Julia Weber
Staff Writer
At just 6 pounds, Marlene Lola Dietrich is an unrivaled force in the world of feline theater, and now she’s making her Chautauqua debut in the world-premiere production of The Witnesses.
Audiences have just three chances left to see Marlene’s talents first-hand as Chautauqua Theater Company wraps its run of C.A. Johnson’s The Witnesses, with performances at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. today, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, in Bratton Theater (a talkback and book signing will follow today’s 2 p.m. performance). First staged in Bratton as a New Play Workshop in 2024 titled Tell Me You’re Dying, The Witnesses was commissioned two years ago by CTC Producing Artistic Director Jade King Carroll. When it came time for building the cast for this summer’s fully produced premiere, Carroll had just the actor in mind for a very special role.
“I just didn’t realize she was going to take to the stage so much,” said Carroll, Marlene’s human. “She seems to like it.”
The Witnesses centers on a peer support group of survivors in the midst of an apocalyptic pandemic; Marlene portrays one of these survivors.
Carroll adopted Marlene in 2019, during her time at the Philadelphia-based theater organization PlayPenn. Knowing Carroll was looking to adopt a cat, her sister rescued Marlene — who she found under a porch — at just a few weeks old. Marlene was introduced to the world of theater shortly thereafter.
“My sister didn’t have a container or a carrier or anything for her, and I had a reading, so I took the cat, I put her in my purse and she was in the theater with me and was just completely quiet,” Carroll said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic when theaters and live venues were shuttered to audiences, Carroll said she worked on plays that were produced on film or live on Zoom, often spending multiple hours per day in rehearsals with Marlene by her side.
“I don’t know if that’s how she has the patience for (acting), but she’s just been great,” Carroll said.
Marlene has adapted to traveling with Carroll, who is based in New York City and directs approximately three to five regional shows a year; as such, Marlene has become quite accustomed to the life of a creative. Carroll said her social personality and willingness to be in the spotlight made Marlene a good fit for the role.
To prepare Marlene for the role, Carroll hosted a dinner at her house for the cast and stage management so Marlene “could meet everybody on her turf.”
“We immediately knew it was going to work because she was excited to have company and very much felt the party was for her,” she said.
Following the wrap on The Witnesses and CTC’s theater season at large after this weekend, both Carroll and Marlene plan to take a break and catch up on some much needed rest and relaxation.
“She’s probably going to miss the hubbub, being around people,” Carroll said. “She seems to really like people.”
For both Carroll and Marlene, the partnership has been a new experience of collaboration.
“I’ve had many interviews and talked about many angles and perspectives into a show; this is a first for me and it’ll probably be a unique experience for Marlene,” Carroll said. “This might be her debut and swan song all in one.”
