Write a commentThis weekend, Canale’s partnered with Oswego Players to bring dinner theater to the City of Oswego.
Chef’s Kiss consisted of two shows: The Cool Table by award-winning local playwright Nicholas Gentile and Broken Hipsters by husband-and-wife screenwriting duo Juliet and Keith Giglio, who are the writers behind Disney’s Tarzan and the film Return to Halloweentown.
In the opening show, two men in a nursing home are trying to appear cool so that women will sit with them at lunch. In a Shakespearean-style twist, these characters were played by women. According to Gentile, this very intentional choice was made to add a layer of complexity and poke fun at the stereotypical mindset the characters portrayed towards women. The audience frequently erupted in laughter at the antics of Harvey and Walter, who were played by Kim Vogt and Tammy Thompson, respectively.
Broken Hipsters follows the story of a couple who leave their apartment in New York City to start a family and who, over the years, become disillusioned with suburban life. Their marriage is on the rocks when they head back to the city to look at an apartment for their adult daughter. The production was underpinned by wonderful performances from Emil Christmann as Andy and Megan Mazzoccone as Valerie. The quality of the writing shined through with well-timed fourth wall breaks and great narrative tension as the production played out.
Each show touched on humanity’s universal desire for fulfillment, whether characters were dreaming of being the next Annie Liebowitz or simply wanting to be seen as “cool” by the “broads” in the nursing home. Each production was also anchored in specifics that catered to the night’s audience, like the horror most New Yorkers feel about living in New Jersey, the sometimes endless drudgery of parenting young children, and deep pride at rapper Post Malone’s review of Canale’s as “the best Italian in the world.”
The shows were punctuated throughout by delicious fare from Canale’s that proved the celebrity’s point, with menu choices ranging from their classic chicken parmesan to manicotti and beyond. Tickets also included an appetizer of mozzarella sticks and dessert of peanut butter kiss cookies.
The atmosphere was lively and friendly throughout the evening, with appreciative laughter during and convivial chatting between the shows.
Chef’s Kiss ends tonight with another showing at 5pm; expect a full house if you are heading out! For information about Oswego Players’ other upcoming productions, visit their website.
