This show was the cat’s meow! Jazz was the language that the cool alley cats sang in the grand
opening number, “Everybody Wants to be a Cat.” The alley cats, played with smooth moves by
Maggie Mulik, Patrick Finn, Ava Chek, James Morrison, Maura Doherty, Katherine McSherry,
and Josie Scalzo, were indeed Scat, Wacky, Mad, Slick, Hep, Far Out and Cool. The story
transferred these swinging cats (also terms from the beatniks of the 50’s) to the turn of the
century Paris. Contrasted with them were the Aristocats. The lovely mother cat Duchess (May
Shade), radiated style, glitter and beauty, and sang to teach her kittens proper deportment. Her
male kittens, Toulouse (Aarwen Paul,) the musical one, and Berlioz (Windslow Friend,) the one
who wanted to fight and fuss, were perfectly decked out in jackets and bow ties, to indicate their
breeding. Her female kitten, Marie (Makayla Kemmerer), as pretty as Duchess, was a bit of a
dilettante, gaining laughs as she kept insisting she should go first in everything because she
was, after all, a lady. They belonged to the wealthy but kind Madame (Kaitlyn Hoffey) who
wished to give all her inheritance to the cats when she died.

But sacre bleu! The evil butler Edgar overheard her plan, played with cunning panache by
Caroline Mulik, and decided to foil it so he instead could inherit the good Madame’s money. He
drugged the Aristocats’ milk, even putting their adorable mouse friend Rocquefort (Kelsey
O’Keefe) to sleep in the process. His singing solo was cunning and crafty. Alas, the Aristocats
were driven far out into the French countryside, and left to die. Hilarity ensued when a troupe of
dogs both attack Edgar and foil his plan. Led by Napoleon (Nolan Doherty,) Lafayette (Rosie
Foley,) Vichy (Karter O’Keefe, and Ssoise (Ruby Smith), they save the sophisticated cats who
can sing scales and arpeggios, but hardly know where they are. Humorous exchanges ensue
between Napoleon, who must have the last word on everything, and Lafayette. A free wheeling
male alley cat named chiefly Thomas O’Malley, sung exquisitely by Olivia Slater, discovers the
charming Madame.

Quelle domage! She has three kittens too, all in need of a way back to Paris. He valiantly tries
to lead them back to Paris, but risks his life to save Marie, who has fallen in a river. When he
himself can’t swim – cats do hate water – a pair of giggling goose sisters, Abigail and Amelia
Gabble,(Violet Geunon and Alex Thomas) gleefully rescue Thomas. As the group waddles to
Paris, using the old vaudeville line, “walk this way,” they stop first at Thomas’s pad, where
another raucous song about the free and easy jazz life ensues. Olivia Slater sings a top notch
solo about the life of an alley cat. Maggie Mulik, in a silver flapper dress and feather in her hair,
also sings a boffo solo. The Aristocats groove along, but must return to their beloved Madame.
But even after another of the nefarious Edgar’s attempts to ensnare them, they are reunited.
Madame is so taken with the alley cats who on the mouse Rocquefort’s word come running to
save them that she opens her mansion to all the alley cats of Paris. The show stopping number
“Everybody Wants to be a Cat” brought down the house as a finale.

Three things stood out to me: The alley cat costumes didn’t try to imitate the Broadway version,
but instead were informal, jazzy and included berets and even an Eiffel Tower dress! The dogs
were distinguished by caps or military hats with drooping ears hanging down, long loose ties,
and vests, as were the younger puppies. Thomas sported a black leather jacket, and no whisker
like make-up was necessary. The Gaggle sisters had Mother Goose type dresses with
appropriate bonnets. Also, I came early enough before the show started to hear the compliment
circle, in which Roberta as director asked different children to stand as others complimented
them on their hard work and progress. They all beamed as their friends praised their efforts.
What a way to start a show. Oo la la! Lastly, the show was double cast, meaning those who
played named parts in two of the shows played ensemble parts in the other two shows. This
gave more actors a chance for more lines and singing solos. Kudos to Joanne Hines at the
piano and Joe Duda as musical assistant as well for leading such a huge cast.