| Woman Sues CATS for Six Million |
According to reports on Reuters and in the New York Times, Evelyn Amato is charging that actor David Hibbard (as Rum Tum Tugger) tried too hard to get her involved in the action of the show, then leaped on her seat and gyrated his pelvis during one of the portions of the musical where the anthropomorphosized felines prowl the aisles of the Winter Garden Theatre.
The woman was not physically harmed.
The alleged accident occurred January 30, 1996. The Times reported that Amato, an unemployed office worker, filed suit asking for six million in punitive and compensatory damages for assault, battery, invasion of privacy and other charges.
Audience participation has been a regular part of the show since it opened in 1982, but this reportedly is the first such complaint. CATS is scheduled to pass A Chorus Line and become the longest-running show in Broadway history in June.
--by Robert Viagas
Paul Micsan ([email protected]) wrote a song expressing what he thought about the suit. It's sung to the tune of 'Memory'.
Help me! Mister Usher, oh help me!!
I've been groped by a singing William Kennedy Smith.
This is purrrrrr-fect!
My Volvo needs its motor replaced.
Off to Wapner, I go forthwith.
Rum Tum, get a Jellicle lawyer.
I'm sure Garfield could help you,
He takes fees in catnip.
I'm so sorry...my temp job doesn't pay very much.
Look at my dress...here's a rip!
Bills stack up...I really need
A new refrigerator.
Vinyl siding...a mauve bedroom suite
A purse of alligator!
(big finale)
Tuggie, your gyrations are naughty
You would never see Morris work his pelvis like that.
Since you touched me, you'll fork over six million, my dear.
Look! It's Johnnie Cochran Cat!! (2/5/97)