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THE JELLICLE TRIAD
PROLOGUE
By Dennis C. Callin (Rumblepurr)
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While writing the series, The Jellicle Chronicles, one of my readers complimented the characters and the background, and then they asked me to interpret the Video of CATS. So… I sat down at the “drawing board” and began “sketching” what the interpretation would be. I did not want to write just the Musical as the full story, even though such a venture could be done. Instead, I decided to provide a little bit of background. The resulting story, TRIAD, not only covers the action seen in CATS, but also takes into consideration what happens before the opening scene, and what might have happened “the morning after…”
First of all, TRIAD is not pre-TJC. Although many elements seem parallel, this novel is supposed to stand on its own, and be an interpretation of what “might” have happened during a period of one year before the fabled Jellicle Ball of the musical, to slightly afterward. Because of the timeframe, the references to parts of the Yard, and the relationships, this storyline could seem to be what happened before TJC begins. Does the concept of “parallel universes” come to mind?
TRIAD is a story of three individuals seemingly bonded together - similar to the Arthurian legend where Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere become the lover’s triangle. A king and a knight - both loving the same Queen… and tragically linked. In TRIAD, the triangle is Munkustrap, Macavity and Demeter. In the beginning, Macavity has not yet taken this name, but goes by the name of Lucifer because of his fur color. He and Munkustrap are friends, half-brothers by Old Deuteronomy, and rivals in their posts as Tribal Guardians. Their combat is typical of siblings - not full-fledged hand-to-hand, but rather a forceful game of tag. Their rivalry begins when the Sentinel, an old Tom named Pushdragon, announces his intention to ask for the Choice at the next Jellicle Ball. At this point, Demeter enters Lucifer’s pipe - afraid and skittish. He calms her, and protects her, setting up a relationship that will eventually lead to a mating. As she is settling in among the Tribe members, she eventually meets Munkustrap, and the stage is set…
In the video of CATS, the viewer is aware that they are entering the story in the beginning of a chapter, but with some unexplained events before it. When Demeter enters, why is she coming on, skittish of even a set of headlights? And yet, when Munkustrap brings the Tribe together, she greets him with a bit of intimacy - a cat-like brushing of her cheek on his paws. Something has happened to Demeter before the scene, and she both knows and, at least, is fond of the Silver Tabby. And what about Victoria? Mistoffelees (or Quaxo for the purists) watches her and spells her to stand… Is this a possible relationship in the making? He is both aware of her, and desirous of her. And then, Electra (even though she is a 'minor' character) is several times (especially when Tugger is absent) near Munkustrap. “Leccy” is viewed by the audience as a “kitten” - a female (Princess) not quite adult yet, but more like a teenager. Her relationship with Munkustrap seems like a “crush” that a young girl would have on an older teen or young man. And so, TRIAD attempts to answer some of the “possibilities” the video gives us in the opening actions.
Why does Macavity try at various times to disrupt the Jellicle Ball? And why does Demeter react in fear every time she senses he is near? TRIAD again tries to answer these concepts. If Lucifer was ambitious, such as Cassius and Brutus in Julius Caesar, then there is a possibility that he has already set up some sort of power base. Like Professor Moriarty of Sherlock Holmes’ fame, he has the means to intellectualize both the “Empire” and how to add the Tribe to it. He truly believes that his way would be good for the Tribe, and is egotistically crushed when Old Deuteronomy thwarts his plans by promoting Munkustrap instead. Like the Human version of the angel Lucifer, the new “Macavity” abandons the Yard and the Tribe, and takes Demeter with him. Bombalurina, naturally an unlikely friend of Demeter, follows, intent to bring her back to the Tribe, and away from someone who must be going insane. She does eventually, but not before Demeter’s loving Lucifer become the rapist Macavity, and the black-gold Queen is traumatized. When Demeter recovers in the Yard, one of the only Toms to comfort her is Munkustrap, and here is where the relationship starts…
As the reader enters the world of the Jellicle Tribe through TRIAD, I sincerely hope that they attempt to view it without attempting to link it to TJC. Again, this work and TJC are two similar works, but really are different stories. As you read the chapters that make up TRIAD, I hope you will enjoy the storyline - even if your interpretations may not match mine.
Once more, I wish you peace as you begin, and peace when you leave…
Dennis C. Callin
AKA Rumblepurr
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