| |
Members of the Third Age Drama group with Kathleen Falciola, out front in her black suit |
So what’s new for this 94-year-old pussy cat?
CATS are reputed to have nine lives, but that is small fry for Euston great grandmother Kathleen Falciola, who lent her 94 years of experience to the role of Dick Whittington’s famous puss last week.
Mrs Falciola – “Kat” to her friends – wore her near-century effortlessly on Friday when she miaowed and clawed to rapturous applause as the panto hero’s talking pet at Dick Collins Hall, in Redhill Street.
The feisty feline role, which even featured a belly dance routine, was the latest in a string of high-energy acting parts for the nimble nonagenarian from Munster Square in the Regent’s Park Estate.
Despite starting her stage career later than most – at the age of 90 – the former cake decorator has made up for lost time with performances as the prince in Aladdin, a dancer in Top Hat, the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, and one of the lost boys in Peter Pan.
She said: “I think the acting keeps me young – I love it. I don’t want to be at home, I want to be out doing things. I had to sit on the stage for the belly dancing bit because I’d had operations on both me knees, but apart from that I’m fine.”
She added: “We didn’t have a lot of practice for this show but I did me bit for the cat. I was scratching and doing a lot of miaowing and showing me little tail of at the back. The audience were really pleased.”
As well as being a lynch-pin of the Third Age Drama group, which she describes as a “godsend”, Mrs Falciola plays bingo, sings in the choir and cuts a familiar figure at community tea dancing and sewing sessions.
She has two sons and a daughter, four grandchildren and one great grandchild – and it seems performing is in the genes.
“My daughter does tap dancing. I don’t do try myself – it’s too much for me,” she said.
And there’s no time to rest for the great grandmother. The Third Age group has a show, as yet still a mystery, planned for January.
She said: “I’m hoping to do it again next year, please God. “Whatever comes along I’ll be ready – I’ll do anything.” |
 |
|
|
|
