Theater Review - “What’s Cooking? A musical comedy cabaret”

GOSHEN - “What’s Cooking? A musical comedy cabaret,” two acts of tasty bits about our love of food, is being presented by the Goshen Players through Mar 13.

The Goshen Players are continuing their tradition, started in 1949, of bringing community theater entertainment to the area, and this production marks the beginning of the Players’ 73rd season.

Director Joe Guttadauro, the current president of Goshen Players, chose the cabaret format because he was able to work within COVID protocols, rehearsing in small groups to keep everyone safe. The collection of vignettes and songs about eating would be easy to manipulate if performers were to get sick. Guttadauro and his all-volunteer team hope that the final product will allow audiences to relax, laugh and unplug for two hours at their little space.

Some of the little vignettes are kooky and cute, and some are hilarious. The musical numbers tie together the monologues and scenes well, and the cast works cohesively despite the disjointed rehearsal process. Everyone in the 14-member cast has their chance to shine.

Anytime Roger Grace is on the stage was a highlight for me. He proves his abilities as a song and dance performer in “I’d Order Love” and “Abbondanza,” and then plays a waiter in one of the best scenes of the first act, “Three Women Drinking in a Restaurant” written by Carol Burnett. He returns as a French waiter in the scene “Cafe Magnifique” along with retired physician Payton Turpin as a waiter and Mary Priestman as their customer.

Catherine Quirk, Jodi Tenney and Cheyenne Walent (fresh from her two cabarets at Phoenix Stage Company,) are a wonderful trio for “Here’s to the Ladies Who Lunch” from the musical “Company.” Martha Irving, Priestman and the rest of the company open the second act with the iconic “Coffee Break” from “How to Succeed in Business.”

This number is followed by scenes with a coffee theme, with “Taylor The Latte Boy” sung by young Erica Blasko and Alex Polzun, and the hysterical “Etta and Ida at Starbucks” written by Michael A. Stang, featuring Susie Hackel, in her Goshen Playhouse debut, and Walent as senior citizens trying to buy overpriced coffee.

Alex Polzun, who was George in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” was the aforementioned Latte Boy and had a fun duet with Walent on “I Can Cook.” Martha Irving is a delight in her monologue “The Cake” that is performed in between Hackel’s song “The Cake I Had.” Blasko makes her Goshen debut as the younger characters, including a Girl Scout singing about her cookies and telling a story about chocolate cake, and is a delight as them all.

Quirk and Veronica have a really funny scene together called “All I Want is the Recipe” that was written by Georgia Tuxbury. Scott Iwanicki returns to Goshen after almost 20 years to “Navigate the Menu.”

The performance goes a long way to provide some light hearted fun and laughter. During intermission, there are recordings of Broadway numbers that all predictably have to do with food, even parenthetically.

What a pleasure to watch Music Director Dan Ringuette on his keyboard in front of the stage, going back to what the director called “Goshen basics” and accompanying the singers by himself. Master carpenter Dave Boscarino built a great space for this performance and Lana Peck worked her magic once again with the scenic painting and design for another Goshen production. Don’t miss the music notes mixed into the cooking theme at the top of the scenery. Boscarino told me that he once again used the prop radiator that has made an appearance in some 20 shows in Goshen. The lighting design of Wes Baldwin makes everything look even better.

The heat has been recently fixed at the Old Town Hall, so expect to be warm at your cabaret table. Masks are optional at the cabaret tables. Proof of vaccination is required to attend. The players perform at The Goshen Playhouse, 2 North Street, at the rotary in Goshen.
Ttickets: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35939