Mistoffelees, Mungojerrie, Old Deuteronomy and the rest of the gang gathered once again for the Jellicle Ball in the junkyard. There were battles, thefts, dancing, music and magic as the production of “Cats” returned to Des Moines.

“Cats,” a musical based on T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” took the stage of the Civic Center in Des Moines last week, opening on Tuesday and ending on Sunday. The well-known show pleased the audience of both adults and children.

The performers captured their feline roles completely by twitching, itching, licking and displaying a special quality or personality, just like real cats. The movement and dancing were amazing. With perfect flexibility and balance they danced on the items of the junkyard and with each other, as if playing, resembling the actual animal.

“The dancing and choreography are pretty fascinating,” says Mike Collins, of Atlantic. “It’s different than anything I’ve seen before.”

The stage was transformed into a junkyard, but it wasn’t your ordinary dump. Everything was oversized, because to a cat a tennis racket is quite large, an oven serves as a great place to hide and the trunk of a broken-down car provides a nice slide.

The stage grew dark around the junk pile and lights began to flash. Lights strung above the audience started to blink as yellow and orange glows in sets of two appeared on stage. Looking like several pairs of eyes, these lights emerged on the sides of the auditorium as the brilliant cats entered and danced their way to the stage.

The performers’ costumes were incredible. Complete with crazy manes, tails and extravagant makeup, the dancers and singers actually became cats.

Kathy Cox, of Des Moines, was prepared for the detailed costumes.

“We brought binoculars so we could see the makeup and costumes up close,” she says.

“The Naming of the Cats,” and “The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball” were the opening songs that introduced the cats and told what would happen on this special night. Old Deuteronomy, the wise leader, would choose one special cat to take to the Heavyside Layer, where that cat can live again in a better life.

The next number, “The Old Gumbie Cat,” was about Jennyanydots, who fell out of an oven onto the stage. Rum Tum Tugger, the heartthrob of the bunch, known as the curious cat, played it cool on stage by swinging his tail around, thrusting his pelvis and sporting the biggest fur collar and well-groomed mane of all the cats.

Next, Grizabella, a glamorous cat at one time, limped onto the stage and the other cats shunned her and turned her away. Sadly, she stumbled off the stage in her torn sparkly dress, ratted mane and shabby coat.

Then, Bustopher Jones was introduced. Waddling on stage and dressed like a penguin, he amazes the other cats by being a “25-pounder and growing.”

Suddenly sirens are heard and the cats scatter. Then two mischievous felines, Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer appear out of the back window of the car. Singing and dancing, they brag about how clever they are on stealing. The thieves have snagged everything from vests to a string of pearls.

Finally the time has come: Old Deuteronomy emerged to celebrate with the others and to choose the one special cat to go to the Heavyside Layer. All the cats adore and respect the old and wise one whose coat has become shaggy and silver.

Before the selection, Grizabella hobbled on stage once again to sing the famous song “Memory.” The song addresses that she has lost her flair and only a memory remains of when she was happy and accepted by the others.

The second-half opener, “The Moments of Happiness,” sung by Old Deuteronomy, was slow and long. All of the cats sat and listened to their leader sing.

Then Gus, the theater cat, was introduced. Singing about his younger days when he was a theater star, he proclaimed theater “isn’t what it used to be.”

Skimbleshanks, the cat of the railway train, sang next. The cast made a steam engine out of four old wheels, steel poles, a piece of wood and a tall lampstand and shade. With the help of pyrotechnics, the lamp let out a flash of light and puff of smoke.

Then loud crashing was heard once more and Macavity appeared. Macavity, the mystery cat and the “Napoleon of crime,” is the leader of all other crime that happens in the junkyard, but never takes the blame for his antics.

Finally the time had come to bring out Mr. Mistoffelees, the magical cat. Dropping out of the ceiling in a sparkling black outfit, this character wowed the audience with his unique ability to turn over 20 times in a row and do five split jumps without pausing.

After magically making Old Deuteronomy appear, the time had come to choose the special cat. Before the selection could be made though, Grizabella made one more entrance, but this time the cats have decided to accept her. Then Old Deuteronomy picks her to be the lucky cat. Raising her up on a tire and special lift, Grizabella’s gorgeous voice was carried to the Heavyside Layer.

The show closed with “The Ad-Dressing of Cats,” and spectacular dancing by the performers.