Theater can take us to many different worlds. The Gene Frankel Theater is the ideal location for Dreamcats! A Fairytale of Fascinating Felines.
Turning onto a cobblestone street, one can see the theater. The building is adorned with golden dancing figures. Artist Bruce Williams created this – “Dreams of Hyperion.” These golden dancers call people into the imaginary worlds of theater. Dreamcats! A Fairytale of Fascinating Felines takes us to a magic world ruled by cats. We are going to follow the magnificent Puccini and his true love, the Princess.
Dreamcats! A Fairytale of Fascinating Felines is presented by Midnight Radio Company. They describe themselves as “a science fiction fairytale theatre company.” The company was founded in 2014 by Charlotte Lily Gaspard. This Brooklyn-based company incorporates puppets, shadow puppets, actors, music, and dance to present magical works on stage. Gaspard has written Dreamcats! A Fairytale of Fascinating Felines. She is also the director and has created the puppets for this production. The Gene Frankel Theater’s mission is to nurture living playwrights. The theater and Midnight Radio Company have come together to give us the enchanting Dreamcats! A Fairytale of Fascinating Felines.
Dreamcats! A Fairytale of Fascinating Felines opens with a mermaid puppet who promises to take us to a world between waking and sleeping. We are brought to the world of dreamcats, where cats rule. The cats believe the keys to existence are locked in dreams. Puccini is a famous researcher at the Dreamers Institute. Justin Gordon is Puccini. There are times when his actions perfectly mimic a cat. Gordon also makes Puccini’s love for the Princess real. Charlotte Lily Gaspard is the Princess. When the Princess is locked in a tower, Gaspard reacts as a cat would – showing her fear of water. On the other hand, the romantic scenes between Puccini and the Princess are sweetly human.
Tao Bennett is a puppeteer who portrays the bluebird. Puccini, a typical cat, pounces and captures the bluebird. Puccini tells the bird that he is a cat and thus must do what cats do. – break his wings so that he cannot fly. Bennet makes the bluebird’s love for flying a real emotion. We can see his feelings for beauty and freedom. The bird gets Puccini to admit his love for the Princess. This dialogue pulls us into the plot.
Maria Camia has two very different roles. She is the Pink Flamingo. In this role, she is the puppet, not unlike Big Bird but much more attractive. Flamingo becomes Puccini’s ally. In her other role, Camia manipulates a puppet to show us a cat determined to get his own way. She makes the King’s anger and plans natural for any cat king. Lana Tleimat and Laurynn Starkey are puppeteers. Their skills help move the story forward.
Dreamcats! A Fairytale of Fascinating Felines is recommended for children who are at least seven years old. However, like all good fairy tales, some elements will amuse and please adults. An example would be when Doctor So and So, Doctor Such and Such, and Doctor Whatisit explain the origin of galaxies. The golden, dancing figures on the façade invite everyone to enter a magical dream world. For sixty minutes, we enter a world where cats rule. The entire family will enjoy this magical production.
