Although he wasn ’ t raised with pets , an animal connection lurked inside Batt . “ In 3rd grade at Newman , my teachers noticed I was quite theatrical , so they added a number for me , ‘ Rudolf ,’ to the Night Before Christmas play even though Rudolf ’ s not in the poem !” says Batt . “ I tap danced with my light-up nose and was doing a handstand when the clapping started and thought , ‘ This is fun !’” ( Later Batt received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Isidore Newman School ; other recipients include media guru Walter Isaacson and bestselling author Michael Lewis ). In high school on a trip to New York , Batt saw Gilda Radner Live from New York , heard her uproarious four-letter-word ditty “ Let ’ s Talk Dirty to the Animals ” and was smitten , and relieved that his mom and grandmother sitting next to him were too . “ I used that song in my cabaret act !” And Batt did both the Cats tour and Cats on Broadway . “ And in Jeffrey I played Darius , who ’ s in the cast of Cats . It ’ s kind of crazy ! With Cats , we loved seeing animals take on human characteristics and seeing ourselves in animals . I did Cats at the Saenger Theatre in ’ 91 before the renovations , and it needed it ! I was convinced I saw mice . Here I ’ m the cat and I ’ m scared of the rats !”
Batt and Cianfichi ’ s West Indies-style cottage is lovely — it was featured in the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans ’ Virtual Holiday Home Tour last year — and the couple melds their passion for haute décor with their dog owner status with harmonious results . “ We have baby gates , ha ha !” says Batt . “ Right before the Preservation Center came over to film , Daisy peed on a new rug then chewed it . They ’ ve torn up bedding and stuff as they do but I wouldn ’ t trade them for the world . It makes life complete to have a little furry life in your life . They ’ re not children but they ’ re close , and the best thing is you don ’ t have to pay for college !” There ’ s animal pieces peppered throughout their home , including an antique barking dog toy on a leash and a custom portrait of Peggy . “ When we first got Pip I ’ m like , we ’ re not really the Yorkie type . Peggy was small , Bostons are a chunk — but this is a little powder puff . And we don ’ t put bows in the hair , none of that . But one time I was coming down our spiral staircase with Pip under one arm and we were about to paint or something and I started pointing and saying , ‘ Tom , I think this would look great over there ,’ and he said , ‘ You are one caftan short of the gayest looking thing I have ever seen !’”
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