A troublesome kitty? Never. An inquisitive kitty? Perhaps! Meet the next in our long lineup of Jellicle Cats here at Cockpit in Court…
Thank you for joining us today, on I’m soon will be called the “CatClaw Takeover of TheatreBloom.” Could you tell us who you are and who you’re playing in this production of Cats?
Tristan Goodenaugh: I’m Tristan Goodenaugh and I play Pouncival.
Tell me a little bit about Pouncival.
Tristan: I think of her as more of a playful cat but also kind of sassy because I get to do “Macavity” so that’s really exciting.
How are you and Pouncival similar and how are you two different?
Tristan: I’m more reserved and kind of quiet whereas I think Pouncival tries to get in there and is just trying to make a name for herself.
Why did you want to come out and audition to be a part of Cats?
Tristan: I was a dance major in college so this was really exciting for me to do. I’ve never gotten to work with Bambi before and I’ve always wanted to.
That’s awesome to hear; what has it been like finally getting to work with Bambi?
Tristan: Great. Incredible. I haven’t gotten to dance like this since college so it’s really been amazing.
You did mention that you are a dancer, so how are you finding the dancing in this show…or as I’m going to start saying (totally on-loan from another Cat in this show)…how are you finding the “Bambiography?”
Tristan: Incredible! It’s both challenging and super fun. It’s really intuitive which I very much enjoy.
What does it mean to you to be a Jellicle Cat?
Tristan: A Jellicle Cat? Hmm. That’s a really tough question. I think it’s sort of a step beyond being just a cat. Something that’s experienced life and knows that they’re going to this ball, that they know the streets a little bit more. I feel like even with the kittens— it’s their second life, not their first time, if that makes sense, but they are still just learning.
Do you have cats at home? Tell me about your cat if you have one!
Tristan: I do! His name is Hanky. We call him Hanky Sir Spanky. He is a short-haired brown tabby cat with white little paws…so white boots…and he has one snaggletooth. He’s eight. We found him on the street and he’d been on the street for like two years, it was obvious nobody was coming to get him. So we took him in and he’s been perfect. He’s basically the most un-cat-like cat I’ve ever met. Doesn’t play with anything that he’s not supposed to, doesn’t scratch anything, he uses the litterbox perfectly; he is just so cute.
We know that cats have three names. The name that the humans call them or their daily use name, their more dignified name, and their third, secret name that we can never know. What do you think the humans are calling Pouncival?
Tristan: My personal choice is Ravioli because I’d call her Ravi. That was my other cat name until Bambi came up with Pouncival.
I love the name Ravioli— actually, come to think of it… Rob & Amy Tucker who did Cats with Bambi in 2022 (Rob played Quaxo/Rumpus Cat; Amy played Jennyanydots) have a cat called Ravioli!
Tristan: I just did Kinky Boots with Rob Tucker! (Dundalk Community Theatre, Kinky Boots May 2024)
Ah, Smalltimore. Love it! Now, what has been your big personal takeaway from this experience?
Tristan: I think I’m learning to trust myself more. Doubt will convince me that I don’t know what I’m doing. But I feel like I actually do kind of know what I’m doing and being a part of this is pushing me to remember more and concentrate. Bambi has this whole saying— “being a cat and not pretending to be a cat”— I think that’s been challenging but more freeing, if that makes sense. It helps me not have to think so much about what would my character do because I’m just being my character and doing it.
If you had to sum up your experience here at Cockpit in Court with Bambi and Cats using just one word, which word would you use?
Tristan: Spectacular.
Cats plays July 19th 2024 through August 3rd 2024 in the F. Scott Black Theatre of The Robert and Eleanor Romadka College Center at the Community College of Baltimore County Essex Campus— 7201 Rossville Boulevard, Essex MD. For tickets call the box office at (443) 840-2787 or purchase them online.
Follow along in the “Return to the Jellicle Ball” Series here:
