Jan-Eike Majert, and Johann Vandamme, Vienna 2019)

4. Admetus, Macavity, and Quaxo - or, Macavity and his minions/decoys (César Iván Vázquez, Gerry Pérez, and Claudio González, Mexico 2013

It made my day (x)

[cryptidvoidwritings]

Macavity is training his disguise minions well

source

[junkyard-gifs]

Macavity decoy: appears

Tumblebrutus: knows just how to deal with the monster 😛

he has the best solutions

(and a startled little hop when the real one appears behind him)

Bennett Ryan as Tumblebrutus; Oasis cast 13, May 2023 (X).

[junkyard-gifs]

I can dig up gifs anyway!

Or rather, photos and videos.

Look, there he is being all benevolent behind Skimble and (patchless) Alonzo.

Here's a breakdown of Bryn, Ken, and Richard in the Macavity decoys / fake Deut scene in the 1998 film.

Here's his page on the wiki.

Here's a dress rehearsal from 1994 where he's actually Macavity, not the decoy:

And here's the same dress rehearsal of Jellicle Songs, with him as Admetus:

Interestingly, I am curious as to why they bothered to use Richard in this sequence instead of whichever cast member would usually have been fake Macavity at this point in the London tradition. You can see, eg, Fergus being one of the minions, Bryn doesn't return until it's plausible for Admetus to be back onstage after redoing his makeup post-Macavity, and M&R (especially Drew) are visibly out of breath in the background for the first half of the Deut Duet'. So clearly they were sticking to normal tracks for the most part despite the apparent freedom given to them by not filming in real time.

Richard Armitage being a graceful swan while rehearsing for ‘CATS The Musical’ (x)

Note: He’s wearing a blue top and has a ponytail. If you think this isn’t the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen, you’re wrong. 

[white-cat-of-doom]

Macavity is not so scary when it is someone else behind the mask.

Robert Wilkes as Gus/Macavity Decoy and Matthew Tratch as Tumblebrutus; Cast 14 of the Oasis of the Oasis of the Seas.

24 February 2024.

[sevenkittensinatrenchcoat]

The Last Macavity Post For Now I Swear

So, Macavity does his thing, kidnaps Old Deuteronomy, Demeter and Bombalurina do a musical number, and then he comes back. He appears as himself, but Macavity Disguised as Old Deuteronomy can be seen in the same place and time, so that’s either magic or an elaborate use of decoys.

I’m pointing this out because Jacob Brent said that Macavity, this version anyway, isn’t actually magic, but between this and the hypnosis...how the hell else is he pulling this off?

Anyway, Demeter is the only one who can tell that something’s off here. The usual psychics and other cats who could more easily recognize him are just too happy to see Old Deuteronomy again to pay attention.

Bombalurina and Jenny both notice that Demeter is acting weird.

Jenny actually takes a closer look at Old Deuteronomy, trusting Demeter’s judgement.

Etcetera also notices that something is going on and hisses again. Though she doesn’t know it, this is the third time she’s hissed at Macavity.

Once Macavity is exposed, he just runs around and scares everyone for a bit. Mungojerrie looks ready to kill him even now and Pouncival’s following his lead.

So, Macavity scares everyone, Munkustrap’s back in The Stance, and...wait. Is that Etcetera? Macavity is attacking Etcetera. Considering everything else he’s apparently done, seeing him lash out at a kitten shouldn’t be that shocking, but it is.

Etcetera’s in mid-tumble from behind shoved back when Electra approaches from the other side. Electra, I know you probably want to avenge your bestie, but maybe you shouldn’t-

And Electra goes down too. Macavity has attacked two children for basically no reason other than to scare everyone.

This is around the time that Macavity goes after Demeter, which I think was his original goal, so I don’t know what the rest of this is about. Munkustrap intervenes and there’s a lot of fighting. Munkustrap’s knocked out, Alonzo’s thrown to the floor, and Mungojerrie takes over.

Cassandra is also ready on the other side.

Mungojerrie goes down in one hit, because I don’t think he’s gotten into many fights before. Pouncival, is ready to take over, not scared off by Macavity attacking Etcetera and Electra, on top of all the actual fighting.

And Alonzo’s getting up! He’s fine! No need for the kitten to risk his life.

Finally, I got a better picture of the cats before the power goes out. We can see Skimble still trying to climb up to where Macavity is, while Demeter, Bombalurina, and Cassandra are all also nearby. Between Bomba and Cassandra are two that I can’t quite make out. 

But, in the right hand corner, Etcetera is back. She recovered and went almost straight back into the action. I nominate her as a potential future protector of the tribe, because she has all the Heroic Resolve needed for the job.

[junkyard-gifs]

nick with his sweet innocent admetus face on though 🥺 even though he's legitimately a visceral, terrifying Macavity onstage.

source

[fluffytuffles]

does anyone who’s seen the tour know who the macavity decoy is? 🤔

[no-mere-mortals]

WHATSUP YALL IM MAD LETS DO THIS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_(musical)#Characters

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_(2019_film)#Cast

CTM: Bombalurina has “an intense hatred for Macavity.” CTMTM: “[Bombalurina] interrupts the proceedings and sing [sic] Macavity’s praises. A lead decoy assigned by Macavity.”

CTM: Cassandra is “An elegant and aloof brown pointed queen,” while Demeter is "A troubled and skittish queen” CTMTM: Both of them are “Munkustrap’s bodyguards." (yo Universal what qualities do you think make for a good bodyguard bc I feel like “aloof” and “skittish” should not be the defining traits)

CTM: Plato is “a quiet ginger-and-white young tom” CTMTM: Plato and Socrates are “The Mystical Twins known for breakdancing” (this one’s especially egregious because Socrates isn’t a real character and also there’s an actual pair of mystical twins in the real sHOW WHY DIDNT YOU USE THEM YOU'RE CLEARLY OK WITH SWITCHING GENDERS SO JUST MAKE TANTOMILE A GUY)

CTM: Coricopat and Tantomile are a “mysterious twin brother and sister with psychic abilities.” CTMTM: Coricopat is “an energetic kitten who is often see [sic] around the other kittens,” Tantomile is “one of the Rum Tum Tugger’s fan-club” (You have magical twins!! Literally right here!!!! Just make Tantomile a dude and you can still use your breakdancing twins if you want! You’re clearly ok with changing genders so why not just use the already established magical twin cats??)

CTM: Jellyorum is “A motherly caretaker who watches out for the kittens and looks after Gus.” CTMTM: Jellyorum is “A sweet ginger kitten who is often see around the other kittens.” (There are other kittens in this musical you didn’t even use!! Where’s Etcetera?? Pouncival? Tumblebrutus?? You also turned Alonzo into a kitten and I don’t know why when there were three entire kittens you didn’t even use!!)

CTM: Growltiger is “A theatrical character Gus recalls playing in his youth, and who appears in Gus' memory.” CTMTM: Growltiger is “Macavity's right-hand cat” (This one isn’t even real!!)

CTM: Griddlebone is “Growltiger's lover in "Growltiger's Last Stand"” CTMTM: Griddlebone is “One of Macavity's agents.” (Once again, we aren’t even using a real cat!!)

CTM: Jemima/Sillabub is “The youngest kitten... sympathetic to Grizabella's plight” CTMTM: Sillabub is “One of the Rum Tum Tugger's fan-club.” (Listen I get you wanted to keep Victoria as the main character and she also encourages Grizabella’s acceptance into the Jellicle cats but are you really gonna just reduce a major female character to that one song where she fangirls over a rockstar?) 

Conclusion: I’m angry and don’t see this movie

[junkyard-gifs]

Fletcher Dobinson as the Macavity decoy, 2020 Asia tour.

Anyway I'm trying out a new outfit.

Not convinced by it though. Feels a bit gaudy. Kind of trashy. What do you think?

[cryptidvoidwritings]

Gus was playing the long game for Macavity the whole time!! 🙀

instagram story: Feb 25, 2024