Imagine cooking in front of an audience (just assume they’re live). Now imagine cooking a three-course meal in front of up to 800 people. Now imagine that some of those potential 800 people are chefs or chefs in training (yes, this CIA is the Culinary Institute of America). Now imagine that in addition to cooking in front of an audience, you’re the star (and only actor) of a play. And to top it off you’re feeding ten hungry audience members while you’re acting and cooking.
Such is the theme of I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti, the latest production of the Half Moon Theater Company, running weekends from October 9th to the 25th. The Accidental Locavore was invited to come to the show and on Saturday night headed over to the Culinary. The show is based on a book of the same name, and both the author and playwright were in the audience. It’s the story of Gulia Melucci and the men she dates and feeds. Think Sex and the City with homemade pasta.
Denise Summerford bravely took on the role, talking non-stop (in a good way) for most of two hours. At the same time, she worked her way through an antipasto plate, salad, “Sunday sauce” with freshly-made pasta for the tables of hungry guests that flanked the stage. She was funny, sad, nervous, happy and totally relatable to anyone who has found themselves single in a big city. Granted, her set kitchen was about three times the size of any (affordable-on-a-publishing-salary) NYC kitchen, but that’s easily overlooked once the action starts.
If you really like to be in the center of the action, spring for the onstage dining option and you’ll be one of the lucky ones getting fed while sitting in the middle of the action. It’s a fun new spin on “dinner theater!”
It’s got to be hard to do! Especially in front of an audience at the Culinary!
That is fantastic!