In the Pink - 2011-09-23
TOY creatively brings best-selling book to the stage
By TED HADLEY
NEWS CONTRIBUTING REVIEWER - THE BUFFALO NEWS
September 23, 2011, 7:09 AM
Health Alert: Eating pink cupcakes to excess could be hazardous to your health. Pinkalicious Pinkerton, 12 years old and lover of all things pink, has come down with pinkititus, a rare condition caused by an addiction to gooey and gloppy and most importantly, pink cupcakes. Her skin is pink. Her hair is pink. I mean, everything is pink.
Scorn at school, catcalls in the cafeteria, put-downs on the playground. This is serious.
Pinkalicious could care less. She’s hooked on pink cupcakes and doesn’t care who knows it, much less the consequences. Moderation is not a word in her young vocabulary. The goofy but kindly Dr. Wink diagnoses the disease and then prescribes — gasp — green food as a cure. Peas! Swiss chard! Gag! Mom Pinkerton gets creative with Brussels sprouts burgers and broccoli popsicles. Yuck! Double yuck!
Meg Quinn’s Theatre of Youth Company has opened its 40th anniversary season with the silly and hyperactive “Pinkalicious: The Musical,” once an Off-Broadway hit, now in regional demand.
Sisters Elizabeth and Victoria Kann wrote the bestselling “Pinkalicious” book — one parent has boasted about reading the story 843 times to her 4-year-old — then joined forces with composer and lyricist John Gregor for a cute, occasionally cloying and bubble-gum pop score. The book and musical have spawned book clubs because now there are sequels (“Purplicious,” “Goldilicious” and “Silverlicious”), CDs, cupcake party directions, clothing, all sorts of pink spinoff stuff. It’s a pinkititus epidemic.
TOY’s Allendale Theatre home was all decked out in pink on the play’s opening night and so was the audience, with beads and boas, tiaras and tutus — easily the prettiest crowd I’ve ever seen. Mostly girls but a few boys, nonpinkers who obviously heard about the cupcakes served at intermission (and thankfully, a taste of pink champagne for the adults).
Michael Walline knowingly directs and choreographs Arin Lee Dandes, as a bouncy Pinkalicious, quick, funny and clear of voice; Marc-Jon Filippone, as a wimpy TV-sitcom Dad; Kevin Craig, as son Peter, who, like Dad, is a closet lover of pink (whatever that means); Loraine O’Donnell, as a voice-of-reason but often-inept Mom; and Nancy Sam is a nightlong joy as the quirky, tap-dancing Dr. Wink and later, as loyal pal Alison.
A dozen songs aid the story, particularly “The Power of Antioxidants,” “I Got the Pink Blues,” “Pinkatastic,” “Cupcake Dream” and the clever “Buzz Off” (Pinkalicious attacked by flying bugs that mistake the totally pink one for a flower).
So, Pinkalicious is cured, she learns lessons about behavior, love and friendship and that truly, there can be too much of a good thing. “Pinkalicious: The Musical” may be saccharine at times and loses steam in the late going, but it’s great fun, doesn’t preach and slyly gets a word in about eating healthy. Quinn and Company always get their points across.
Inventive work all around by TOY’s technical wizards; it’s a colorful package.
But, Brussels sprouts and broccoli? Nah. I found a Tim Hortons on the way home.
REVIEW
3 stars
WHAT: “Pinkalicious”
WHEN: Through Oct. 16
WHERE: Theater of Youth, 203 Allen St.
TICKETS: $23-$25
INFO: 884-4400, www.theatreofyouth.org
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