Judith Prior's What's New Pussycat

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.