BWW Reviews: PINKALICIOUS Brightens the Fulton Stage for Spring

Once upon a time, two very nice ladies named Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann wrote a story about a little girl and her favorite color. They named the little girl Pinkalicious Pinkerton, because her favorite color was pink, and then they named the story Pinkalicious, because it was about a girl with that name. And then, because things have a way of happening like that, the Kanns turned it into PINKALICIOUS: THE MUSICAL, with music by John Gregor, who also helped them with their lyrics.

This show was very, very pink indeed. And it came to the Fulton Theatre, which has pretty much turned itself pink for the occasion. Directed by Andrew Kindig, the show is, not surprisingly, all about pink. Or at least it's about Pinkalicious Pinkerton, who likes everything pink, especially pink-frosted cupcakes. She likes them so much, she eats them when she shouldn't and has been told absolutely not to - so it's not too surprising that one fine day she wakes up pink. Pink from hair to toenails, she goes out and blends in with the flowers, to the delight of the local bees.

Unfortunately her brother Peter, while being lucky enough not to be pink, is sad that their father, Mr. Pinkerton, won't let him be around anything pink at all - because, it seems, pink is his favorite color, too. (Fortunately, we're spared being told that pink is for girls, and not for boys, in this show. Pink is for everyone, at least in moderation.) But he hasn't eaten too many pink cupcakes the way Pinkalicious has, and he hasn't developed what turns out to be only the second case in medical history of... pinkititis.

And the only cure for pinkititis is to eat green food. Broccoli. Peas. Lettuce. Brussels sprouts. Things that just are not as good as pink cupcakes. Will Pinkalicious eat green food and cure her pinkititis, or will she fight to remain her favorite color despite having become the bees' favorite new flower?

Stephanie Jo Wise is a bouncy, pleasant Pinkalicious, who goes from normal to pink-haired in the blink of an eye. Her mother is played by Katie Sina, and her brother by Michael Biren. Her stern, apparently anti-pink father is a delightful Randall Frizado, and Dr. Wink, who's amazed to meet history's second case of pinkititis, is Jessica Dey.

The cast, other than Pink herself, doubles as an ensemble of bees and also as some giant pink cupcakes that haunt Pink's dreams as they dance and sing, resembling nothing so much as a chorus of pink-frosted Oompa Loompas as they harmonize their guidance for her in her sleep.

Of course it's a morality tale, of taking all things in moderation. But it's also a reminder that pink isn't only for girls, but for anyone who likes it, and, just incidentally, also that eating your vegetables is good for you. It's a cute story, popular with the youngest set, and this production is sparkly, bright, and pink enough for any Pink-lover of any age. Nothing's particularly scary, even the bees - which are giant, conspicuously stuffed-toy, versions of the buzzy honeymakers, dangling from sticks. Clocking in at about an hour, it manages to avoid being cloying while still being adorable.

At the Fulton through March 29, although it's currently at standing-room only. Visit www.thefulton.org for more information on its children's theatre season.

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