THEATER REVIEW Cape Rep’s ‘Pickle Me Tink’ A Laugh-Out-Loud Experience

You will be tickled pink with the Cape Rep show that closes out the 2024 season wittily called “Pickle Me Tink, A Lovesick Musical Comedy.”  

Conceived, written and directed by Seton Brown, with musical director Malcolm Granger’s contributions on the musical adaptations and arrangements, this show is a smorgasbord of local talent from top to bottom. 

The score is defined as a “fresh take on standards from the Great American Songbook.” The musical numbers are a subplot to the story and each song will be familiar. The plot is simple: Girl loves Boy, but Girl is promised to another. “Pickle Me Tink” relates their dilemma in a bawdy, silly, hilarious, captivating way with a dose of unreality that resonates in our very real world.   

Brown’s relationship with Cape Rep and this wonderful company of actors is one key to the success of this production. The chemistry between the actors translates into hilarity. Their good time gives audiences a good time — no, a great time!  

If you are a Cape theater devotee, you’ll recognize every actor in this show. A blonde Jess Andra shines as Nicola, the girl who loves Hugo and only Hugo. Her scene with the “Groucho Marx glasses” is not only fun but silly and funny. Trish LaRose is at her finest as Nicola’s servant Marguerite. LaRose is a natural comedienne with superb musical chops. The opening night audience was entranced by both her slapstick and booming voice. Ari Lew as Hugo is adorable. Lew’s ability to play off others and then own a scene is uncanny. Brian Lore Evans’ over-the-top Captain Lewis was hysterical, and Anthony Teixeira flexed his comic muscles with his portrayal of the old miser Max. Jared Hagan and Amanda Collins as Peter and Harley were a duo with panache. The two’s pratfalls and wordplay routines were fantastic.  Hagan as the man in the portrait made us chuckle loudly, too. As difficult as it may seem to steal a scene with this talented troupe, Holly McCarthy manages to. As Dr. Tillman, McCarthy changes her accent at the drop of a hat (or in this case, a turn of a hat). The exaggerated, ludicrous accents are amazing and so funny!  

There are times with all these bigger-than-life folks on stage together that you’ll find your eyes darting this way and that trying to catch all the action. They move around at breakneck speed with wild antics and crazy repartee that honor comedy teams like the Three Stooges, Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy and others.  

Behind the scenes, and literally behind the clever, colorful set (conceived by Ryan McGettigan), is a fabulous band: Granger, keyboard and guitar; Ben Colgan, keyboard; Trevor Pearson, bass; Dave Dillon, drummer, with Brad Conant and Chris Santos on other nights. Maura Hanlon (dramaturg), Chelsey Jo Brown (choreography), Robin McLaughlin (costume design), Keith Truax (lighting design) and Hannah Gruendermann (stage manager) all contributed to the complexity of the production. Shoutout to McLaughlin for McCarthy’s costume and Collins’ socks!

The nearly two-hour show, without an intermission, flies by. You’ll leave the theater with a wide smile on your face. As mentioned before the show, Cape Rep Theater is in the middle of its annual community outreach for donations that support all they do. This production is a perfect example of why we should do whatever we can to keep them flourishing! What a fantastic show. 

“Pickle Me Tink” 

At Cape Rep Theatre, Route 6A, Brewster

Through Dec. 8.  Wednesday to Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.; added show Saturday, Nov. 30 at 2 pm. No performances Nov. 26 and 27. 

Information and reservations: 508-896-1888, caperep.org