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Coricopat is an ensemble character in Cats. He is the male half of the "psychic twins",[1] with the female half being Tantomile.

Personality[]

Telepathic, Unruffled, Instinctive

Coricopat and his identical twin sister Tantomile are "Witches' Cats", possessing psychic abilities including clairvoyance[2] and telepathy. They foretell the arrival of Old Deuteronomy, and are often the first to sense changes in their environment such as the approach of Grizabella or Macavity. They also telepathically channel Old Deuteronomy's wisdom into Jemima/Sillabub during "The Moments of Happiness".

The twins seemingly share a psychic link that enables them to sing and move with uncanny synchronisation.

Coricopat Tantomile Paris 15 01

The twins often appear mysterious and reticent, preferring to keep to themselves. When not shadowing Tantomile, Coricopat does socialise with the other toms, but is not mischievous like the kittens, indeed he is more likely to reprimand them for causing a disturbance.

Role[]

Tall, very strong dancer with classical ballet training, ensemble Baritone.

Coricopat is principally a dancing role. He shares most of his vocal lines with Tantomile, though he is often given a solo line in "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats". He and Tantomile often perform lifts and dance together.

The twins use their psychic powers to help the tribe; when Mistoffelees senses Old Deuteronomy's arrival, the Jellicles immediately look to the twins for confirmation. Coricopat and Tantomile also help Old Deuteronomy convey his message about the meaning of happiness to Jemima/Sillabub.

The names "Tumblebrutus" and "Cassandra" are used for the "twins" in the Japanese production, though they are not necessarily portrayed as siblings. Coricopat and Tantomile are sometimes cut from smaller productions.

Etymology[]

"Coricopat" is mentioned in "The Naming of Cats" as one of the "peculiar, and more dignified" names. Scholars have suggested that his name was derived by T S Eliot as a linguistic variation of the "Calico Cat" from the Eugene Field poem "The Duel".[3] It has also been speculated to be a play on the word "copycat".

Spelling variants of his name include Korikopatt (Swedish), Koriopatt (Norwegian) and Koriko-Pat (Finnish).

International Names[]

The following names have also been used for the character of Coricopat in various international productions:

Appearance[]

Coricopat's costume is generally as near identical to Tantomile's as possible. His costume is striped and hatched to suggest tabby markings, and also echoes the clouded moon featured on the set. The London costume initially used the actor's own hair rather than a wig, in time he and Tantomile developed identical short wigs with rolled ears sweeping up from the sideburns, similar to Cassandra's. In 2003 the styling was changed, rather than the rolls representing their ears, short tufty ears were added as well as the rolls. This double-eared look was replicated across all London-style productions. The original Broadway style, imitated by other productions in the 1980s and 1990s, gave the twins sleek fan-eared wigs.

Gallery[]

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Fandom[]

For fandom headcanons and theories, CLICK HERE.

References[]

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