This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:01] Mike Abrams: Welcome to The Wrong Cat Died, the podcast breakdown of the cat chastrophe. I'm your host, Mike Abrams, and today we have another amazing guest.

[0:18] Mike Abrams: She was Grizabella in three different productions of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Seas. So welcome, Robyn Tempest, and thank you for joining me.

[0:32] Robyn Tempest: Thank you for having me. Finally. It's been a long time coming, hasn't it?

[0:36] Mike Abrams: I know. We attempted to do this while you were on the ship and failed miserably because of recording remotely.

[0:44] Mike Abrams: But here we are. You're off the ship. The run of Grizabella is currently over, although you can never rule it out for the future again, right?

[0:54] Robyn Tempest: Yeah, that's the thing with Cats. It kind of buries itself into your life and you're like, never again. And then a year later, you're like, oh, look where I am. Back in Cats. Back at the junkyard.

[1:06] Mike Abrams: So I usually start this conversation with asking you about your history with the show. But before we do that, we're going to get to that. I want to know. But before we do that, I've been really dying to know you have done the 90-minute version of Cats, the no intermission cruise line version. And you're the first person I've talked to who's actually been part of it. So I want to know what got cut. Like, what is the 90-minute? Walk me through the 90-minute version.

[1:29] Robyn Tempest: OK, let me switch this back on to you. What do you think got cut?

[1:33] Mike Abrams: Oh, for Bustopher Jones. Yeah, I think Bustopher Jones gets cut.

[1:41] Robyn Tempest: I don't think they're going to shorten the ball, but you could because that's like just such a dance number that you have to do.

[1:48] Robyn Tempest: I'm probably Peaks and Pollicles, maybe. Yeah, that's gone. See ya. No more back, back, back, back. And then I don't think there's anything else that like anything. Everything else feels fairly material to it. And so I don't know where the other hour plus cut comes. Like, I guess you shorten the cavity song. Maybe there's a lot of intro. There's but you need the kidnapping scene. Bustopher Jones is the obvious easy one. And I know you can cut some of the ensemble cats from dancing, but they don't have song. So I'm trying to figure out where you cut your song.

[2:20] Robyn Tempest: So the cast size is still the same. So there's still 22 cats. So the first one that the cut is Bustopher, correct? Then Peaks and Pollicles is gone.

[2:34] Robyn Tempest: The only thing that they've cut in the ball is there's no British Airways, which is the when they do that.

[2:45] Robyn Tempest: But that only that tiny bit. Well, gosh, it was like you were in the ball.

[2:50] Robyn Tempest: I wasn't it with my singing of that section of the ball transported there. And what else? And Gus's aria, because we did the version that Gus and Jelly do the aria with the pirates and stuff like that. And that's all cut. So it's just like the verse and the chorus of Gus. So Gus's section is really short now.

[3:15] Robyn Tempest: Mistoffelees has had like some verses and choruses taken out. So that's not like 40 minutes long now. It's just like a normal song size. But all the dance is still in and everything.

[3:27] Robyn Tempest: Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer have had like a verse and a chorus cut out. I think that's about it, to be honest. There's really random like bars of music that have been taken out. So like intro bars, like you'll only have one bar of intro instead of two and stuff.

[3:43] Robyn Tempest: So that's a bit like messes your mind a bit. But yeah, just that's so interesting. So only Bustopher, Peaks and Pollicles and then the Growl Tiger, I guess that's the part that was cut in the most recent like the current tour.

[3:58] Robyn Tempest: And the most recent stuff is also cut or changed. I think it got canceled. Honestly, I think it was cut for more. I mean, it wasn't politically correct, was it?

[4:07] Robyn Tempest: Yeah. So everything else is just everything else is just shortened. So it's like cut out like a verse or anything.

[4:14] Robyn Tempest: That seems I guess that makes sense. So then you keep the characters and the storyline and everything else, but you just shorten it up.

[4:20] Robyn Tempest: Yeah, basically. So some things like you'll look back, I'll look back on like old recordings and stuff like that. And I'll be like, oh, gosh, that's that's not there anymore. Like that's had like three bars taken out of it and stuff. It's the weirdest like there's some weird cuts, but they were rugs really precious with Cats. Like it's like their little baby. And so they had to be very much involved in it. And they were very, very particular about what was allowed to be cut, what wasn't. Royal weren't allowed to make any of the cuts themselves. It all came from Rook. And so whilst we were in rehearsals, like for the ball, for example, at times they were cutting bits out of the ball and teaching it.

And then they'd come in the next day and they'd be like, right, we've had a new email from Rook and we're not we're not cutting that anymore. That's not getting cut because at one part at one point, Copeland, because all the ball, I don't know how much anyone knows about Cats, but all the balls split up into sections. So Copeland and Warsaw are the biggest sections there. I'm doing the moves, but you can't see them.

[5:28] Robyn Tempest: And so at one point they cut parts of Copeland and then they came in and they were like, right. Yeah, we're not allowed to do that anymore. So. So when it all got sorted and everything, we the ship was in dry dock. The Oasis was in dry dock and all people from Rook had to come in and change all the automation, change all the lights, change the sound, everything. So it was all very much done by Rook and people that were affiliated with Rook. But it wasn't Royal. Royal weren't allowed to touch it and still aren't allowed to touch it.

[6:01] Robyn Tempest: Because your part really doesn't change your 15 minutes, you get your 15 minutes in both the full show and the 90-minute show, because there's really no where to cut for Grizabella.

[6:12] Robyn Tempest: Yeah. No, the only things that changed for me were she doesn't do the dance at the end of the ball. So that's cut, which I don't care what any Griz says and I don't care how much anyone loves it. It's not my favorite part. It's it's not. It's a lot like it's trying to get all these different emotions into this song. But whilst also keeping this dance, but whilst also keep it's still a bit over the top. But it's got to be quite. It wasn't my favorite. And so that got cut.

[6:48] Robyn Tempest: And the other big difference is it makes the quick change a lot quicker as well from Baby Griz to Grizabella because there's no there's like a verse.

[7:00] Mike Abrams: Oh, so what's that cut then? Because that's not Bustopher.

[7:05] Robyn Tempest: So there's a cut there. Yeah, that's much faster. Naming. So it goes. Naming into. Is it Jenny?

[7:13] Robyn Tempest: But Bustopher's after. Bustopher's after thingy. So it goes Jenny Any Dots.

[7:19] Robyn Tempest: Oh, there's a section cut out of Jenny Any Dots as well. Some of the taps cut out of Jenny Any Dots.

[7:25] Robyn Tempest: So I think there's like a minute worth of the tap cut out there. And so that makes the quick change like a minute shorter.

[7:35] Robyn Tempest: So you go from having like seven, seven minutes, 40 or something to six minutes, 15 to get you full quick changing.

[7:44] Mike Abrams: Gosh, because then Bustopher's after Remark and Grizabella.

[7:49] Robyn Tempest: Grizabella. So you got to do both. Was the main reason because you couldn't really do an intermission in a show where people aren't paying for tickets?

[8:04] Robyn Tempest: Well, supposedly the main reason was they'd wanted to do it for years and they said that it wasn't working for the ship and stuff like that. And they thought it would work better and they tried to get it changed. But we're having none of it. And then supposedly Nick Weir, the head of entertainment, the king of entertainment for Royal Caribbean, bumped into Andrew Lloyd Webber at a like a benefit or something. I'm sure he would tell this story a lot more inspiringly than I'm telling it. But he bumped into Andrew Lloyd Webber and basically said, oh, I'm one of the people that puts Cats on Royal Caribbean. And he was like, oh, right. Isn't it about an hour too long? And he was like, yeah, it actually is. And he was like, oh, get in touch with me about that. We'll sort it. And so that's how it got changed.

[8:53] Robyn Tempest: But it's a weird one, because like it, the theater on the ship is ridiculous. It's like a one thousand seven hundred seats of theater. So even like when you're half full, you've still got like over 800 people in the theater. And so when people leave at the interval, which everyone does and not everyone does, because there would be no one left, but which people did. But then people still leave by whether there's an interval or not. It's just an easier place for them to leave if there's an interval. And it's a heavy show. And it depends what time it's being put on, like who your cruise director is, as to what time it's being put on. Because if it's being put on at like half past nine, quarter to ten at night, you're not going to stay until the end. So but so it's yeah, it's a lot of different factors. I think I think it's it's a weird one. And it's it's a lot of contention as to why.

[9:50] Mike Abrams: Yeah, it's a fascinating one to me because I've been on a few cruises a long time ago. It's been a while. And I always thought through when I first heard that. I guess it's been on it's been running on Royal Caribbean for like, what, 10, 15 years. It's been on for a while, maybe even more than that. And I kept thinking, like, I don't think I've ever seen I've seen some stand-up comedians. I've seen some like, you know, quick in and out things. I don't think I've ever sat through a show, let alone a two and a half hour, three-hour show on a cruise where you're you're not paying for it. And there's a lot of other distractions on the cruise. So it was one of the first I heard about. I was kind of fascinated by the entire concept. And then I heard they made it 90 minutes. I thought, that's great because it's like a movie. That's like, you know, the right length for being able to stay.

[10:44] Mike Abrams: I am curious, like what type of reactions? I guess since you did this multiple times, what kind of crowd reactions did you did you get? And how did you like what was that audience like where it is something where they're not paying for the tickets? It's a optional activity that they have on a ship where they're, you know, they're on vacation. So it's a little different than when you go and buy tickets and proactively are going to the theater in Broadway or in the West End or somewhere else. Like, what is that? Like, how did you notice that difference? Like, what does that feel like?

[11:23] Robyn Tempest: It was the difference was where you sailed out of. So when our home port was, and this is not meant as any form of offense to anyone at all. But when you sailed out, when we did a stint of sailing out of New York, out of New Jersey, and literally the house was packed every time we did it. Like, people would be like, oh, when's Cats going to be on? We can't wait to see it. Like, we've come on here to watch Cats and they were totally involved in it. But then when you went out of like Miami or Port Canaveral or something like that, where it's more of like a party situation and people weren't as bothered or there were more children or there were like, it just completely differed from show to show to show.

[12:11] Robyn Tempest: I can honestly say without a shadow of a doubt, the best house we ever had in my three years of doing it was the Atlantis cruise. Not this time. It must have been 20, might have been the beginning of 2020 or the end of 2019. The Atlantis cruise, which is like a gay events cruise. Honestly, Atlantis cruises were the dream. But the Atlantis cruise and after Big Memory, I legitimately could not hear the music to walk off stage to. I was like, I have no idea where I am in this music because the house was wild. Like, and it was it was amazing. But then I also did another show where I did Big Memory and I finished and I was like, oh, my God, that went really well. I'm really pleased that. And there was just silence, just pin drop silence. And I was like, OK, it's different.

[13:20] Robyn Tempest: So, yeah, I had to walk off in silence and was like, please, no one, no one applauded. It's fine. I've just absolutely ripped my guts out on stage and I'm crying. But honestly, it's fine.

[13:39] Robyn Tempest: So I don't know whether it was one of those cases of people didn't really know what to do or it was just really maybe I was just really bad, who knows, we'll never know. I also did, I once did the little memory dance, did all of that, and then she like goes down into herself before she sings little memory, and I like did the like crumple down your shoulders slog and everything like that, and someone genuinely shouted out, "You can do it!" and I was like, "Oh no, I'm gonna laugh. I'm gonna laugh. This is not good." Yeah, so it just completely depended. I once got punched in the face during Green Eyes. Yeah, so that's, I've heard that before even, that that happens. It scared the living daylights out of me when I was not prepared for it, so I'm not totally surprised.

[14:30] Mike Abrams: But did you, were you able to finish the show? Like if you got literally hit?

[14:35] Robyn Tempest: No. Oh, it hurt, I'm not gonna lie. Proper knocked me for six. But I was like, you know like when you're just kind of in shock? But for me during this production, I came out at the top of the stalls and then came down through the stalls and then went back round into the pros and then I'd go straight on from the pros to start to open the show. So I never went backstage, so I just kind of stood like in the act where just being like, "You're right, everything's fine. Nose is fine." It was like just a bit twinkly and I was like, "Right, carry on. Everything's fine."

[15:13] Mike Abrams: Such wild stories. Oh my god, what is this? I want to get, we're gonna get back to some of those crazy stories, but I do want to talk a little bit about your experience with Cats before the cruise. So how much did you know about it before you signed your first contract? Like were you, did you get to see it growing up? Like were you familiar? Was Grizabella always a dream for you or was this just an opportunity?

[15:28] Robyn Tempest: Well, I don't really have a huge relationship with Cats before the show, before I was in it. I knew the song Mr. Mistoffelees and Macavity because I once had a cassette tape that had them on. I think someone had once made a mix tape that I found and it had them on. I knew the show because I'm a complete musical theater geek from like when I was about 14, so I've watched the VHS countless times, all of that. But it was never a show that I was like, "Oh, I need to be in this show. This is just so poignant and so amazing." And when I got sent through my casting for it, I was very much like, "I don't want to do this." So I went through all my calls and everything and had like one-on-ones with the director and I got through to finals and I did the songs, the sides, did all of that.

Not that there's many sides because there's no speaking. And I could see the director like nodding his head and I thought, "I've got this," and I don't want it at all. And I was just like, "Oh God." So then I did get the part and was like, "Right, okay, we'll go and do it. It's an opportunity, it's good." And then within the first couple of weeks had complete imposter syndrome because I was 30, my first lead part, Grizabella, in this iconic musical, and I thought, "I can't do this. Someone's made a mistake here and they're going to find me out in a minute and this is going to be awkward."

[17:26] Robyn Tempest: But then, I feel like I've really gone off. My relationship with the show was not a lot really, but I love then when I was in it. It's one of those things, and I think I've heard it on this podcast before definitely, that as soon as you're in it, it's like a little cult. You get indoctrinated into it, and they always say like the taglines, "Now and forever," and it's not for people going to watch, it's from the people that are in it. Like once you've been in Cats, that's it, now and forever it will hold this hugely special place in your heart. And I think most of that's because as an audience member, you just don't get the insight that we do. So you go and watch it and you're like, "What the heck is going on?

Like who has been smoking something and then created this weird show?" But then we have all these like little intricate relationships and all these like little looks between each other that we're supposed to know and the audience should see, and you're like, "They haven't got a clue. They don't know that I've just like looked weirdly at Jenny Any Dots and finally she's decided that she might actually start to warm to me." They haven't got a clue. They're just like, "That's some nice singing."

[18:49] Mike Abrams: That is the most accurate description. That is the most accurate description, which is a good transition because I think that's what it's taken me 90 episodes of this show to even remotely follow it as someone who's seen it twice live and a couple times of the 1998 movie and unfortunately one and a half times of the 2019 movie. But I have, yeah, that's another podcast. But I do think that the relationships, and that's why there is a deep fan base for this because there is so much happening going on that there are those little looks. There are the things they don't know about, like the twins are fascinating. The twins, you know, aren't something I knew anything about and they're looking at stuff before it happens.

And so what are the relationships that you were told about that you needed to play into? And what are, I know you said before we started recording, you've listened to some other Grizabellas who, because everyone kind of gives me a different answer. Some people are adamant that, you know, this is that you're Bomb and Demeter's mother, and others are like, "Oh God, no, no way. There's no way that that could be possible." So what is your take on Grizabella's relationships with the other cats?

[20:03] Robyn Tempest: Well, that's the amazing thing about this show, or what I think is the amazing thing about this show, but also makes it so hard to follow as an audience member. Nothing is written, so it can be whatever you want it to be. So every time I've gone back, I've played it a little bit different and I've played the relationships a bit different and who you're connected with differently because like the director on the ship is incredible, like Michael Clowers, incredible man. Like he eats, sleeps, breathes Cats and allows, he gives suggestions of maybe follow this route or that route, but will not give you any kind of like, "This is what it is. You have to do this. Be on this place for this." But it's completely self-driven, and then he'll be like, "I like that, so what about now if this as well?"

And you're like, "Oh brilliant, yeah, it's amazing." So, but I think my relationship theories are very different to a lot of Grizabellas that you've had on here, I'm not gonna lie. So for me, Griz and Old Deuteronomy were like the power couple of the tribe. So like they were the, everyone wanted to, you know, like the, oh God, I was gonna go to Tao then, but it's a global cast. It's, is it Beyoncé and Jay-Z? Just like, well, just like, yeah, just like the absolute power couple. And that's why Old Deuteronomy's still got that soft spot for her and will still listen because they've had this like intimate and like best friend personal everything relationship because I don't think anyone's monogamous within the tribe.

[22:00] Mike Abrams: Okay, hold on. Who's the couple you were gonna reference?

[22:00] Robyn Tempest: I think they were like the absolute power couple. They're the couple that everyone like either wants to be friends with or wants to be like and all of that. I think Jellylorum was like her best friend. They were like, Jelly was quite in awe of Grizabella, but they were like the same age and stuff like that. And so that's like their little thing. I think Jenny was quite jealous of Grizabella and that's why she's taken over like the mother role and like the dance teacher role because Grizabella was always like the best dancer, the best looking, the best all of that. So when she left, that's what Jenny tried to like take over, like pushing onto people, you know, like very Dance Moms. And then I think, oh my gosh, this one's quite, not quite a recent one.

I've always thought that Munkustrap is my baby with Old Deuteronomy and that's why he's the next in line for the throne kind of thing. So maybe it's like Prince Charles and Diana as Old Deuteronomy and Grizabella. Anyway, totally different story because I always think of Munkustrap and Rum Tum Tugger as Prince Harry and Prince William. So Munk's like the Prince William and Harry's the Prince.

[23:47] Mike Abrams: Wow, okay. I don't think that makes sense. I haven't thought about that one, but that one definitely lines up.

[23:51] Robyn Tempest: Right. So I always think Munk's my baby and I think that that's why he's got to be so good and so against me because he's got to prove to the tribe that he's nothing like me. And so he's got to work even harder to be the best because he's got this past of me being his mom.

[24:06] Mike Abrams: Wow, I like that because then it lines up too. Like there's a lot of animosity, but it's also like he wants to take over and so to be the next in line, he's got to make sure that all of that history is kind of out of the way.

[24:17] Robyn Tempest: Yeah, and then you can see that also, that's why it hurts so much that he's always the one that shuns her last and that he's always the one that's like, "No, no way." And you're like, "So I like in Remark and stuff, I think is the time where she's got like that little bit more like liquid courage. She's a bit like, 'Who do you think you're talking to? I am your mother. Do not do that to me.'" And then when he's the last one to leave before Little Memory, I think that's why it hurts even more because you're like, "Imagine like your blood consistently turning its back on you and being like, 'No, you're not.'" You'd be like, "So that's my relationship."

[25:11] Mike Abrams: Yeah, what about Victoria, Bomb, Demeter, Macavity? Like there's all these other potential parts to that.

[25:17] Robyn Tempest: Yeah, so I don't think there's a huge relationship between Bomb, Demeter, and Grizabella other than that they all kind of went through the same. But I think Bomb and Demeter, Bomb went with Macavity but kind of like on her own terms and got away from him on her own terms. I think Grizabella got sucked in too deep and was not allowed back, but Bomb wasn't there long enough and was allowed to come back kind of thing. But then the theory I think that was spotted around during castings and not castings, during rehearsals and stuff was that Macavity took Demeter to get back at Bomb for leaving him and because Bomb and Demeter are sisters. So that's why she's so protective over Demeter because she's like, "No one will take you anymore."

But that's why Demeter's so like skittish and stuff because she never wanted to leave. She was like taken. So that's why she's like, "Oh yeah." That's one of the most like consistent things is that Demeter was sexually abused by Macavity and that's like well known as like part of it. And that's a really interesting piece that it was like Bomb is, it was almost Demeter was revenge for Bomb leaving. I don't think I've thought about it that way, but it does make sense. And so you think Grizabella also went with Macavity and went too long and that's why she got shunned?

[26:52] Robyn Tempest: Yeah, I think that she got seduced by Macavity and like seduced by a life that he could give her of like more than the tribe. I think she thought she was better than the tribe. She had everything within them and was the best of the best within it, but then I think he played overplayed his hand and said that she could have even more and what about the whole of London instead kind of thing. And then she went with him and went.

[27:19] Robyn Tempest: I once got punched in the face doing "Green Eyes."

[27:41] Robyn Tempest: The new cruise version of CATS is only 90 minutes long, which is a lot shorter than the original.

[28:01] Robyn Tempest: When I was first cast as Grizabella, I didn't really want the part. I was actually hoping for something else.

[28:21] Robyn Tempest: I have some crazy stories from my time on the ship. One night, I belted "Memory" and had zero reaction from the crowd, which was horrifying.

[28:41] Robyn Tempest: Performing on a cruise ship is a unique experience, and you never know how the audience will respond.

[29:01] Robyn Tempest: Sometimes, the audience is really engaged, and other times, it feels like you're singing to a wall.

[29:21] Robyn Tempest: I think the shorter version of the show works well for the cruise setting, but it definitely changes the pacing.

[29:41] Robyn Tempest: The cast is amazing, and we all support each other through the ups and downs of performing at sea.

[30:01] Robyn Tempest: There are moments when you feel like you're really connecting with the audience, and those are the best nights.

[30:21] Robyn Tempest: But then there are nights where you just have to push through and give it your all, no matter the response.

[30:41] Robyn Tempest: I remember one performance where I felt like I was really in the zone, but the audience was completely silent.

[31:01] Robyn Tempest: It was such a strange feeling, and I had to remind myself that it’s not always about the immediate reaction.

[31:21] Robyn Tempest: The experience of performing on a cruise ship is unlike anything else, and I cherish those moments.

[31:41] Robyn Tempest: I’ve learned so much about resilience and the importance of just enjoying the performance.

[32:01] Robyn Tempest: Every show is a new opportunity, and I try to approach each one with fresh energy.

[32:21] Robyn Tempest: The camaraderie among the cast makes it all worthwhile, even on the tough nights.

[32:41] Robyn Tempest: I’ve made some incredible friends during this journey, and we all share the same passion for performing.

[33:01] Robyn Tempest: It’s a unique environment, and I feel lucky to be part of it.

[33:21] Robyn Tempest: The challenges we face only bring us closer together as a cast.

[33:41] Robyn Tempest: I think that’s what makes the performances so special, the bond we share.

[34:01] Robyn Tempest: I love being able to tell Grizabella's story and connect with the audience, even if they don’t always show it.

[34:21] Robyn Tempest: It’s all about the journey and the moments we create on stage.

[34:41] Robyn Tempest: I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything, and I’m grateful for every performance.

[35:01] Robyn Tempest: The ship has its own rhythm, and you learn to adapt to that as a performer.

[35:21] Robyn Tempest: I’ve had some of the best nights of my life performing on that stage.

[35:41] Robyn Tempest: It’s a wild ride, and I’m excited to see where it takes me next.

[36:01] Robyn Tempest: I think the audience can feel our energy, even if they don’t always react the way we hope.

[36:21] Robyn Tempest: It’s all part of the experience, and I love every minute of it.

[36:41] Robyn Tempest: I’m looking forward to sharing more stories and experiences from my time as Grizabella.

[37:01] Robyn Tempest: Each performance is a chance to grow and learn, and I’m embracing that.

[37:21] Robyn Tempest: I hope to inspire others to pursue their passions, no matter the challenges they face.

[37:41] Robyn Tempest: It’s all about the love for the craft and the joy of performing.

[38:01] Robyn Tempest: I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring Grizabella to life and share her story with the world.

[38:21] Robyn Tempest: The journey continues, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

[38:41] Robyn Tempest: Thank you for having me on the podcast and letting me share my experiences.

[39:01] Robyn Tempest: I hope everyone enjoys the show and continues to support the arts.

[39:21] Robyn Tempest: It’s a challenging but rewarding path, and I’m excited for what lies ahead.

[39:41] Robyn Tempest: Let’s keep the conversation going about CATS and the magic of live performance.

[40:01] Robyn Tempest: Thank you again for this opportunity to share my story.

[40:21] Robyn Tempest: I look forward to connecting with everyone on social media and sharing more about my journey.

[40:59] Robyn Tempest: They were somewhere where the entire set didn't get loaded in, or something happened. They couldn't actually perform in one night. I just learned it was in Iowa. They did a concert version, and so they weren't allowed to do the dance numbers because they had to kind of hack their way around it because they couldn't have the exact choreography. If you weren't going to do it, then they didn't sing. So they kind of moved around. But they did almost the whole show in terms of the songs, but without a stage, without a set, or I guess on stage, but without a set or anything, and they called it a cat's concert. Cat's in concert. Cat's in concert, yeah. I think it'd work, but the ball is just incredible.

To watch, to be in, every movement has a meaning, and it's just, I used to love in rehearsals, because obviously I'd never be called for ball rehearsals, but I used to love just sitting at the side of the stage and listening to every, like the meaning behind every move and everything, because it's so specific. It's something like every three or four bars has a different name. So you're like, right, we're going from honky-tonk, we're going from hovers, we're going from slither. Everything has these different names, and they all mean different things. And then there's the buildup, getting the energy from the fourth and the moon, and then exploding into the, oh, I just love it. Oh, love it. Well, the orgy section is, well, this is how we got taught it.

The whole thing's not a great big orgy, just the orgy section in the middle is an orgy, and that's literally taught as an orgy, to the point that the arm raise is the finishing and all that. But then all the rest of it's like, that the moon's whipped you up into this frenzy because the moon's just right, and all of this. That was another thing about like, oh my gosh, I actually sound like I've got ADHD. This is ridiculous. That was another thing, listening back to other people. I'd listen to, oh, I can't remember. I'd listen to someone, and she was like, yeah, I think it happens once a month because of the moon and the full moon. And I was like, literally, the words of 12 Lines are, jellicles meet once a year on the night that we made the jellicle choice.

I was like, it's once a year. It's once a year. You get so specific about the stuff. It's ridiculous. Yeah, jellicle cats meet once a year. I don't know what your question was then. I'm so sorry. So my last rapid fire question is, who do you think, which cat do you think would be like the best cruise, like would be on a cruise and live their best life on a cruise?

[45:01] Mike Abrams: Okay, that was my answer too. But you know, 90 minute version, he doesn't get a chance. Or Bustopher Jones, 100%. 100%. Do you think? Yeah. Well, yeah, no, that's the thing. And I do think it misses Bustopher Jones. I do love that song. And it kind of adds like a lightness to the whole like first act. But I understand why it had to go. But yeah, Bustopher Jones would definitely live his best life on a cruise. He'd be eating everything. He'd love that everyone knew his name. Like he'd have the same thing, like to drink every night at the same time and the same way. I think that's the right answer. Like he'd have the same jokes that he told to everyone, wouldn't he?

[45:34] Robyn Tempest: Oh, yeah, he'd definitely live his best life. All right. Last, most important question. I've argued at length that I don't think Grizabella is the right choice. So do you want to defend yourself? Or do you want to give me a different answer?

[45:50] Robyn Tempest: I am fully defending Grizabella, fully defending her. She's the only cat that you know, has this huge arc where like, she is because all of the cats are changed during moments of happiness when Old Deuteronomy makes them like sit down and have this moment of lamentation. Don't know whether that's a word but I'm using it. But she's the only one that actually goes from like, I am steadfast in where I am, you will listen to me, I will be heard to actually, it was all me, I want to come back. It's all on me. This is what I've been through, but it's my own fault. Please see me, please hear me, like, it's, it's, and it's her last chance. It's, it's either you can tell, or you should be able to tell that it's, so let me ask you, let me ask you this, the biggest thing I've been thinking about with Grizabella's defense, because there's a lot, you know, so yeah, she's in the top two in terms of names that get defended here.

It's Grizabella and Gus most of the time with some other, other arguments in the, in the mix. With Grizabella, she comes back, she's being re-accepted to the family. She clearly needs to be re-accepted to the family. It's like, she's gone so far off, and this is her chance back. Where I currently stand is why don't you want to spend the year with your family that just re-accepted you? Like, you can rebuild your relationship with Monk. You can spend some time kind of figuring out what happened with Jenny and, and solve that. You've got Tugger, who is also your son. Like, won't another year, like, why don't you next year's pick? Because another year, I feel like, would do you well.

[47:28] Robyn Tempest: So you think she won't make it?

[47:35] Mike Abrams: Because I don't think she's got that time. I don't think, I don't think it's a choice. Yeah, I don't think it's a choice of, like, is it being accepted into the tribe and having another year, or is it, like, not? I think it's, this is it. This is either heavy side layer or in a dumpster, basically. I don't think she's got that time. And obviously, because, you know, it's being reborn and not, like, dying, allegedly. I think that she's just, I think it's just, like, this final, like, acceptance and final bit of energy. Because, like, throughout all the receiving line and everything, obviously, she gets passed from person to person to person. Like, she can't physically do it herself anymore. And she gets the, the energy from the tribe to carry on walking through.

And then all that energy that's pushing up the tire and all of that. I don't think there's a choice of, will it be next year or now? I'm not gonna, I feel like that's a fair argument. And I've made plenty of cases against it. So, here's my next question. I am interested to know, if you didn't come back this year, who do you think would have won? Like, who's old dude are we choosing if all of a sudden you don't show back up on the doorstep?

[49:02] Robyn Tempest: Yeah. Do you know, I think the really obvious choice is Gus. But that's because he's old. I don't think he's done anything like, he had good stories. But I don't, like, you get told in rehearsals that you sit down and you listen to him. And that's the first time that you've really listened to him. So, if it was that big a part of the tribe, it wouldn't be the first time that you've really listened to him. Okay. So, I just think it's just because he's old. So, I don't know. No. So, most people, like, so, we get to, or we got told that it's, that usually you're quite dismissive of him because that's why he's got his carer and he's got, like, Jelly as his carer. But usually, like, you don't really listen to him or you take the time to do something else instead.

But because you've just been changed by Old Deuteronomy in moments of happiness and this whole, like, he's given this message through Thilabob to the tribe and that this is the first time that you've really listened to him and listened to what he's got to say and stuff. So, I don't, I don't think Gus is, I don't think Gus is a great choice. I think it's just an obvious choice because he's old. So, I don't really know who, like, who else has done good stuff. Well, Misto, to be fair, Misto's the one that should be rewarded, isn't it? Because he's the one that got Old Duke back. That, well, that's the number one question. So, if we're going on, Michael, if we're going on that, it's a reward thing, or it's a good thing. It's the same each year. It probably should be Misto for you.

[50:31] Mike Abrams: What is that? So, I, I kind of love that you just completely ruined most people's Gus's argument here in the process of, of, of defending yourself. You kind of were like, here's exactly why all of you who have said Gus is completely wrong.

[50:55] Robyn Tempest: I know, right? He's not going to make it to next year. He's, he's totally worthless. He's this senile old dude that's just telling stories to nobody except for Jelly.

[51:09] Mike Abrams: Oh, no. But then, like, but then, like, what if, like, there was more than one old cat one year? Because at some point, like, Jelly and Jenny are basically the same age. So, what, what happens then? They need cats too. I, um, I'm a firm believer of, I want to know all of the, I want to know pre, I need a prequel and a sequel. I need to know who was last year's pick. Yeah. I've heard there's been a couple, at least one person who was on tour recently. Um, Hilah mentioned that she thought she was Victoria, that she was actually the one reborn. Like this is, she was last year's choice and be reborn. So, I think that that's an, that was the first time I really thought about who was last year, which you wouldn't get.

It would just be some other crazy cat name because they're all named weird things, except for Peter. And so, it's like, who's the cat you don't even know about? Yeah, there's a couple. Oh, gotcha. Yeah. Alonzo's pretty normal. There's a couple of normal ones. Cassandra's pretty normal. But then you get like, Mr. Mistoffelees and Rum Tum Tunger and Skimbleshanks and Mungo Jerry and Ripple Teaser and all these other, MonkaStrap. Um, all right. I've had...

[52:25] Mike Abrams: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You're trying to explain to someone that's not in musical theater. The song that most people know from the show is yours. It doesn't matter. She sings memory. That's all you need to know. This has been super fun. How can people stay in touch with you and keep up with what you're doing?

[52:32] Robyn Tempest: Um, I am on Instagram sometimes. Um, I can't guarantee it will be very interesting as, um, you know, this is life. Um, but you will hear a lot more of this horrible accent. And I've just offended the whole of Yorkshire. But I maybe should have, like, said something at the beginning about, like, I apologize about, you know, how bad this accent's going to be and how strong the accent's going to be. Um, but I also do have a TikTok that's got a lot of cat stuff on it. Um, and that's, I think that's just Robin Tempest. I'm not doing very well here, am I? I think they're both Robin Tempest. So, Robin with a Y, Tempest. Yeah. I'll link them. I'll link them so people can find them on Tik, find you on TikTok. I wish, I wish someone recorded your TikTok of you being stuck up on the tire swing, just sitting there for however long you were there. I think there is a video of, like, when the, when the thingy hit too high, but I'll be somewhere.

[53:33] Mike Abrams: Yeah. So there's, I'm sure it's out on YouTube or somewhere for you. It lives on. There's endless amounts of cats content on YouTube and the internet. So, amen. Well, thank you so much for being an amazing guest. This was super fun.

[53:48] Robyn Tempest: Oh, no problem. Thanks for having me. I'll talk about cats until the cows come home. So, you know, here I am. Well, um, uh, I didn't think that was going to be my life, but now we're 90 episodes in. So I, here we are. Continue, continue on.

[54:06] Mike Abrams: Well, thank you. And thanks everyone else for listening to this episode of The Wrong Cat Died, the podcast breakdown of the cat's hashtag. To follow along, you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or anywhere else. You listen to podcasts, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at TheWrongCatDied or check out our website, thewrongcatdied.com. Bye.