Cat Operating Officer

The fur flies when the boss’ pet gets a promotion.

Alister decides to promote his cat Jasper to the firm’s Cat Operating Officer. As CEO and majority partner, it’s his decision. The rest of the partners are opposed. They enlist Julie, head of HR, to present their case against appointing Jasper. Julie arranges a meeting with Alister to dissuade him from making the appointment. To her surprise, Jasper is at the meeting with Alister. Strangely charmed by Jasper, Julie disavows any opposition and leaves the meeting committed to supporting her new boss, Jasper, the Cat Operating Officer.

Themes and issues

Office politics, cross-species culture wars, romance in the office, cat ladies.

Production history

This play has not yet been produced.

Genre

Comedy, satire.

Acts and run time

One act, approximately 38 minutes. But depending on the physical and performance theatricality of the actor performing the role of Jasper, it may be as long as 50 minutes.

Cast

Three actors (1 man and 2 women). Roles may be cast with actors of any race.

Note on playing Jasper

As a cat and a newly appointed executive at a public relations firm, Jasper often fails to appreciate the norms of routine office life (for example, no biting or scratching colleagues, no killing birds). Devoted to Alister, Jasper constantly seeks his attention and approval. She is indifferent to most other humans, taking notice of them only to the extent that they interact with Alister. To please Alister, she attempts some moderation of her feline instincts but she is prone to impulsive and reckless decisions that make perfect sense from the perspective of a cat.

Although some stage actions have been suggested, the actor playing Jasper and the director are encouraged to consider her extroverted feline personality and devotion to Alister and work out a corresponding stage presence. Costuming can be as simple as a tail, cat ears, fur mittens and stick-on whiskers. Jasper uses body language (posture and gesture), facial expressions (staring and gazing at nothing) and movement to convey feelings and thoughts in response to the spoken dialogue of Alister and Julie.

Production note

Set and props are best kept to a minimum to encourage the theatricality of the actors in performance. See the sketch for the essential set features and props.

Simplified stage sketch

Performance rights

You may download a perusal copy of this copyrighted play for review. Performance rights inquiries to the playwright at rights@rbws.ca or the Playwrights Guild of Canada at playwrightsguild.ca.

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