Pinkalicious (Avery Bank) in CCT’s Pinkalicious. Photo by Cynthia DeGrand.
Columbus Children’s Theatre began their 2015-2016 season tonight with the cute story of Pinkalicious, based off of the book of the same name. With a mix of debuts and reappearances of actors, the cast worked wonderfully together and gave the audience of quite a few children -mostly little girls, a great show.
Pinkalicious opens similar to the book, with the kids at home with their mother. Although here, the pink cupcakes are already made, the Pinkalicious (Avery Bank) and her brother Peter (Rayli Boyd) are playing together and fighting a little bit, Pinkalicious is downing cupcakes, and her mother (Jessica Lynne Rigsby) is busy on her electronic devices. When their father (Ashley D. Sergent) gets home, he is also engulfed in his cell phone. The parents’ actions appear to be a commentary on today’s distracted parenting, but the play leaves it at that. However it’s enough to sink a little nugget into a child’s mind about their own parents, as my young daughter brought this up to me on our way home.
While some of the dialogue and interactions between the kids and the adults seemed a bit clunky, there are amusing parts throughout the play which made the children in the audience laugh and laugh.
Highlights for me were the musical numbers, “When Dreams Come True” and “Buzz Off”. The ensemble of eight young ladies singing together and dancing in their pink cupcake outfits while Pinkalicous dreamed felt magical. With the lighting creating a dreamscape, the girls’ voices rang in clear harmony and it made for a really fun scene. It was special again when they came back on stage dressed as peonies, bees, and butterflies and surrounded Pinkalicious.
Avery Bank’s Pinkalicious had a super cheery attitude and smiley face, even when she was pouting about not getting that last cupcake to eat before bedtime. A fun scene included sneaking out of her room at night with a flashlight that had many of the kids in the audience participating by offering ideas on how to get to the top of the refrigerator. It was cute.
Anneke Keesing as Pinkalicous’ friend Alison gives a solid performance, easily transitioning from a best friend to a hurt friend, and back to a best friend. It felt like you were observing two girls going through emotions and it was nice to have them ‘make up’ and send that message that friendships are sometimes tough.
Peter is sidelined in the first book and the play provides more of a fleshed out character for him, albeit through dated gender stereotypes with the father upset that his son likes the color pink. As more is explained, and a history of the father’s aversion to the color pink is provided, it becomes a decent vehicle for a message of love and accepting someone for who they are. Rayli Boyd had the perfect mix of mischief and dependability with regard to Peter’s relationship with his sister.
Pinkalicious offers a a fun show for kids with themes of healthy eating, friendship, love, and acceptance, with cute costumes and great songs.
The Columbus Children’s Theatre performs Pinkalicious at the Park Street Theater, September 25 through October 11, 2015. Showtimes are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm, Sundays at 1pm and 3pm. Tickets start at $15, or at $12 for Thrifty Thursdays. Visit ColumbusChildrensTheatre.org for more information.
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