Share this
Twitter
Myspace
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
Slashdot
Furl
Yahoo
Technorati
Newsvine
Facebook
Export PDF
Print
E-mail
Tags
BY STUART DUNCAN
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
"Soup du Jour" is an old-fashioned musical with a new-fangled score, strong lyrics, good performances and just the kind of intimate show that Hopewell's Off-Broadstreet dessert theater takes to its bosom.
Although the show has been around for a bit more than a decade (it premiered in Del Rio, Texas in June, 1998) it is making its New Jersey debut, and in the process, helping Off-Broadstreet celebrate its 25th anniversary as the state's best known dessert theater. The concept – tables rather than rows of seats, a choice of four delicious desserts (the competition among local restaurants to be on their menu is considerable) and a warm, welcoming staff – has proved through the years to be irresistible.
"Soup du Jour" describes itself as a "screwball musical comedy, but one might question the word "screwball," especially if one has been brought up in the era of the Spencer Tracy/Katie Hepburn films or almost anything by Rosalind Russell.It is the year 1939 and Katharine Hawks, a writer for the New York Herald, is looking forward to her assignment in Paris. But first, there's a small, minor story about the famous soup recipe at Bailey's Restaurant. For Hawks (charmingly played by Heather Diaforli-Day) it should be a piece of cake since she already has a Pulitzer under her belt.
Of course nothing is simple in such comedies, so you have to deal with the fact that old man Bailey has just died and for three weeks his son, Stewart (Nick Munn) hasn't been able to locate the recipe. And then there is Shelly DeCoco (Tappany Hochman), the Herald's food critic who apparently has completely lost her taste buds. And, oh, yes, there's Stewart's officious society-crazy fiancée (Carrie DeNito.)
Two additional characters, Michael Lawrence as the slightly pompous newspaper publisher and Bill Bunting as the restaurant's bartender (and he almost steals the evening with a combination of charm and sage advice.)
The complications keep piling up, but Todd Mueller and Hank Boland's script keeps everything light-hearted and Bob Thick's direction keeps the pace at a fast trot. This is one of those musicals where the score itself is somewhat over-written and the patter songs are more interesting than the love songs The strong performances and a trio on piano, bass and percussion (Peter Wright, Steve Pasierb and James Jarvie) save several scenes.
But it is also an evening with great fun and the opening night audience obviously enjoyed itself. And the sheer ambience of Off-Broadstreet (after the strawberry shortcake who could be in a sour mood) is inviting.
"Soup du Jour" plays weekends at Off-Broadstreet, located at 5 So. Greenwood Ave., in Hopewell through July 11. Fri. & Sat. eves at 8 p.m.; Sun. mats at 2:30 p.m. The doors are always open one hour earlier for beverages and desserts. (609) 466-2766.
