Ok, I'll get the mandatory statment out of the way first: Mr. Mistoffelees is far and away my favorite kitty of the bunch. I'd agree with people that he's a younger cat, still in that awkward late-teenager phase. But don't get me wrong. He knows how to strut his stuff. He just doesn't get the chance very often. He deffinatly is friends with RumTumTugger, and RTT probably respects and even admires his younger counterpart. The line about the "terrible bore" is deffinatly an inside joke and not really meant to offend the rock star of a Jellicle, sort of meant to keep him down to earth, telling him that he's not perfect in everyone's eyes. As far as shy, I don't think he's as reclusive as he's made out to be. He does like being the center of it all, but is still young and doesn't want to seem too extroverted too soon. He is absolutly up there on the feline IQ scale, in more ways than one. Like all cats, he's not exactly reading-writing-arithmatic sort of smart, but rather he has a higher inteligence, a sort of deffinite sense of knowledge and understanding of all things around him. I think Mistoffelees loves to use his wonderful powers, but sometimes they get out of hand. Notice how in his big number he looks at his sparkeling fingertips like 'hey, they're sparkling' right before he makes four or five big explosions. I'm under the impression that the other cats know of his powers, just take a look at his moment of tarnished shine at the beginning of the Gumbie Cat sequence. Right after that, Munkustrap gives him a little gesture, Misto looks excited, and runs over to sit atop the car trunk and lifts it, revealing Jennyanydots. He looks down to make sure she's there, showing once again an underconfidence in his powers, then looks very pleased with himself that he did what he wanted to do. After he succeeds in returning the Jellicle leader, he has a very releived expression. When he leaps into Old Deuteronomy's arms, it shows a very open and youthfull will to express himself and his affections, which adds to the young-cat feel of the character. As for Jacob Brent's protrayal of Mystical, Magical Mister Mistoffelees, another M word for you: Magnificent! He pulls off a great feat in acting and dancing at the same time, something I didn't see the other cats doing as much of. He seems to be a very facial actor (or maybe it's just that he's got the coreography to think of and his face is the only part untouched by that) and that makes him perfect for the video version, and it certianly wouldn't hurt on stage. I have yet to see a live performance, so I don't know anyone else in that role, but I can't imagine anyone nailing the part better than Marvolous Mr. Brent. (I also think he has one of the reddest toungs I've ever seen, although that may have something to do with the white face paint surrounding it.) :) And on the topic of family, I don't think he and Victoria are related, because they are quite obviously attracted to each other throughout the entire show. If they are siblings, they are from the same litter, but he is not older than her. On the topic of attraction, I think (as I just said) that he likes Victoria, but I also can see him and Jemima as a cute couple. After reading the other oppinions, I'd have to be convinced that Grizzabella is his grandmother. They share many traits, and it is easily seeable that she had family in the Jellicle clan before she left it (stupid move). Maybe some death or loss in that family drove her to want to leave. The role of Bustopher Jones as father is up for speculation on my part. I'm not really fixed on any cat shown here playing that part. There's something about Misto that jumps out at you as a mystical, quiet, fun-loving charmer who secretly loves spotlight attention, but doesn't want to reveal too much (he does seem shy about the "seven kittens.") He's got some growing up to do, I think, but for now he can stay that furry sweetheart of a cat that has captured the heart of me and millions of others. Calcalum >(~.~)<