Review: You Smell Like A Cat Under the Sun, Rosemary Branch Theatre

What does a cat smell like under the sun anyway? Realistically, smell is in the nose of the inhaler and therefore subject to interpretation, but as a feline admirer I approached this production with excitement; particularly given its promise of audience interaction and an olfactory experience using scent cards.

As the audience settles, an upbeat jazz instrumental plays in the background, its energy enhanced by a discordant rhythm. Sadly, this choice of pre-show music does not appear connected to the performance proper, which is a missed opportunity. The three characters: Min (Charlotte Ooi), Alex (Zining Wang) and Denise (Jennie Yang) appear on stage, moving robotically in and amongst each other while wearing headbands with handwritten paper symbols inscribed on them. Unfortunately, I am too far back to read them properly, so I am not sure what they signify. As they come together to complete the first scene, dust mites swirl above their heads under the stage lights. I suspect this wasn’t planned, but it is magical and graceful nonetheless.

Min works in an upmarket perfume shop. She appears stressed by this and worried about the reactions of Denise, her boss. Alex darts in and out: camp, funny and keen to have Min read his tarot cards so he can understand how he should feel about his recently discarded lover. He also runs up the centre aisle to share scent cards with those in the first two rows. Lucky people. I was too near the back to partake in the experience, although it is a very small theatre, so I suspect he could have managed a couple more rows.

Min struggles with her new reality. Sales, we are told, is all psychological, but she can’t help thinking back to her Master’s studies, which offered intellectual stimulus and contemplative discussion. Now she finds herself in a world of artificial and vacuous interactions, with AI-generated advice and internet “guidance” constantly appearing in her feed.

She also has prosopagnosia, meaning she struggles to recognise faces: cue an inability to recognise her boss, leading to some inappropriate personal observations. Hilarious? Not so much. Min relies on the internet and her therapist for support. She has no apparent friends in whom she can confide. Her dissociation is real and uncomfortable, but as the plot progresses she begins to find some personal resolution and starts to recognise facial features.

And here I pause, because I am really not sure what the intent behind this narrative was. The performances, both vocal and dramatic, were genuinely excellent, but the piece feels like an odd collection of vignettes that stall before plot resolution. For example, Min’s recovery is not fully explained, even if welcomed.

Wang and Yang both play several characters in addition to their main identities, but without any clear dramatic purpose and, in some cases, relying heavily on caricature. These additional roles add to the sense of fragmentation rather than advancing the plot.

Sadly, even the promised olfactory experience fails to materialise, culminating in the cast running up and down the centre aisle at the end to rid themselves of the scent cards. It is an inventive idea, but ultimately feels disconnected from the experience promised at the outset.

There is plenty to admire: strong performances, striking visual moments and an attempt to explore identity, isolation, consumerism and our dependence on artificial sources of guidance. But the plot desperately needs greater coherence. And if you promise audience interaction, well then, deliver that.

Playwright & Assistant Producer: Weiman (Brooke) Xu
Director: Erin Chen Si Ying
Producer: Jungwen Lu, Aria (Yanli) Wang
Music Director/Composer: Jennie Yang
Visual Designer/Stage Designer: Mia (Yuyan) Zhang
Original Music: Jennie Yang

You Smell Like A Cat Under the Sun plays at Rosemary Branch Theatre until Thursday 20 August as part of Camden Fringe.