It’s no surprise that the production of The Cat Came Back, currently playing at Toronto’s Young People’s Theatre, was commissioned by Manitoba Theatre for Young People based in Winnipeg.

The show brings together two Winnipeggers whose careers got going around the same Cordell Barker’s film based on the song debuted.

Fred Penner & Jay Brazeau in The Cat Came Back

Jay Brazeau is one of Canada’s busiest stage and screen actors. He portrayed Hairspray’s Edna Turnblake in Vancouver and Toronto. He’s accompanied onstage by the legendary Canadian children’s entertainer Fred Penner.

The Toronto production received a great review in Now Magazine.

It’s at the Young People’s Theatre until March 16th, with two performances each day during March break.

This playful theatre production is not to be missed.

Be sure to share the NFB video with your kids too.
My six year old Cole and I love it, but Suzie finds it a bit creepy.

The Cat Came Back by Cordell Barker, National Film Board of Canada

Before it was a play and a film, The Cat Came Back was a song, originally published in 1893.

The film was a huge success, winning a Genie award and receiving an Oscar nomination.

It was produced by Richard Condie, whose 1985 animated film, The Big Snit, was nominated for an Oscar and voted number 25 of the 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time by animation professionals.[4]

A scene from Richard Condie’s The Big Snit

It’s Jay Brazeau who delivers the classic line ““you’re always SHAKING your eyes!” in The Big Snit. Based in Vancouver, Brazeau is truly one of Canada’s secret gems. Catch him while he’s in Toronto.