Electra (cat)

Electra is minor female feline character in Cats, a musical inspired by the T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry book, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. She is a dancer in the chorus line of "kittens" in the tribe of Jellicle cats.

Origins

Electra is one of the names mentioned in one of T. S. Eliot's original poems:

There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,

Some for the Gentlemen, some for the Dames,
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter,

But all of them sensible, everyday names.

— 'The Naming of Cats' in T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats

Character personality and appearance

In Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical production Cats, Electra is one of the youngest female kittens in the tribe of Jellicle cats. Like many of the other young feline characters, she is in awe of the Rum Tum Tugger, a flirtatious rogueish male main character.

Electra is quite similar to Etcetera, another Jellicle chorus-kitten, in appearance (striped and dark) and personality. Electra is regarded as darker in color, and less excitable. She is sometimes believed to be her sister.

Electra is considered a sweet, solemn quiet kitten, probably owing to her predominantly background role as a chorus member.

In the video, she is very close to Jennyanydots.

Stage role

Unlike some of the other named Jellicle tribed characters (Victoria and Jemima), Electra only appears in group dances and does not have a signature song or dance. However, in a few tours she has been in 'Macavity the Mystery Cat' as a dancer.

As a chorus kitten, she is often omitted from smaller productions such as tours. And she also touches and accepts Grizabella back into the tribe.

Players

People who have portrayed Electra include Leah Sue Morland (in the 1998 video) and Mischana Dellora-Cornish (in the Australian 2010 Tour)