"Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town" is a poem from T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and a song from the Cats musical which is based on that poem. Bustopher Jones is a parody of an Edwardian gentleman of leisure and is described as the St. James's Street cat, a regular visitor to many in the area, including Drones, Blimp's, and The Tomb. Due to his constant lunching at these clubs, he is a remarkably fat "25-pounder". He has a fastidiously black coat and apparently has white markings on his paws which resemble spats. Because of these traits, he is described as "the Brummell of cats" - a reference to Beau Brummell, the founder of dandyism. Cats, the musical Bustopher Jones is portrayed by James Barron in the Cats movie. In the original West End show and for the accompanying album, he was played by Brian Blessed. At times, the actor who portrays him also portrays Asparagus and Growltiger, a trend that began with the original Broadway production where these three parts were played by Stephen Hanan. Other actors to play the part included Bronson N. Murphy, Nathan Morgan, Christopher E. Sidoli, Robert Purdie, and Ryan Bailey.
|