page_title: Macavity
section_title: Musical
hierarchical_section_title: Macavity / Musical
caption_attribution_description: English: Grzegorz Suski as Macavity in the musical "Cats" in Roma Musical Theatre in Warsaw, 9 November 2007. Polski: Grzegorz Suski jako Makiawel w musicalu "Koty" w Teatrze Muzycznym Roma w Warszawie, 9 listopada 2007.
context_page_description: Macavity the Mystery Cat, also called the Hidden Paw, is a fictional character and the main antagonist in T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. He also appears in the Andrew Lloyd Webber 1981 musical Cats, which is based on Eliot's book. Macavity is a master criminal and con artist; he possesses mystical powers and is the antagonist of the musical.
context_section_description: Macavity is the only real villain in the musical Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber. He kidnaps Old Deuteronomy, the Jellicle leader, and attempts to abduct Demeter, one of two cats who sing about him. Lloyd Webber noted that "Macavity... is obviously a take-off on Moriarty." The character was originally played by Richard Pettyfer in the original West End production, Kenneth Ard in the Broadway production, Bryn Walters in the Cats 1998 film adaptation, and Idris Elba in the 2019 film adaptation of the musical.
  Within the storyline of the musical, Macavity makes several attempts to scare the tribe. This culminates in his abduction of Old Deuteronomy, after which two queen cats, Bombalurina and Demeter, sing about him. He then returns disguised as Old Deuteronomy, but is unmasked by Demeter. Munkustrap and Alonzo come to her defense and, in a dramatic cat fight, battle him. Confronted and surrounded by other tribe members, he manages to escape. As seen in the film production and most stage performances, he appears to be capable of performing some form of hypnosis. When Demeter and Bombalurina (a flirty queen cat who is close friends with Demeter) sing about him, they do so in a sensuous manner, suggesting he is more familiar to them.  The Macavity number develops from a bluesy duet into a big female ensemble routine.
  Macavity is typically depicted as a cat with a chaotic array of red, orange, white, and sharp black stripes. He is often portrayed with very long claws and wild dark hair. The role of Macavity is usually played by the same actor as Plato (a chorus cat who notably does a pas de deux with Victoria during the Jellicle Ball). His costume is ginger and white, and specifically includes a simple make-up design that the actor transforms into the elaborate Macavity make-up, and then re-applies after the featured scene. Admetus/Plato is also often recognisable as one of the tallest cast members, as the fight scene between Macavity and Munkustrap requires him to be able to lift other male dancers.
caption: Grzegorz Suski as Macavity in the non-replica production of Cats in Roma Musical Theatre in Warsaw, 9 November 2007.
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