Happy Tastes Good

Inanimate

Your local Dairy Queen strives to show customers how “Happy Tastes Good.” The drive-in’s menu of mouth-watering hot foods and delicious treats are perfect for any occasion. Choosing from a variety of customized flavors, most patrons actually find the tasty Blizzard to be their favorite frozen treat. However, a 30-year-old loner named Erica has her own favorite DQ treat. You see, Erica only tastes Happy when she’s lingering in the drive-in parking lot. It’s there that the lit Dairy Queen sign radiates its warmth and affection upon Erica because she’s in love with the red and blue beacon, or at least sexually attracted to it.

Erica is part of a growing number of people who, while keeping up the facade of being “normal,” harbor a deep secret. They’re part of a population of closeted individuals who are attracted to inanimate objects, rather than men or women. This objectum-sexual situation gets Erica fired from her job at the local supermarket when a customer becomes horrified when catching her fondling a handheld can opener.

Having no one else to talk to, except a collection of treasured inanimate household objects, Erica rekindles her old relationship with Kevin, a former high school friend. Kevin’s “practically the manager” of the Dairy Queen and he’s noticed that Erica, a girl he’s always had a crush on, has been a constant customer at his restaurant. When Kevin hears that Erica’s lost her position at the supermarket he offers her a job at the DQ, which would, of course, be the young woman’s dream. It may also fulfill Kevin’s dreams, as well.    

However, the supermarket scandal has shaken up this small Massachusetts town because Erica’s older sister, Trish, is a local politician. Every night she appears on cable TV trying to convince voters to support her plan to rehabilitate the decaying downtown district. When Erica finally musters up the courage to explain to her sister her romantic preference for gadgets, Trish becomes repulsed. So Erica turns to Dee, named for the first letter of the Dairy Queen logo, and the personification of her DQ paramour. But trouble is brewing, thanks to Trish’s gentrification plans, and Erica and Kevin attempt to save the Dairy Queen from the wrecking ball.

Nick Robideau’s novel 95-minute one-act is not only a quirky original comedy, but also a learning experience. The play opens up a whole new world of fetishism and sexual preferences for the audience that they never knew existed. Nick was inspired to write his play after reading a report about a real woman named Erika LaTour Eiffel who, in 2007, fell in love with and married the Eiffel Tower. Theater Wit’s production, superbly brought to life by the theater’s founding Artistic Director, Jeremy Wechsler, is only the second professional production of this script. It’s a strange story, to be sure, but also an exposure for theatergoers to new ideas and information.

J.G. Smith dominates this story as Erica. Not only is she strapped with lengthy monologues and scenes between one or more characters, but the range of emotion this talented young actor is called upon to tap into is quite a roller coaster ride. Smith, a gifted Ensemble Member of American Blues Theater, has demonstrated her wide range of talent, most recently as the Foley Artist in their heartwarming productions of IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. They’ve also starred in that company’s thrilling production of ON CLOVER ROAD, as well as in Northlight’s wonderful MOTHER OF THE MAID and Lookingglass Theatre’s PLANTATION. Smith’s fans may not even recognize this talented actor in this role, portraying a character whose story is fascinating, funny and yet so heartbreaking.

Sharing the stage with Smith is William Anthony Sebastian Rose, II, as Kevin. He’s completely captivating as a fellow loner, “practically the manager” of the DQ, Dungeon Master of his D&D role-playing group and a young man with his own secret romantic life. Kevin’s angst and emotional pain is as strong as Erica’s and that parallelism is what draws the two 

30-year-olds together. Eloquent, gentle and kind, Rose’s character is the perfect companion and sounding board for Erica.

The supporting cast is very good. Handsome Aaron Latterell, seen in such diverse productions as HAMLET, with Backroom Shakespeare, SEX TIPS FOR STRAIGHT WOMEN FROM A GAY MAN, the regional tour, and THE TEMPERAMENTALS with About Face, Lattrell is soulful and caring as Dee, the Dairy Queen sign. Jodi Gage, whose resume sports the name of just about every theater in Chicago, does a good job with Trish, a politically-motivated woman who’s also Erica’s surrogate parent, since their mother’s death. And the three-member Chorus, comprised of Khloe Janel, Erin Long and Dustin Valenta, play multiple roles. They include some of the inanimate objects, a few of the other citizens of the town and a chatty cable television host.

In addition to Mr. Wechsler’s fine, sensitive direction, several other unseen artists contribute greatly to this production. Nicely lit by Levi J Wilkins, Scenic Designer Joe Johnson has done a capital job creating a versatile environment for the play. His lifelike Dairy Queen building and sign are precise; it’s also fascinating how the drive-in restaurant opens up to become a TV studio. Johnson’s design also offers a motel front, Kevin’s apartment and the tiny living room of Erica and Trish’s home. Making a solid name for himself, Joe’s set designs have been seen at Northlight, with SELLING KABUL, and at Griffin Theater, in MARY’S SEACOLE. The always brilliant Costumer Mara Blumenfeld has designed an adaptable wardrobe for this cast that’s easily changed for each new character. Of special note is Dee’s transparent red vinyl jacket that evokes the bright scarlet lighting in the DQ sign.

This new one-act introduces theatergoers to a new world of fetishism and romantic/sexual attraction. Much like Trish’s passion for politics and urban change, or Kevin’s secret Dungeons & Dragons games or a love life that no one knows about, Erica is attracted to objects. Her involvement in objectum-sexual relationships, particularly with a Dairy Queen sign, is the focus of this delightfully funny and offbeat little play. Who knew that Happy could Taste so Good?                

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented March 22-May 4 by Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the Theater Wit box office or by calling 773-975-8150 or by going to www.theaterwit.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.