Demeter (cat)

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Demeter is a main character in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. Her name is first given in "the Naming Of Cats".

Demeter, as costumed in the filmed production, is black and gold with a few patches of white and red or orange. and wears gloves instead of arm warmers, giving her a more elegant touch. In other productions she has larger patches of red. She has a few tabby markings around her face and legs. Demeter is one of the main queens, and is her role is considered to be a major one in the show.

She is very skittish and cautious of Macavity. Some believe she had a past with him and is now paranoid as she always seems to know when he's around. This seems to be confirmed by Cats Choreographer Gillian Lynne in behind the scenes footage seen in on the Cats special edition DVD. In most productions, she is portrayed as the mate of Munkustrap. Demeter sings in the backing group in "The Gumbie Cat" with Bombularina, with whom she is very close, and also with Jellylorum.

She is one of the few adult queens to attempt to welcome Grizabella and sings part of Grizabella the Glamour Cat. Demeter seems sympathetic to Grizabella, but can't bring herself to fully accept her until the show is almost over. Many fans have speculated that Grizabella at some point also became involved with Macavity which might explain the look of digust on Demeter's face in the recorded version of the show. She usually runs off to Bombalurina in uncomfortable situations, such as when Grizabella or Macavity are nearby. She seems to know Grizabella and may have been good friends with her in the past, or simply identifies with her remorse. It is possible that their time spent with Macavity simply overlapped. Demeter has little or no interest in the Rum Tum Tugger, she shows no interest in the outgoing, vain toms, this may explain her interest in Macavity. She is usually played by a mezzo soprano singer.

Demeter's portrayer takes on some complicated movements in the Jellicle Ball along with the Rum Tum Tugger, Alonzo, Munkustrap, Rumpleteazer and Bombalurina.

The part of Demeter was originated by Sharon Lee-Hill in the West End production and by Wendy Edmead in the original Broadway production. In the Cats video she is played by Aeva May.