By Ron Fassler . . .
Just Desserts: A Musical Bake-Off has been kicking around for the last few years with productions in Connecticut and Florida and has now arrived for a three-week engagement at the AMT Theatre on West 45th Street. This modest musical tries vainly to take its place in the big-time of small-time off-Broadway with a plot that has five contestants fighting it out in a cooking contest. Hosted by an obnoxious cable access TV weatherman, it is being broadcast live from the Jefferson County Fair, a fictional location in an unnamed southern American city. Its humor, derived from stereotypes, leaves its six-person cast flailing as it attempts to flesh out a scenario that refuses to bend towards reality. The air is filled with fakery, contrivances, and forced conflict that create an overarched sweetness that will leave your teeth aching.
The plot has five disparate residents of Jefferson County facing off for a grand prize that is—wait for it—a trophy. Why not make it a high cash reward so it might have more meaning to a contestant or two? No, it was decided it would be more about personal pride, which should have meant going deeper into the character’s hopes and dreams, but to a person, banality reigns. First there’s previous four-time winner Mildred (Klea Blackhurst), a middle-aged woman of upstanding virtue whose wealth and popularity give her a distinct advantage; Emma (Tori Jade Lopez), a young woman with a chip on her shoulder and something to prove; Brandy (Lauren Nicole Sherwood), a good ol’ southern gal with the big boobs and big hair; Lou (JP Sarro), a Brooklyn transplant of Italian origin who might be a Mafioso in a witness protection program (big surprise—he’s not), and Jean (Gina Lamparella), the sort of normal one, a school nurse who has self-esteem issues. Then, add in Zack (Michael Hunsaker), the host in a requisite tasteless outfit who really doesn’t want to be there since he’s too good and too talented to be slumming like this, and that’s the company you keep for its two-hour running time.
The problematic book, lyrics and score fail to rise to the occasion. The book lacks cleverness and originality and the lyrics are a big problem with obvious rhymes so predictable a child can see them coming from a mile off. The music, except for one ballad, “Beautiful,” feel more like ditties than true melodies and director Tom Wallace stages the proceedings with little aplomb. With no choreographer listed, Wallace has presumably provided the perfunctory dance steps that permeate throughout. This is yet another misstep as prior musicals staged at AMT have managed to offer fine choreography with the limited space provided. Also, the failure of flashback scenes that are supposed to broaden the backstories of the contestants by delving into their personal lives, are nothing more than time fillers. The company is called upon to portray numerous family members by adding a head kerchief or a pair of glasses, poor substitutes for good writing.
Feeling under-rehearsed, certain actors bobbled their lines, which didn’t distract as much confirm that this production feels half-baked. The actors aren’t to blame; it’s not their fault that the material and direction are inadequate. The musicians can’t be faulted for providing a good sound. Music director Matthew Lowy, who plays piano, offers fine backup alongside drummer Adam Wolfe.
Earlier in the week, I saw the excellent revival of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, playing five blocks north at New World Stages. Similarly, it’s also a musical dealing with a competition in which the audience is included in the proceedings (it even shares a major joke in which one character’s name is perpetually mispronounced). But that’s about all it shares. That musical has such a strong book that it beat out Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Light in the Piazza at the 2005 Tony Awards. And its score, by the late William Finn, is a joy and a wonder. Sadly, Just Desserts can’t compete.
Just Desserts: A Musical Bake-Off, is at the AMT Theater, 354 W 45th Street, NYC. For further information, please visit: https://www.amttheater.org/justdesserts.
Photos by Donald Kennedy.
Headline photo: Lauren Nicole Sherwood, Tori Jade Lopez, Klea Blackhurst, JP Sarro, and Gina Lamparella.
