BWW Preview: Crazy Cat-People--Lompoc Civic Presents INDOOR/OUTDOOR

The first (very eager) question asked of me when I announced that Lompoc Civic Theatre's next production would be Kenny Finkle's comedic play, Indoor/Outdoor, about the relationship between a man and his adopted cat companion, was: "Will there be actual live cats on stage?"

Sorry ... no. The merits of realism aside, theatrical animal wrangling often falls into the category of "too much effort for the potential payoff." Having a dog onstage is problematic enough; those who've spent any time around cats are acutely aware that America's favorite furry companion animals typically do whatever they want, directorial input notwithstanding. My strong suspicion is that the overwhelming cuteness and undeniable aloofness of cat-actors would undermine the intention of any play--and be very distracting. And the cats, of course, wouldn't care. About any of it.

Instead, Indoor/Outdoor presents human actors in the roles of indoor-only cat, Samantha, and the object of her forbidden feline romance: Oscar, a prowling neighborhood nomad. Lompoc Civic's production is a conceptual re-enactment of one man, Shuman's, troubled relationship with uncooporative Samantha. Their problems arise from a basic inability to communicate: Samantha wants to explore the world outside, but lacks the ability to successfully express her needs to Shuman. Though the audience can understand the cats' dialogue, the human characters, firmly rooted in the fantasy of the production, can only hear the mewing of feline vocals.

Though the narrative vehicle of the play is Shuman's struggle to understand the nuances of Samantha's desires, Indoor/Outdoor's commentary on interpersonal interactions is broader than the owner/pet dynamic. Finkle's play explores the structures of various relationships: there are hints of a parent/child relationship in Shuman's style of managing Samantha's rebellious nature; as well as the implication of the deteriorating communication between two people whose romance is no longer satisfying. In all relationships, clear communication, whether verbal or non-verbal, is paramount--as Shuman and Samantha become progressively frustrated, Samantha becomes increasingly tantalized by the freedoms afforded Oscar, her outdoor counterpart. She acts out in the hope that Shuman will toss her outside so she can be with her star-crossed lover; yet Shuman is persistent in his attempts to ease their troubled bond, even going so far as to hire a pet therapist to help ease tension.

Directed by Larry McLellan, Indoor/Outdoor uses minimal scenic trappings and emphasizes dialogue and performances to convey the importance of communication and the patience and finesse necessary to foster successful interpersonal relationships. Indoor/Outdoor's concepts more closely describe human connections than they do feline behavior, and the play is both comedic and touching. Featuring Nikki Stark, Rich Graysyk, Kristina Kupihea, John Fuentes, and Rebekah Ostlund.

Indoor/Outdoor (Dinner Theatre Performance)

By Kenny Finkle
Directed by Larry McLellan

Village Country Club, 4300 Club House Road, Lompoc
Saturdays: 8/22, 9/12, 9/26, 10/10, and 10/24.

Reservations are required by the Thursday before each Saturday performance.
Reservation Line: 805-735-2281
Tickets + Dinner: $45

Catering provided by Sage Restaurant and Bar.
Menu:
Salad and rolls, choice of pork tenderloin, prosciutto-wrapped chicken breast, or (vegetarian) creamy artichoke pasta, bread pudding, coffee/tea. No-host bar.

Doors open at 5:00 pm; Salad and dinner are served at 5:30.
Show begins at 6:30 pm.

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