Los Angeles/Regional Theater Review: PINKALICIOUS (Lewis Family Playhouse in Rancho Cucamonga)

TICKLED PINK

OK. I admit it: I’m a bad grandma. With three granddaughters between the ages of four and seven, I’ve never read a single Pinkalicious book. I felt unprepared, then, to join a theater audience comprised mostly of preteen girls, dressed to the nines and all aglitter in pink dresses and sparkly crowns for the   Lewis Family Playhouse production of   Pinkalicious The Musical. The intimate theater was awash in pink lighting. Even producer Murry Hepner proclaimed, as she scanned the rows of ribbons and froth, “A sea of pink’”it’s fantastic!”

It didn’t take long to learn that Pinkalicious Pinkerton, the girl who loves pink more than anything, is more than a little crazy about her favorite color. If something comes in pink, she wants it. Craves it. Must. Have. It. Especially if “It” is pink cupcakes.

This “pinkerrific” obsession comes back to bite her when overindulgence in her favorite treat turns the precocious heroine pink from head to toe with a rare case of pinkititis. At first, she’s thrilled, but a series of events (and just one more forbidden cupcake) produce unfortunate results, and the pinkititis goes from bad to worse. Eventually, Pinkalicious learns important lessons about moderation and self-control’”and that green food tastes good too.

Elizabeth and Victoria Kann, the sister duo who wrote the original books, have collaborated with John Gregor to turn Pinkalicious into a toe-tapping musical. A live trio’”more impressive than taped music’”is perfect accompaniment to the catchy song-and-dance numbers that charm the audience with tap dancing; giant marionette cupcakes; and swooping birds, bees, and butterflies. Director/choreographer Sha Newman’s imaginative, perfectly pink set, with its rotating stage and whimsical props, only adds to the magic.

Petite Emily Morris convincingly plays the title role with as much spunk and enthusiasm for pink as if she were Pinkalicious incarnate. But don’t let all this pink madness prevent you from bringing the lads: The talented Christopher Davis Carlisle entertains both boys and girls with his hilarious performance and strong voice; he offers an ample share of scene-stealing antics as the brother who alternately annoys, antagonizes, and comes to the aid of his sister. Nicely rounding out the main cast are Ann Marie Lee as cheerful Dr. Wink, and Megan O’Neil and Christopher Carothers as Pinkalicious’ concerned and loving parents.

The Lewis Family Playhouse’s MainStreet Theatre Company offers consistently excellent family theater productions. This lively musical is a “pinkatastic” way to spend a weekend afternoon. So throw on a rose-colored outfit and take the gang to see Pinkalicious The Musical.

photos by Ed Krieger

Pinkalicious The Musical
Lewis Family Playhouse, Victoria Gardens Cultural Center in Rancho Cucamonga
scheduled to end on October 21, 2012
for tickets, call (909) 477-2752 or visit http://www.lewisfamilyplayhouse.com