Stage Plays by Ian Hornby
The
Cat's Away
Farce - single set - 5m 6f
Synopsis
Alan's wife Marion has gone away for a few days, so he is planning a quiet night in and a game of cards with workmates Barry and Carl.
Barry has other ideas, however - he has plenty of booze and has invited some girls round. How is Alan to keep Marion from finding out, especially with his nosy mother-in-law Muriel living directly opposite? After a few too many drinks Alan falls and loses his memory, and suddenly he doesn't care anymore. Even when Marion arrives back and finds him in an innocent embrace with one of the girls he doesn't care - after all, he can't remember who she is!
Something must be done - and it is!
| Character | Lines |
| Allan the husband |
491 |
| Barry a friend |
157 |
| Carl a friend |
41 |
| Muriel Allan's mother-in-law |
174 |
| Cheryl a workmate |
187 |
| Diana a workmate |
49 |
| Barbara a workmate |
32 |
| Doctor Stewart a GP |
18 |
| Marion Alan's wife |
257 |
Author's notes
As so often happens, this entire play evolved from one simple joke. Doctor: "How long have you had this amnesia?" Patient: "I can't remember." It's a lot of fun, particularly the party at the start, where everyone gets steadily more inebriated. I remember playing the part of Alan a few years back. Opposite me, as Cheryl, was Alison. We had no idea back then we would end up as man and wife!
When "The Cat's Away" play was staged by the Glantawe Theatre Company, one of the roles was taken by radio presenter Jay Curtis, whose website http://www.jaycurtis.co.uk/ tells us he has acted alongside the likes of Keira Knightly, Matthew Rhys and Sienna Miller in the award-winning film "The Edge of Love", along with other credits such as "Doctor Who", "Casualty" and Sherlock". Regarding "The Cat's Away", Jay said "...what a pleasure it was too." Thank you, Jay.
Jay Curtis (see picture below) hosts the 102.1 Bay Radio (Swansea) Breakfast Show every weekday Morning from 7am until 11
