Stinkfoot, a Comic Opera

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Stinkfoot, a Comic Opera is an English musical with book, music, and lyrics by Vivian Stanshall and Ki Longfellow-Stanshall. It was written for the Crackpot Theatre Company aboard the Old Profanity Showboat in Bristol, England. The show is based on Ki Longfellow’s tales about Stinkfoot, a New York City alley cat. It was meant for children, but a New York agent warned that parents might not want their child identifying with Stinkfoot, so the project sat unused until 1985 when the creators revived it as a musical.

Plot
The story follows Soliquisto, a once-great music-hall star now performing in small venues, and his former star, the cat Stinkfoot. Stinkfoot disappeared nine years earlier, and his act is now performed by his nephew Buster and another cat, Persian Moll.

Productions
Stinkfoot was staged twice. The first production in 1985 took place on the Old Profanity Showboat in Bristol, produced by Ki Longfellow and directed by Vivian Stanshall, who also designed the set, costumes, makeup, and hair. The second staging in 1988 was at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London, with Pete Moss handling the musical work. The first show sold out and received very positive reviews. The second show also sold out but lacked the original writers and suffered from miscasting and management issues.

Publication
The full script of Stinkfoot: An English Comic Opera, with an introduction by Ki Longfellow-Stanshall and illustrations by Vivian Stanshall, was published in 2003 by Sea Urchin Editions (Rotterdam).

Reception
critics praised the show. The Guardian called it an offbeat, funny, and original Christmas show with a seaside feel and nods to Coward, Cagney, and Mae West. The Times noted the watery, under-the-sea setting and strong songs, saying the music mattered more than the plot. The Bristol Evening Post described Stinkfoot as a joy with bizarre characters and memorable songs, calling it an innovative and challenging Christmas show.

Cast
The original programme listed the cast alphabetically.