Chapatti at Square One Theatre Company

One would think that cat people and dog people are two very distinct and irreconcilable types who tend to reciprocally look down on each other. But in the hands of Irish playwright Christian O’Reilly he has created characters that are complex yet tremendously appealing. The play is the delightful Irish romance Chapatti. With just the right mix of charm, intensity, humor, poignancy and surprising twists, O’Reilly’s mutts and felines seem to pave the way for an unlikely common ground between two pet owners. The Connecticut Premiere performances of Chapatti are Thursdays through Sundays beginning March 2 and continuing through March 19 (2017). Thursdays at 7pm; Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm; Saturday twilight matinees at 4pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Chapatti follows the unexpected intersection between two middle-age singletons – Betty, a lonely widow with 19 cats, and Dan, a bereaved gentleman who lives only for his beloved dog, Chapatti (named for Dan’s favorite Indian dish). From their first encounter, one might expect romance to follow, with the prickly, sardonic dog lover eventually being won over by the warm-hearted cat fancier. And eventually it does, but in a manner most unexpected. According to one critic, “I’ve seen a hundred love stories; still, I insist that Chapatti is often fresh and even innovative. And I admit that I can’t think of another recent work that’s so touched my heart.”