“Pump Boys & Dinettes”

Highly Recommended **** As each theater reopens, the loving feeling of  live theater comes back ( and even stronger). Tonight was the rebirth of Porchlight Music Theatre ( live and indoors) and I was delighted to see what they have brought to their stage at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts. The show is “Pump Boys & Dinetttes” and while it is not an actual book play, it is a story that many Chicagoans will recall as one of  the longest  running shows in our history. Created by John Foley and Mark Hardwick, along with Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann, “Pump Boys is a 90 minute songbook brought together by a little story  about a small service station/diner on Highway 57 in  “rural America”, where we get to meet the locals and through their songs, we learn a great deal about them and their community.

It is a musical filled with country western sounds, toe-tapping, hand clapping and just a lot of fun. The cast is probably one of the smallest in a musical ( well, maybe “Tick Tick Boom” beats it) and the actors are also the musicians. The instruments are simple as well- guitars, piano and several unusual pieces such as a box of Morton Salt, a few wooden spoons, a pie tin or two, some drums ( just a little bongo) and other items that one would not classify as instruments. But guess what this cast, under the creative eyes of director Daryl Brooks and the musical direction by Robert Reddrick, it all works.

The choreography in this production is handled by Rueben D. Echoles completing the Triad of Black Ensemble Theater members who brought this wonderful entertainment to the stage. It is great to see our theaters working with each other and the talent from one working a show with another. This stage is filled with this and I for one am glad to see it happen. One of the songs in this play has been changed. “Farmer’s Tan” with “Surf Casting Man” handled by L.M. ( Frederick Harris truly shows his powerful voice and great stage personality in this role)., the gas station manager/owner.

The other cast members are all cast to perfection. Rafe Bradford plays Eddie and the bass- while he doesn’t say a lot, his music is amazing and his eyes tell us more than words ever could. Billy Rude handles Jackson ( and lead guitar) as if this part was written for him and yet I think he may not have been more than a boy when it played on Lincoln Avenue.. Rounding out the “Pump Boys” is Ian Paul Custer who plays the guitar and the piano as Jim. In many ways he is the storyteller and holds all the segments together. As one who has worked with him over the years, I was surprised to hear him sing and play instruments- he is “damn good”!

The ladies, also known as the Dinettes are two very talented young ladies. Melanie Loren is Rhetta Cupp and Shantel Cribbs her sister Prudie. These ladies will wow  you with their vocal range, draw a tear in your eye when they do “Sister” and get you reaching into your pocket when they do “Tips”. They also play some mean kitchen utensils. By the way, Frederick Harris does a smashing job with his number “T.N.D.P.W.A.M”. When you see it you will know why I am not giving it away. It is a hoot and a holler.

The set by Sydney Lynne looks pretty authentic. In fact, I found myself wanting a piece of sweet potato pie and a cup of Joe within minutes of the opening. Mr. Echoles also handled the costumes and wigs and Caitlin McCarthy did an awesome job on the props. Every shelf looked authentic . The sound ( Eric Backus and Stefanie M. Senior was flawless and the lighting by Denise Karcewski perfect.

In fact, this show might be the perfect way to bring back this company. A small cast means safety and as all of our theaters are, the audience members were masked for the entire play. You will also be checked at the door for photo ID and covid vaccination card.

When intermission is over, they do award a special door prize. It is a car freshener tree. Many of you might recall that gas stations always sold these so one could eliminate the odors back in the day when many people smoked on a long trip. This tree gives your car the smell of either “peppermint”, or New Car” as well as some others. My seat was the winner and I hung my tree from my rear view mirror for the long ride back to suburbia. YUM!

“Pump Boys & Dinettes” will continue at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts” thru December 12th with performances as follows:

Thursdays  7 p.m.

Fridays  8 p.m.

Saturdays  3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sundays  2p.m.

Thursday , December 2nd there will be a 1:30 p.m. matinee

Tickets range from $45 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 773-777-9884 or online at www.PorchlightMusicTheatre.org

The theater is located at 1016 N. Dearborn Street. There is meter parking  or you can opt for valet parking.

Running time is 90 minutes and there is a 15 minute intermission.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Pump Boys & Dinettes”.