The Cat That Sang For His Supper !

About the Book

At fifty-six, JULIAN GALLWAY is a gifted and successful writer of imaginary plays for children. He’s also a curmudgeonly agoraphobiac who, for the previous five years, has triple-locked his doors, shuttered his windows, and reduced his world to a microcosm of eccentric ritual. One night, during an horrendous Seattle thunder storm, a rain drenched kitten appears on his doorstep. Julian is moved to adopt the orphan and, because of his markings, names him BOOTS. In a short time the lovable, extremely intelligent feline begins to warm the hermit’s heart and Julian discovers that not only has the adoptee come to him house-broken, he has the miraculous ability to sing! This is not the meowing or burbling of expected cat sounds. Boots can mimic melodies; classical and/or pop. Julian selects a veterinarian, DR. EVELYN ROBERTSON, who keeps Boots overnight for observation, after altering him and giving him his first round of immunization shots. Thanksgiving Day brings with it a surprise feast provided by the handful of Julian’s devoted friends. One of these, CELESTE DREYFUS, brings party favors to the festivities. Julian’s gift is a Gold Hand of Fate on a gold chain. Celeste’s story of their acquisition is mysterious in the extreme. Another of Julian’s friends, ALLEN PRESSMEN, a renowned Astrologer and Psychic, counsels Julian that he and Boots are joined by an esoteric umbilical chord and that they share a common destiny which has already begun to manifest. The one-time hermit startles his friends by announcing that he will host a black-tie, New Years Eve celebration in his home. Julian hires Your Compleat Christmas Company to decorate for the event. MARLENE DROIT (CEO OF Y3C) dispatches an elf-costumed staff who transform Julian’s home into a Christmas fantasy. During the decorating process Boots sings spontaneously. The “elves” are awe struck and depart; eyes wide and mouths agape. Christmas day arrives. One of Boots’ gifts is a bag of Peruvian kibble from an anonymous source. The kibble proves to be a catalyst, increasing both Boots size and his intelligence quotient. Y3C is employed to provide for the New Years’ festivities. This includes food, decor and a pianist. The party is an elegant, spectacular success and ends at midnight with Boots singing the first verse of “Auld Lange Syne.” Several days later Julian receives a visit from SETH WEYDON, a freelance journalist doing, so he says, an article on Theatre in Seattle. Julian’s name and extensive credits were brought to his attention. He’s come, hopeful of getting an interview. During the course of Weydon’s visit Julian puts Boots through his repertoire of tricks and singing. Weydon is flabbergasted but promises not to mention the phenomenon in his article. Julian has decided that he has no right to keep Boots’ great gift to himself and has planned a mini-concert in his home to which he invites Weydon. Preparations for the event go smoothly until the night itself arrives. Dozens of evening-clothes-clad strangers arrive on Julian’s doorstep. Many of them are reporters and executives from the local media. They received forged invitations. This, it turns out, is Weydon’s doing. After a near riot by those deceived, Julian explains the situation and the crowd, grumbling, disperses. Weydon is revealed as responsible and is refused entry to the event. He storms off in a rage, tossing a copy of his most recent article at Julian’s feet as he departs. The air is cleared and the ten minute concert proceeds. Julian’s friends have each brought a guest. Celeste’s escort is GREGORY LONDON, an extraordinarily affluent and influential Seattle businessman who offers to finance Boots’ next concert in a large venue. This turns out to be the social event of the season. Weydon’s article proves to be not a survey of Seattle Theatre but a complete revelation of the Boots’ phenomenon. Shortly after this another article appears in Seattle’s version of The Nationa

About the Author

Michael Elliott Brill has labored for The Muse of The Theatre since his graduation from The High School of Performing Arts (of “Fame” fame) in 1957. He spent the next twelve years as an actor in New York City and on tour with several performing companies. In 1970 he moved to Seattle, Washington, where he formed his own performing troupe — The Motley Mummers — creating original material for the performers and touring Washington State with grants from The Seattle and King County Arts Commissions. During its two year existence The Mummers wond numerous awards for excellence and originality. In 1973 Michael became Artistic Director of Seattle’s Bathhouse Theatre, remaining there for seven years acting, writing and directing for The Enchanted Theatre Company. In 1976 his poetic fantasy, “The Masque of Beauty and The Beast,” won the prestigious Moss Hart Memorial Award, which was presented by Stephen Sondheim In 1978 his Commedia, “Bamboozled!”, and his musical fantasy, “No One Will Marry A Princess With A Tree Growing Out Of Her Head!”, along with “...Masque...” were published by The Anchorage Press. In 1979 “... Princess ...” won first place in an Internationsl Children’s Theater Playwriting Competition. Michael has worked extensively as an Actor, Director,and Playwright for over forty years, winning numerous awards in all three areas and travelling to far away places with strange sounding names (Tunungayuslok Island, Labrador, Oudsthoorn, South Africa and Quetzaltenango, Guatamala, to name three.) He is the Author of eighteen plays and musicals all of which have received numerous in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. The television series, “The Fabulous Follies,” which he wrote and directed (a 39 half-hour sitcom/variety show) is still playing in some Scandanavian markets. He now lives in Seattle, Washington with his two best friends; Katherine and Boots - the inspiration for his first novel, “The Cat That Sang For His Supper!!”