By Jay Scott Kanes

VICTORIA BY THE SEA, PEI, Canada – One of Canada’s most dedicated theatre-goers rarely enters the theatre. Huh?

That’s the unusual situation here where Monica, a sophisticated celebrity cat, seldom misses an event at the popular Victoria Playhouse in this seaside village. According to the theatre’s artistic director, Erskine Smith, she has attended faithfully for more than a decade.

At a performance of a romantic comedy, Looking, written by Norm Foster, I recently met the intriguing Monica. She’s black and white with traces of gray in her fur.

The Victoria Playhouse, promoted as Prince Edward Island’s “longest-running little theatre”, thrives each summer as tourists prowl the province. No actor or audience member shows greater devotion than Monica.

This cultured cat lives “the next street over from the theatre”. As audiences gather, early-comers wait for the theater doors to open. That’s when Monica saunters up, joins the crowd and mingles. Often she sits, listening to the humans chatter. At other moments, she strolls among them on the brick walkway.

By the time Erskine arrives, Monica’s already there. “Is this cat on your payroll?” I asked him. Not quite, he said, chuckling, and pausing to introduce me to Monica.

When the theatre patrons reach out to pet Monica or even pick her up, she shies away. Although she enjoys human company, too much personal attention makes her uncomfortable.

As people enter the building, Monica stays outside to meet and greet latecomers. For theatre regulars, seeing this furry fan of the arts fuses into the playhouse experience, and they watch for her.

“Once she was absent, and some people from Saskatchewan wanted a photo with her,” Erskine recalled. “They asked about her, and one of the locals said, ‘Oh, she must be locked in at home.’ So someone went to her house and opened the door. Monica rushed out and ran to the theatre as if worried about missing her cue.”

Most plays have an intermission when some of the audience wanders back outside. Invariably, Monica’s still there, ready to mingle more, always focused on the theatre and its patrons.

By the end of evening shows, darkness descends. But Monica lingers until the spectators emerge for a final time, banter a bit and then head to their vehicles. Only then does a curtain fall for this devoted cat. With her theatre duties done, she strolls home.

As for Looking, the recent show, its script was strong, and ditto for the acting. A four-member cast – Alicia Altass, Laura Morgan, Josh Byrne and Tyler Kelly – performed well. But I enjoyed meeting Monica the most.


Monica arrives at the theatre:
no missing her cue this time.


Is someone asking Monica for directions?
Why not? She's a community-minded lady.


Monica's history as a faithful theatre-goer
stretches all the way back into the 1990s.


Once the show ends, Monica strolls home,
content at theatre duties done purr-fectly.

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