'Toby' the rat becomes an unexpected Broadway star

Not long ago, Toby the rat's top priority was avoiding becoming dinner for a pet-store snake. But now she's made it big on Broadway. The rodent landed a big part -- for a rat -- in the play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

In the play, Toby is a pet sidekick to the lead character. Her onstage performance has inexplicably warmed the hearts of New Yorkers.

"Initially, it really was just train her to go into a little carrier and stay there," says Toby's trainer, Lydia DesRoche, to As It Happens host Carol Off. "But she just wormed her way into, first my heart, and then the heart of almost everyone at the theatre."

Toby's now been given an expanded role -- and her own dressing room.

"Once everybody saw what a beautiful little creature she is and they saw her wonderful personality, they wanted to bring her out a little more. Now she comes out at one point in the play."

Ironically, Toby's trainer had a fear of rats when she bought her.

"I've been terrified of rats for ever and ever," DesRoche says. "I live in New York City and they hang out in the garbage and startle you as you're walking home late at night. So I really had no interest in working with rats, but I really wanted to continue working on Broadway."

The plan worked. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is DesRoche's second Broadway show.