Jellicles Can And Jellicles Do: Meet Gus

For he was once a star of the highest degree… as we wind down to our last two felines remaining…are you ready to meet Asparagus? Or might you better know him as…Gus? MEOW!

Thank you for taking a moment of your time to talk with us, could you tell us who you are and who you play?

Mark Briner: My name is Mark Briner, you know that. Don’t I write for you? But I play Gus The Theatre Cat.

Ooh. And tell me about Gus the Theatre Cat.

Mark: Gus was apparently something back in the day. He’s gotten a little older and in getting a little older he’s gone a little senile. He’s knows he was once something grand and it takes him a little while to gather his thoughts about him, but basically, in the middle of his speech about those glory days, he starts to relive it— on stage— and he comes back and he’s young and he’s virile. And he recreates the biggest role of his life. At the end he just kind of fades away, a little Norma Desmond, a little Blanche DuBois.

Why did you want to be a part of Cats?

Mark: Why wouldn’t I want to be a part of this magical show? It was a unique opportunity to work with Bambi. Watch the spirit and the— for lack of better words— the way she creates magic. So I’m here. There are no true leads. Everybody comes and goes, has their moment in the spotlight, and then shrinks back into the ensemble. In the ensemble, I’m dancing the first half of the show for the first time in 25 years. I love it. I love this ensemble feeling with all of these amazing people, it’s been a really great experience. Really good.

What does it mean to you to be a Jellicle Cat?

Mark: A Jellicle Cat is a special thing. It’s a magical, mystical cat. There’s a certain fire inside of him that— especially on this particular night of the year where everything comes to a head. Gus particularly is probably the one who is holding just a tiny bit of resentment. I think he thinks that he’s the one that’s going to be chosen. He’s next to go up to the Heavyside Layer. Until Miss ‘11-o’clock’ shows up. But all of that is part of being Jellicle. Striving to be that one chosen. It’s all in the cat. You know, dog-people know dogs. They’re yappy. But the cats, there is always a little something that they never give you, something that they withhold, that they reserve. Well you know! You’ve got ten cats!

Yes, I do know. But I only have six.

Mark: Six…ten… you know what I’m talking about. That little part that they hold back? That’s the Jellicle part. It’s the part that they hold in reserve and keep to themselves. They keep that Jellicle-ness in their head and they figure out how to work around you. That’s why they’re special.

We learn that all cats have three names. Gus is your cat’s ‘more dignified name’ and while we can never know the ‘secret name’ that he calls himself, what do you think his ‘family daily use’ name is? What are the humans calling him every day?

Mark: Augustus. Wait. No. I lie. It’s Asparagus. I wish it was Augustus. Because Asparagus is an unfortunate name, even for a cat. Who names their pets after vegetables?

Gina the cat, courtesy of TheatreBloom's Mandy Gunther. — Gina the cat, courtesy of TheatreBloom’s Mandy Gunther.

I agree. I would never torture a cat by naming it Asparagus. Now, I know the answer to this question from first hand experience, but I’m going to ask it anyway. Do you have cats?

Mark: I do not. I’m allergic to them. Do you not remember when my eyes swelled up and I almost died at your house because you have 15 cats?

Six. We have six. Do you wish you had cats?

Mark: No. I am a dog person. Aside from the whole— really allergic thing. I don’t currently have any dogs but I have had dogs, and my daughter has a dog that I love dearly. Cats don’t like me. Cats resent me.

What has been your biggest personal takeaway from this production?

Mark: Honestly? It has renewed my love for theatre. As a producer and a director, with headache on top of headache when it comes to producing and directing? It becomes trying and challenging and it kills the joy. But this production has really just revived my love. I love coming to rehearsals. I love the process; I love the creation. It’s really just renewed why I do this and reminded me of all that I’ve been missing. I’m working on the set, I’m doing background painting, and it’s wonderful. There’s so much that I haven’t done since college with that kind of stuff and it’s now a joy. I love working with Bambi, I love working with these people. This cast is giving me a camaraderie that I don’t’ think I’ve ever had. There’s always been attitudes or drama or that one person who just doesn’t gel, you know, things that get in the way of the joy. But this has been a pleasure. A pleasure.

What is the one word you would use to sum up the Cats experience?

Mark: I’m a writer…I should be able to come up with words…ah! Rejuvenating.

Cats plays September 16^th 2022 through September 25^th 2022 with Tidewater Players, in residence at the Cultural Center at The Havre de Grace Opera House— 121 N. Union Street in historic downtown Havre de Grace, MD. For tickets call the box office at 667-225-8433 or purchase them online.

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