Judith Prior's What's New Pussycat

A fun musical for a large  mixed  cast  of  young people. 

Inspired by the story of  Puss in Boots written during the sixteenth century by French author, Charles Perrault.

The  show embraces an eclectic collection of great pop  and rock songs drawn from the rock era of the fifties and sixties through to contemporary dance hits  the cast and audience will identify with and enjoy.

Including   “Material Girl”,  “I Wanna Be a Billionaire”,  These Boots were made for Walkin ", "Walk Right In”,  You Better Shop Around ”, “Ballin’ the Jack”, Congratulations”, “ What’s New Pussycat?,Hey Baby”, “Simple Simon Says,” and more.

Simple sets and costumes make the piece ideally suitable for School or Youth Theatre.

Shani Hayes played Puss in the world premiere at the Blue Mountains College in West Otago New Zealand.

"We had lots of fun putting it on. There were big roles and small roles with just singing or just acting to to tailor to everyone's needs. From the moment we heard the storyline we all knew the part we wanted for ourselves."

On the first night of rehearsals we sat down and sang through the soundtrack: from the beginning we all sung loud and got into it because they were songs we all knew and loved.

The characters had such quirky personalities that it made acting fun and challenging.

As there were so many dance numbers and different roles we all got a chance to shine, stand out and feel important."

 

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Plot / Synopsis

The gutsy opening number with full chorus  Workin’ For the Man” introduces the oldest  of  three brothers, Tom Miller, newly in charge of the family Mill because of their father’s recent demise.  The younger brothers, Simon and Harry, quickly learn that Tom’s selfish plans for the future do not include them. Tom begrudgingly gives his two brothers ten dollars each and tells them to fend for themselves.

 

Youngest brother, Simon , who is not the sharpest tack in the pack, is delighted with his ten dollars and sets off to find his fortune. Harry, the middle brother, opts to take care of Puss, the Miller’s cat, because Tom is too mean to look after a cat. Harry loves animals and his father, the old Miller, always said that Puss  was a very special cat. Just how special becomes apparent to Harry when Puss casually strikes up a conversation with him.

A talking cat?.... Why not?

 

Puss makes a bargain with Harry promising to make him rich, a Billionaire, in fact, providing that Harry does everything that Puss tells him to do. I Wanna Be a Billionaire”   To achieve Puss’s ambitious plan,  Harry will have to buy Puss some boots and a very grand hat… with a feather. Material Girl”

 

Harry takes Puss to a thrift shop for her outfit where they meet three delightful old widows, Doris, Dora and Daisy. The eccentric old girls assume that Harry and Puss are a couple. Puss confides that she is a very much a single lady. The scene becomes an hilarious musical number with the three old ladies, Puss and the chorus, all doing  the great energetic Beyoncé  choreography to, Single Ladies (If you liked it then you shouda put a ring on it.)

 

Eventually Puss is suitably outfitted with boots and a hat, also a large purse which she purchases with their last fifty cents. Unfortunately the purse  belongs to one of the old ladies, and was sold by mistake. After much confusion the old dears Dora, Doris and Daisy, set out after Puss and Harry to find them and reclaim the purse .

 

Puss informs Harry that they must cross the Great Sandy Desert and meet the King, in order for his  great riches to materialise. Unbeknown to Harry, Puss plans to outwit the wealthy old Witch Winifred and  gain possession of her castle and fortune for Harry. Their hilarious, melodious, adventures while crossing the desert and outwitting the wicked witch, include  meetings with a dancing camel, a singing Troll, the Witch Winifred of course, and various other characters who eventually lead them to another kingdom, where Harry meets his Princess. “I Feel Good”. Puss manages to banish the witch and convince the King that Harry is indeed ‘The Marquis of Carabas’, owner of a fabulous fortune and an amazing castle… How they manage to do this is as implausible as it is comical… but isn’t that what fantasy is all about?


Although inspired in part by the story of “Puss in Boots” which was first recorded some time during the sixteenth century by French author, Charles Perrault, ‘What’s New Pussycat?’ holds no such hidden morals or messages. The piece is simply a light hearted, fun musical for a large mixed cast of young people. The show embraces an eclectic collection of great pop and rock songs drawn from the rock era of the fifties and sixties through to today’s hit parade that the cast and audience will identify with and enjoy. Including evergreen favourites such as:“ Hey Baby”, “Simple Simon Says”, “Material Girl”, “I Wanna Be A Billionaire”, “Walk Right In”, “You Better Shop Around”, “Ballin’ the Jack”, “Congratulations”, “ What’s New Pussycat?” and more.


The simple sets and costumes make the piece ideally suitable for School or Youth Theatre.

Cast

CAST:-  12 Female 5 Male + 10 M/F Roles and Chorus of Dancers and Singers. Some doubling is possible, and minor roles may be played by chorus members.

 

Puss ………………………………………………………………………. Pantomime Cat

Harry …………………………………………………………………….Teenage Boy

Doris ………………………………………………………….Old Lady from the Thrift Shop Dora……………………………………………………..……Old Lady from the Thrift Shop Daisy……………………………………………………. Old Lady from the Thrift Shop

Troll  …………………………………………… (Might Double with Tom) .Singing Troll

Witch Winifred . ………………………………………………………………….Witch King…………………………………………….(Might Double with Simon) ……...King

Queen ………………………………………………………………………………Queen

Princess……………………………………………………………………………….. Princess

Tom …………………………………………………………………Harry’s Older Brother

Simon ……………………………………………..…………… Harry’s Younger Brother

Palace Guard 1……………………………. Palace Guard 2. …………………………….

Minor Roles may be from chorus or doubled up          (e.g. Pages and Guards could double.)

 

Lady……………………………………………….. Villager  1……………………………....

Villager 2. ……………………………..……                           Villager 3. ………………………………

Girl  1……………………………………………               Girl 2. ………………………………….

Doctor ………………………………………… Nurse. ………………….……………………

Maid  1………………………………………….. Maid 2………………………………………

Camel. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….

CHORUS OF VILLAGERS who may double up in minor roles

 

Instrumentation / Rentals

Guitar, Bass Guitar, Piano,Keyboard, Alto Sax,Trumpet, Drums.

Production Costs

16% of Box Office. Advance $220 per performance plus GST if applicable. CD Backing $99. Music Set $550.