Baby Wants Candy: The Completely Improvised Full Band Musical

Baby Wants Candy at the Players Theatre as part of the New York International Fringe Festival

Reviewed by Harry Forbes

August 21, 2009


The delightful, off-the-wall "A Scotsman in Thailand," performed by Baby Wants Candy, a Chicago-originated improv ensemble, was one night only. But whatever title is shouted from the audience, the six players—drawn from a pool comprising Rebecca Drysdale, Peter Gwinn, Jeff Hiller, Bob Kulhan, Colleen McHugh, Thomas Middleditch, Stuart Ranson, Albert Samuels, and Eliza Skinner—will undoubtedly deliver a satisfying mini-musical with rhyming solos, duets, ensembles, and a plot neatly sewn up by the end. The onstage band matches the cast in campy spontaneity.

"A Scotsman in Thailand" had a Scot falling for an innocent red-light-district "whoore," while a philandering Yank left a trail of broken hearts. The result was as entertaining as many a "real" musical. Sondheim needn't lose sleep, but the tunes were catchy, the lyrics clever. Only occasionally stumped, the cast—freely switching genders—was astoundingly creative.

The company will return this fall to the Barrow Street Theatre.

Presented by Baby Wants Candy as part of the New York International Fringe Festival at the Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St., NYC. Aug. 20–29. Remaining performances: Fri., Aug. 21, 11 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 22, 2 p.m.; Thu., Aug. 27, 6 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 29, 1 p.m. (866) 468-7619 or www.fringenyc.org.
 
 
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