Review: Olympia Family Theater’s ‘The Story of Moo Kitty’

Originally published on The JOLT News on January 22, 2026

Toward the end of last year, Olympia Family Theater (OFT) introduced the audience to their latest family member, Mookianna, nicknamed Moo. She is friendly, has bright eyes, a kind smile, a vibrant black and white coat, four legs, and a soft tail. This feline princess adds even more charm to OFT.

Until recently, the only image I had of a theater cat was that from “Gus: The Theatre Cat,” depicted in T.S. Eliot’s 1939 collection of poems, “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” later transposed to song lyrics in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway musical “Cats.”  Enjoy Ian McKellen’s performance of this classic tune here.

There's something truly enchanting about the idea of a theater cat as being sort of a guardian and keeper of all the magic that lives in a theater. The whimsy of it all makes my own imagination run wild. That is why I am so grateful that OFT took the opportunity to introduce us to Moo in her journey into finding her destiny.

“The Story of Moo Kitty” shared the story of what Moo’s possible life might have looked like prior to OFT. This shorter tale was ideal for their Magic Curtain Morning series that is designed to give wee audience members a taste of theater, and to remind adults that you are never too young for a lovely little story.

As usual, the OFT ensemble performed splendidly and had the perfect balance between heart and humor. Their clever costumes and props made my heart cheery. What I love most about OFT, in general, is that they are willing to set aside everything in the willingness to be silly and create fun. I wonder what the world would be like if we allowed ourselves to be silly more often than not?

The Story of Moo Kitty

As described in this delightful tale, Moo was previously a mother to kittens before finding her way to Olympia. Her kittens grew up to become a chef, a doctor, an archaeologist and astronaut. Naturally, Miss Moo was very proud of her children, but felt the inclination to carry on her next venture.

Along the way to Olympia, Moo met a kind herd of cows, a garden full of sweet buzzing friends and quirky fellow Olympians. What drew Moo to the theater was the sweet smells of paint and costumes, along with the sounds of singing and merriment. Come to think of it, maybe that’s what draws many of us to the theater initially.

Each stop along the way gave Moo the chance to purr her way into many hearts, all of which felt a twinge of loneliness or other sorrows so common in our lives. She left each place better than when she had first gotten there through bringing comfort, warmth, and creating an ambience of safety and love. Moo’s character is exactly what makes her “the Cat’s Meow.”

Altogether, this tale added a new vocabulary word to my personal dictionary: moo. In this way, to “moo” is to be kind to strangers, generous in friendship and warm in demeanor.

Why we moo

Throughout the play, audiences were invited to sing a little tune that reminded us that comfort and warmth can heal hearts. The inner cynic might wonder, “Why should we give someone the benefit of the doubt? What is the point of small gestures like these when our world is so cold and uncaring?” How fitting that the story be shared right here and now.

We have a lot of reasons to be angry, to grieve and to turn off our hearts each day after a flurry of shocking news. You know what the greatest act of resistance is? Joy. When we choose to enjoy life, and think outside of our box and ourselves, we have the opportunity to create positive headlines in our own lives.

Think about it like this: next time you see an animal that brings a smile on your face and warmth to your heart, ask yourself how you can do the same and someone else’s life and watch to see what happens.

One way you can moo is by partnering with our local Joint Animal Services and whatever way speaks to you. If you are interested in donating two animal services or perhaps finding a new furry family member, you can find all the information you need here. Then while you’re at it, feel free to make a donation or buy a ticket for a show at OFT.

https://thejoltnews.com/stories/review-olympia-family-theaters-the-story-of-moo-kitty,27903