Skimbleshanks
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Skimbleshanks is a cat character in T.S. Eliot's book of poetry Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats.
Skimbleshanks is described as living on the night mail train that travels on the British West Coast Main Line. In the musical Cats he is depicted as an orange tabby cat. Either way, he is a figure of importance in regards to the night mail train and aids in the attendance of the passengers. Some fans think that he is love with Jennyanydots or Jellylorum.
Skimbleshanks is seen on the stage throughout the musical without his railway outfit until his song. When it's time for his number, he wears a brown vest. Depending on the actor, Skimbleshanks is sometimes given a Scottish accent. He is sometimes played by the same actor who plays Mungojerrie, Coricopat and sometimes Munkustrap (though this is very rare).
The role of Skimbleshanks was originated in London by Ken Wells and on Broadway by Reed Jones. Geoffrey Garrat plays him in the 1998 video version of the musical. However, some say that the role was best portrayed by Owen Reynolds in First Stage Theatre's production in Huntington, WV.
