Odds & Ends: Benedict Cumberbatch Backlash, Watch Andrew Lloyd Webber Teach His Cat to Swim & More

Here's a quick roundup of stories you may have missed today.

Benedict Cumberbatch Backlash
What is the British press doing to our sweet prince? Olivier winner and Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch started performances on August 4 in Hamlet at London’s Barbican Theatre. Now, we all know that the polite thing to do is to wait until the official opening night to review a show, which in this case is August 25. But what did the London Times and the Daily Mail do? Send in critics to pen their thoughts about the first preview. That it should come to this. As the British say, it's not cricket!

Keen Company Taps Kate Baldwin & More
The Keen Company has announced its 16th season, which will take place at off-Broadway's Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row. First up, Daniel Jenkins, Thomas Jay Ryan and Robbie Tann will feature in Graham Greene’s Travels With My Aunt. Adapted by Giles Havergal and directed by Jonathan Silverstein, the show is scheduled to begin previews on September 29 and play a limited engagement through November 14; opening night is set for October 15. Meanwhile, Anna Ziegler’s Boy will make its world premiere from February 23, 2016. There's also a one-night-only event that sounds incredible—Broadway fave Kate Baldwin and special guests will appear in We’re Keen On…Kate Baldwin, an intimate evening of song to benefit Keen in November. More details on all soon!

Watch Andrew Lloyd Webber Teach His Cat to Swim
We all know that Andrew Lloyd Webber has a long history of writing for cats, using them as production consultants and even going to the ball with them—but we don’t think we’ve ever seen footage of him frolicking with felines quite like this before. Watch below as the legendary composer, on a pre School of Rock vacation, teaches Fez, his Turkish Van Swimming cat, a few new strokes. The cats we’re more familiar seeing with Lloyd Webber will return to London’s West End this holiday season and are bound for Broadway in 2016.