By DANIEL SHOCK
A Seat on the Aisle
Amid the chaos of our morning preparations for a highway journey to Chattanooga, our cat determined to make a press release by throwing up in our open suitcase. This incident left us half-amused, half-frustrated, and totally satisfied it was a calculated act.
This second coincided with my want to collect my ideas in regards to the unpredictable appeal and occasional mayhem pets carry into our lives for this evaluation of Theatre Unchained’s manufacturing of Neil Martin’s Herding Cats. Unlike our little saboteur, the feline characters in Herding Cats might not resort to villainy, however they actually weave their very own distinctive model of mischief into their proprietor’s life.
Herding Cats tells the story of a number of cats: Stella (Angela Dill), Buddha (Julien Lyons), and Lupin (Aspen Harnishfeger), together with their animal-loving proprietor, human Kelly (Jenny Williams). Their simple life is disrupted when Jenny unexpectedly brings home a (gasp!) canine (Hannah Hoffman) named Charlize to foster. As the cats get to know and negotiate territory, they eavesdrop on Kelly’s telephone conversations, which reveal issues together with her employer. Fearing the lack of the loving home they know, they be a part of forces to attempt to assist Kelly maintain her job.
The solid has a good time taking up the personas of their animals. Any pet proprietor will acknowledge the behaviors and persona traits displayed right here with nice comedian impact. Angela Dill, because the kitty Stella, is splendidly humorous and has mastered fairly an array of cat sounds. Julien Lyons, as Buddha – the Dr. Frasier Crane of cats and Stella’s brother – is hysterical and has a number of the highest snooty cat materials to work with. Completing the trio, Aspen Harnishfeger performs Lupin, a ‘street cat’ with appeal and swagger. All three cats have nice moments and maintain the viewers in stitches.
Hannah Hoffman performs the candy newcomer, Charlize the pit bull, with an earnest pleasure that makes you wish to scratch her ears and ask, “Who’s a good girl?”
(Clockwise from prime left) Julien Lyons as Buddha, Jenny Williams as Kelly, Angela Dill as Stella, Aspen Harnishfeger as Lupin, and Hannah Hoffman as Charlize. (Photo by Rob Slaven / IndyGhostLight.com)
Pet proprietor Kelly the human is performed by real-life human, Jenny Williams, with pure authenticity, completely capturing a young grownup navigating the stresses of life and the enjoyment of pet possession.
Megan Ann Jacobs, the director, costumer, and sound designer, has put collectively a humorous and charming present. I don’t all the time point out costumes in my opinions, as some reveals rely upon them greater than others. However, the costumes by Ms. Jacobs splendidly carry out the personalities of the animals with ears, paws, and tails. My favourite needs to be Buddha’s all-white fuzzy outfit that actually highlights his snooty prince persona. The set by Kurt Watkins can also be unbelievable and kooky, with giant-sized cat towers, beds, and toys.
Overall, the present is a winner and an viewers pleaser for animal lovers of all ages. The one unfavorable facet of the present is its size. It’s potential that there have been some behind-the-scenes points that brought on the present to run lengthy after I noticed it on Friday evening. It did begin a bit late. I took my seat at 7:25 (begin time was presupposed to be 7:30), and the lights got here up at 10:27. I principally place duty for the size on the script. Lots of the primary act felt redundant, and some cuts may tighten it up and transfer issues alongside at a greater tempo. The viewers didn’t appear to thoughts the size, loudly laughing, hooting, and hollering by the entire present up till the top. But, you may must take the run time into consideration when you find yourself paying for parking on Mass. Ave.
Herding Cats runs on the IndyFringe – Basile Theatre at 719 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis, Thursday, March 28 at 7:30, Friday, March 29 at 7:30, and Saturday, March 30 at 7:30. Tickets are available on-line at this link or on the door.
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