When The Public Theatre first opened, many questioned the viability of a professional theater in the Lewiston/Auburn area. The theater is now proudly celebrating its 20th anniversary season, which kicked off last week with an entertaining production of Kenny Finkle’s “Indoor/Outdoor.”

The play is a charming exploration into the inner psyche of cats, and their humans, told from the point of view of a housecat named Samantha. The play is her memoirs, and chronicles her life from her unceremonious birth into a litter of 21, through her trials and tribulations as she searches for true love, self-identity and ultimate happiness and contentment. Minus the 20 siblings, it’s a life story familiar to many, cat and non-cat owners alike.

Finkle allegorically looks at human nature by cleverly recreating every nuance of cat behavior, from their seemingly capricious mood swings to their need to proudly present a freshly killed mouse to their unsuspecting owners. Oh, and let’s not forget their tendency to every so often use their owners’ prize possessions as a litter box. The dead-on antics will definitely make cat lovers smile. But, don’t be surprised if you see a bit of your own life story in Samantha’s.

Witty repartee abounds in “Indoor/Outdoor,” with Samantha referencing pop culture to create a visual for the audience. “Think ‘Amistad’ meets ‘Schindler’s List’,” she says in reference to the animal shelter and later describes her first mouse kill as ” ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ meets ‘Nightmare On Elm Street,’ parts one, two, three, four and six.”

The set is primarily composed of raised platforms with carpeting, reminiscent of an oversized cat climbing tree, and a handful of stools. There are no cat costumes and limited props. It is up to the actors to create the imagery for the audience, and The Public Theatre’s four-member cast does so perrr-fectly.

Sandra Blaney remains on stage throughout the production as Samantha, narrating and re-enacting the story of her life. Her kittenlike energy never wanes and her sassy, catlike delivery is a delight.

Evan Mueller co-stars as Samantha’s emotionally needy owner, Shuman. He brings laughter with his character’s comedic crying spells and nicely perpetuates the cat illusion by lovingly scratching Samantha’s back and chin.

Matthew Schmidt and Heather Dilly round out the cast in a variety of roles. Schmidt primarily plays Oscar, an alley cat who brings out Samantha’s wild side. He delivers a great streetwise bravado as a cat, reminiscent of The Fonz in “Happy Days,” and is a real treat as Samantha’s mouse prey.

Dilly is a riot, whether she’s playing Samantha’s society-climbing mother, or her primary role as Matilda, Samantha’s neurotic therapist, who can talk to cats. Her uproariously off-the-wall antics and idiosyncrasies are an endless source of laughter and fun.

If you’ve ever wondered what your cat is thinking, or just revel in the quirky antics of your four-legged feline friend, then “Indoor/Outdoor” is a must-see production that is sure to tickle the funny bone. After all, are we really that different?

 

April Boyle is a freelance write from Casco. She can be contacted at:

aprilhboyle@yahoo.com

 

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