Pinkalicious Review - Think Pink This Winter

Somewhat surprisingly, Emerald City's production of Pinkalicious: The Musical is part of the Broadway in Chicago series.  Maybe then I should not have been too surprised in how old school musical Pinkalicious felt.  Songs are belted out with feeling and a big dance number is always just around the corner.  The play even ends with a relatively lengthy reprise. The dancing, by the way, really stood out with its above average choreography.  The acting also was top notch with the actors able to engage the audience at will.  It should be mentioned that the audience, not withstanding their chauffeurs (parents, grandparents, etc), mostly stood less than four feet tall.  Many of them were dressed in pink and I spied more tiaras than one would find at a Ms. America contest.  The play was for them and by all appearance they really enjoyed themselves.

Stand out performances in Pinkalicious included Mark Kosten (Peter Pinkerton) who danced, occasionally cart wheeled, and sang with spirit throughout the musical.  I especially enjoyed his bluesy “I Got the Pink Blues.”  Rachel Klippel (Mrs. Pinkerton) and Patrick Byrnes (Mr. Pinkerton) also played their parts perfectly and were often a good foil to the high energy antics surrounding them.  And Lara Mainier excelled in the title role with her solid singing and effortless acting.  I also thought the set design was perfect for the play as it was cute and colorful, but not too busy.

A brief summary of the plot is as follows:  Pinkalicious Pinkerton is a young girl who loves all things pink, especially sweets.  Her brother Peter, to the chagrin of his father and others, also loves pink.  One morning Pinkalicious, after a pink cupcake binge, wakes to find herself colored pink.  A trip to the doctor confirms a Pinkatitis diagnosis and the only remedy is for Pinkalicious to expand her diet.  Also prominently featured are Mr. and Mrs. Pinkerton whose busy, busy lives often leave little time for family fun.  The plot also has room for a best friend and an all knowing Dr. Wink (Ashley Braxton).

If this all sounds a little frantic, it is.  Pinkalicious has way too many themes for the children to digest.  At various times in the play, Pinkalicious focused on healthy eating habits, sharing, embracing who you are, the power of friendship, and making time for the little things.  These clichés were all hurriedly introduced, quickly sung about, and then forgotten.  With that said, however, Pinkalicious is a great way to introduce children to Broadway style musicals.  My eight year old daughter loved the play and while I think older children might find it a little too silly, children under the age of six will certainly have a good time.

Bottom line:  Pinkalicious: The Musical is currently playing at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.  It is recommended for children under the age of eight.  Theater goers are encouraged to come early to the Playhouse in order to participate in Pinkalicious themed arts and crafts.  This March, you can purchase 3 tickets for $45.  There is also a special St. Patrick's Day themed production (kids are given green tinted glasses to wear).  Parking is available at Water Tower Place.  Metered parking is also available just east of the theater.  To purchase tickets, click here:  http://broadwayinchicago.com/shows_dyn.php?cmd=display_current&display_showtag=Pinkalicious2011  

All photos provided by the Emerald City Theater