Like at the beginning of a fairy tale – one whose humorous side immediately becomes clear - a narrator introduces the story and ushers us into the atmosphere of a little mountain village somewhere in central Europe, many years ago. The villagers wear traditional costumes and dance to the rhythm of the mazurka, a Polish folk dance with a lively, staccato tempo. But the story quickly homes in on one house and the two small characters within: a mouse, who serenely helps himself to the food left on the table before scurrying back through his hole, and a cat who has only recently taken up residence in the house and is intent on making life tough for the rodent! The cat is none other than Sylvester – without Tweety! This also inevitably brings to mind Tom and Jerry, because all the ingredients of the classic cartoon are here: one gag after another, over-the-top action, frantic chases and all kinds of madcap schemes that keep causing more and more mayhem! The music serves as a knowing accomplice to the cartoon, shifting tones and suddenly speeding up to match the action. The cat and mouse wear traditional outfits and move to the mazurka beat. Thus the whole escapade becomes a dance – a joyful but cruel one. Ultimately, the two characters are inseparable and form a supremely entertaining slapstick duo!
