P.S. Your Cat Is Dead
Encyclopedia
P.S. Your Cat Is Dead is a novel
by James Kirkwood, Jr.
, original published in 1972, adapted from his play
. The book and play were later adapted to film
.
, and still unaware that his beloved cat Tennessee (named after the playwright Tennessee Williams
) has died in an animal clinic, hopeless New York actor Jimmy Zoole is feeling depressed and unstable when he happens across a cat burglar, Vito, in his apartment. Furious, he beats the stranger unconscious and ties him to his kitchen sink. Jimmy begins to torment his terrified captive; however, the unlikely pair soon establish a certain bond. Vito once had a wife who left him after she discovered he was gay
, and took their child with her. Jimmy questions his own orientation as his relationship to Vito takes on a homosexual
dimension, and decides to use his prisoner to exact revenge on his former lover. In the end, Jimmy and Vito, now working as a team, are able to sell a stash of stolen drugs and run away together.
production, directed by Vivian Matalon
, opened on April 7, 1975 at the John Golden Theatre
, where it ran for 16 performances. The cast included Keir Dullea
, Tony Musante
, and Jennifer Warren
. Drama Desk Award
nominations went to Kirkwood for Outstanding New Play and Musante for Outstanding Actor in a Play.
, this play was first produced in 1983 under the title "P.D. Tu gato ha muerto" and starred Manuel Ojeda
as Jimmy and Humberto Zurita
as Eddie. It was also produced from 1997 to 2000 and starred Otto Sirgo
in the role of Jimmy. The role of Eddie throughout the years went to Héctor Soberón
, Juan Soler
, Xavier Ortiz
, Héctor Suarez Gomiz, Javier Poza and Sebastián Rulli
. The play was also presented in several cities of the United States
when Juan Soler was part of the cast.
combined the play and the novel into a movie, which he co-wrote with comedian Jeff Korn, and directed, starring himself as the writer, Cynthia Watros
as his newly-ex-girlfriend Kate and Lombardo Boyar
as the youthful burglar Eddie. It was screened at the 2002 Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by James Kirkwood, Jr.
James Kirkwood, Jr.
James Kirkwood, Jr. was an American playwright, author and actor. In 1976 he received the Tony Award, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the Broadway hit A Chorus Line.-Biography:Kirkwood was born in Los Angeles, California. His father...
, original published in 1972, adapted from his play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
. The book and play were later adapted to film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
.
Synopsis
Abandoned by his girlfriend on New Year's EveNew Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
, and still unaware that his beloved cat Tennessee (named after the playwright Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
) has died in an animal clinic, hopeless New York actor Jimmy Zoole is feeling depressed and unstable when he happens across a cat burglar, Vito, in his apartment. Furious, he beats the stranger unconscious and ties him to his kitchen sink. Jimmy begins to torment his terrified captive; however, the unlikely pair soon establish a certain bond. Vito once had a wife who left him after she discovered he was gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, and took their child with her. Jimmy questions his own orientation as his relationship to Vito takes on a homosexual
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
dimension, and decides to use his prisoner to exact revenge on his former lover. In the end, Jimmy and Vito, now working as a team, are able to sell a stash of stolen drugs and run away together.
1975 Broadway production
After five previews, the BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production, directed by Vivian Matalon
Vivian Matalon
Vivian Matalon is a British theatre director.Born in Manchester, England, Matalon began his career as an actor in a series of forgettable British films, but his greatest success has been as a director of West End, Broadway, and regional theater productions.Matalon's West End credits include Bus...
, opened on April 7, 1975 at the John Golden Theatre
John Golden Theatre
The John Golden Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 252 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan. Designed in a Moorish style along with the adjacent Royale Theatre by architect Herbert J. Krapp for Irwin Chanin, it opened as the Theatre Masque on February 24 1927 with the play Puppets of Passion...
, where it ran for 16 performances. The cast included Keir Dullea
Keir Dullea
Keir Dullea is an American actor best known for the character of astronaut David Bowman, whom he portrayed in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey and in 1984's 2010: The Year We Make Contact...
, Tony Musante
Tony Musante
Anthony Peter Musante is an American actor.Musante was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Natalie Anne , a school teacher, and Anthony Peter Musante, an accountant. He attended Oberlin College and Northwestern University.Musante has acted in numerous feature films, in the United States...
, and Jennifer Warren
Jennifer Warren
Jennifer Warren is an American actress and film director.Warren was born in the Greenwich Village section of New York City, the daughter of Paula Bauersmith, an actress, and Barnet M. Warren, a dentist. Her uncle was Yiddish theatre actor and director Jacob Ben-Ami. Warren graduated from Elisabeth...
. Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
nominations went to Kirkwood for Outstanding New Play and Musante for Outstanding Actor in a Play.
Mexican play
In MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, this play was first produced in 1983 under the title "P.D. Tu gato ha muerto" and starred Manuel Ojeda
Manuel Ojeda
Manuel Salvador Ojeda Armenta is one of the most active actors of television and cinema in Mexico. He played the villain, Zolo, in the Hollywood film Romancing the Stone.-Career:...
as Jimmy and Humberto Zurita
Humberto Zurita
Humberto Zurita is a Mexican actor, director and producer.Zurita, one of 10 siblings, is best known as actor, director and producer of telenovelas. He is married to Argentine-born actress Christian Bach and the family have two children, Sebastian and Emiliano...
as Eddie. It was also produced from 1997 to 2000 and starred Otto Sirgo
Otto Sirgo
Otto Sirgo is a Cuban actor and director of Mexican telenovelas and theater. He is the son of Magda Haller and is married to Maleni Morales, both actresses.-Telenovelas:...
in the role of Jimmy. The role of Eddie throughout the years went to Héctor Soberón
Héctor Soberón
Héctor Soberón Lorenzo , better known as Héctor Soberón, is a Mexican actor.-Acting career:...
, Juan Soler
Juan Soler
Juan Soler Valls Quiroga is an Argentine actor and former rugby player and model. He is married to Argentine actress Magdalena "Maki" Moguilevsky with whom he has two daughters.-Personal life:...
, Xavier Ortiz
Xavier Ortiz
Xavier Ortiz Ramirez is a Mexican actor, singer, model, producer, TV host, Dentist/surgeon and entrepreneur, owner of bar-restaurant la santa bar in Guadalajara, Mexico. former member of the musical group Garibaldi ...
, Héctor Suarez Gomiz, Javier Poza and Sebastián Rulli
Sebastián Rulli
-Biography:Before becoming the successful actor that he is today, Sebastián Rulli began his career modeling in many different countries in Europe, namely Spain, Italy and France as well as in Mexico and the United States...
. The play was also presented in several cities of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when Juan Soler was part of the cast.
2002 film
In 2002, Steve GuttenbergSteve Guttenberg
Steven Robert "Steve" Guttenberg is an American actor and comedian. He became well known during the 1980s, after a series of starring roles in major Hollywood films, including Cocoon, Three Men and a Baby, Police Academy, and Short Circuit.-Early life:Guttenberg was born in Brooklyn, New York, the...
combined the play and the novel into a movie, which he co-wrote with comedian Jeff Korn, and directed, starring himself as the writer, Cynthia Watros
Cynthia Watros
Cynthia Michele Watros is an American television actress, who also starred in films and on stage. She is known for her roles as Libby on the ABC TV series Lost, Kellie in The Drew Carey Show, Erin in Titus, and Annie Dutton in Guiding Light...
as his newly-ex-girlfriend Kate and Lombardo Boyar
Lombardo Boyar
Lombardo Boyar is an American character actor and has been active in television, animation, cinema, and video games since 1996. Some of Boyar's notable performances include a brief part as convenience-store robber Ramon Garcia on Fox's 24 and a starring role as burglar Eddie Tesoro in the movie P.S...
as the youthful burglar Eddie. It was screened at the 2002 Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Brazilian play
In 2004 the play was produced in São Paulo, with the title “P.S.: Seu Gato Morreu”, directed by Jarbas Homem de Mello, and had Teco Tavares - who also translated the play to portuguese - in the role of Jimmy Zoole, and Paula Picarelli as Kate. The roles of Vito and Fred were played by Luís Araújo and Eduardo Estrela, respectively.German play
The first performance of a German version of the play took place on the 29th of January 2011 in Berlin at "Jüdisches Theater Bimah", directed by Thomas Maul. While the roles of Vito (played by Markus Riexinger) and Jimmy's girlfriend Kate (Katrin Stephan) were taken from the original play as they are, Jimmy Zoole was turned into a woman: Jenny Zola (Jasmin Steck), turning the relationship with Kate into a lesbian one.External links
- P.S. Your Cat Is Dead! at Internet Off-Broadway Database
- http://www.cartamaior.com.br/templates/materiaMostrar.cfm?materia_id=7534
- http://chat.terra.com.br:9781/entrevistas/2004/11/paulapicarelli1.htm