And the Cats Dance by the Light: Reactions

“And the Cats Dance by the Light has the ability to hold space for both playfulness and pain in equal measure – and it is this delicate balance which makes it a masterful piece of storytelling.”

“In my opinion, And the Cats Dance by the Light is evidence that ITI productions are at their best when they are not afraid to experiment and play with different kinds of theatrical forms (such as with forum theatre in 2021’s RevoLOOtion). Perhaps this is because the intercultural nature of their training and their students makes it difficult to try to fit them into a classical (read: Western) or realist mold.” - Cheng Nien Yuan, Critics Circle Blog

“Once again, the skill of the 2024 ITI graduating cohort ensemble in portraying Harry (and Mary) via puppetry is so intricately and beautifully displayed — every little twitch and jerk of Harry’s face and appendages are so intricately linked to each actor that plays him, it sometimes becomes hard to tell where the actor ends and the puppet begins. This precision in communicating Harry’s dismay, anxiety, and general state of disray comes through so authentically, as audience, our hearts truly break for the elderly man who is simply trying to take care of his wife — yet to do so, he is forced to navigate a world of medicine, technology, directions, and people that seem almost as foreign to him as another planet.

Each actor truly embodies the puppet they hold — such that no longer are the puppets what they are, but instead full extentions of the actor themselves; the body of the actor disappears, and all that remains in the scenes we witness are the characters themselves.” - Philippe Pang, Medium 

"The performers exhibit remarkable control, breathing life into the puppets with each nuanced movement and emotion. There are moments where the lines are blurred between puppet and performer, captivating me in a mesmerizing dance of artistry. Through the performers' dynamic shift in the energy and rhythm of movements, the audience is transported across time and imagination, traversing realms of past, present, and fantasy."  -  Beverly Yuen

"... such a poignant piece laying bare the intricacies of familial relationships. Such amazing performance by the graduating cohort." - Sheila Jang