Anyone familiar with the species Felis domesticus—the common house cat—knows the brash independence, moody disposition, and carefree attitude the creature can display. Even within their cute, cuddly, and sometimes razor-clawed culture, there are distinct classes within the world of cats.
That divide is the subject of the Lompoc Civic Theatre’s current production, Indoor/Outdoor by Kenny Finkle, which follows the main character—a pampered tabby by the name of Samantha (Nikkie Stark)—from the beginning of her life, to her adoption at an animal shelter, and the eventual disruption of her peaceful indoor life by an unexpected visitor, explained director Larry McLellan.
McLellan told the Sun that the first production of Indoor/Outdoor on Aug. 22 was a sellout performance, and the remaining productions in September are already more than half-booked, a popularity he credits to the quirky nature of the play.
“The play begins with Samantha’s birth—her mom gives birth to her onstage with lots of grunts and screams,” McLellan said. “That kind of starts the show off with a slightly unusual beginning.”
Samantha paws her way through life with her owner Shuman (Rick Gracyk), but she wants more in her feline life. Though the audience can understand every word Samantha’s says, Shuman cannot, he only hears the kitty-cat sounds that fly from her whiskered mouth.
Able to tell that Samantha isn’t happy, Shuman takes her to the vet’s office, where he meets veterinarian assistant Matilda, who just so happens to be a pet psychic. She tries to help Schuman communicate with his pet cat, and succeeds, that is until Samantha receives an uninvited visitor at Shuman’s home.
Her visitor is the suave, black-and-white furred alley cat Oscar (John Fuentes), who shows Samantha another side of life beyond the windows she perches and stares out from each day. After this encounter, Samantha and Shuman’s relationship becomes strained, McLellan explained.
“Shuman has to decide whether he’s going to give up Samantha, whom he loves very much, but Samantha wants to experience life on her own. And if he really loves her, will he let her do what she wants to do?” he said. “That’s where we figure out that you have to decide, because this really isn’t about humans and cats, it’s about relationships between people.”
It’s pretty deep for critters that spend most of their time napping, but the heartfelt comedy has been very popular with Lompoc Civic Theatre fans, McLellan said. The show doesn’t require any fancy set pieces or effects, he said, but focuses on the characters, especially Samantha, who keeps the plot moving.
“Samantha is not only interacting with all the other characters in her story through dialogue, but since these are her memoirs, she also has monologues addressed to the audience,” he said. “It’s a really challenging role for the actress because she is in every scene of the play, she never leaves the stage, and the quantity of lines [Stark] had to learn is amazing.”
The demand for the show has inspired two non-dinner-theater benefit performances. One production will show at the Stone Pine Hall on Oct. 18 and will benefit both VIVA (Volunteers for Inter-Valley Animals) and County Animal Services shelters locally. McLellan and a number of Civic Theatre volunteers also help out at VIVA, which houses many local felines, he explained.
The other benefit performance is Nov. 8 at the Lompoc Public Library, and will benefit the Lompoc Library Foundation. McLellan sees the benefit performances as great community outreach that allows the play to be seen by more interested locals.
“We do the benefits because we want local organizations to benefit from them, but they are also a way for people who can’t afford a $45 dinner-theater ticket to pay a smaller amount and see the show,” he said.
Arts Editor Joe Payne has Chihuahuas, the cats of dogs. Contact him at [email protected].
