Old Deuteronomy?

[willsofadream]

Posted: 7/9/23 at 11:31pm

Forgive me if this discussion has been had.

 

The first production of Cats - the OLC - Deuteronomy was played by a white man. (Judging by the cast album - whether that's just how he sounds, or if he was going for a more 'classical' sound - he gives Pavarotti).

However, every major production since then seems to cast a Black man in the role. 

 

Any thoughts or reasoning behind this? Anecdotes? Anyone? 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/9/23 at 11:44pm

Brian Blessed was the original Old Deutoronomy in the original 1981 London production of CATS, and he was indeed a white man.

[willsofadream]

Posted: 7/9/23 at 11:56pm

Sorry I wasn't clear - I meant in his performance, it sounds very Pavarotti-esque lol I did know he was indeed a white man.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/10/23 at 12:07am

Every major production? Which productions are you referring to? Of the five major English language productions original London, original Broadway, 2014 and 2015 London revival and 2016 Broadway revival only two of the five actors who originated the role of Old Deuteronomy are black.

[Tsao5]

Posted: 7/10/23 at 12:27am

I think your question is genuine but as another poster said, other than Broadway, race was not a factor. Brian Blessed and most of the Old Deuteronomy's in London and on tour in the UK (as well as the original European replica productions of CATS) were white, some of them former London Jean Valjean's.  Brian Blessed was a famous TV actor and Shakespearian actor with a unique voice. Generally speaking in the London productions, the Old Deuteronomy's were played by older white men who had booming and commanding yet warm voices. Again, think more Jean Valjean-esque. In the States, Ken Page, only 28 at the time, possessed a similar warm huge voice....though much to the surprise of many, was only in his late 20's. During the original run of Cats on Broadway there were only really 4 or 5 actors who played Old Deuteronomy full time, and yes they were all black except for Larry Small, who played it for a spell (I think there is a youtube video of Mr. Small going on for Max in Sunset Blvd. Great voice!!). Most of the Old Deuteronomy understudies in the booth were white. On the national tours, I believe in the beginning the Old Deuteronomy's were black including the original LA sit down run, but that changed.  The actors who played Old Deuteronomy basically had to have a certain sound/tone, and perhaps a certain......heft.  On tour for example, the late Calvin Remsberg played the part for a while as did John Tracy Egan and Bill Nolte, all white with excellent voice that are very much in tune with what one imagines an Old Deuteronomy to sound like. So, over time, things changed and whether someone was black or white was not an issue....it had more to do with vocal quality. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/10/23 at 1:01am

I bought into Quentin Earl Darrington's warmly paternalistic take on this role in the most recent Broadway revival. He was also very welcoming during intermission at the performance I attended.