A zesty dish for adults: 'Cafe Puttanesca' at Roxy's Downtown
Roxy's is the fourth company approved to produce the musical since it debuted 21 years ago. Performances run through May 17 at the downtown Wichita theater.
What is more satisfying after a long day on the job than sharing stories of frustration and triumph over cocktails with friends? In Michael Ogborn’s singular musical "Cafe Puttanesca," on stage at Roxy’s Downtown through May 17, the companions are legal sex workers, and their sanctuary is the homey tavern for which this distinct musical is named.
Set in Amsterdam in 1948, this is a tale of friendship and how it makes life bearable under the most painful of circumstances. It is also a story of hope, to which we sometimes desperately cling because it is all we have.
The word “puttanesca” translates to “in the manner or style of a whore,” and often is used in reference to a popular Italian dish rich with garlic, olives, and capers. The language in this show is as salty as the sauce. Judging from how the opening-night audience’s laughter grew with each blue joke, it was as welcome as it was initially unexpected.
Director Rick Bumgardner, who focuses on telling the touching stories of these characters with sincerity while maintaining that humor, gathered an impressive ensemble to tell this unabashedly sentimental and frequently naughty story. The experiences and personalities of the cafe’s owner, his wife, and the workers are revealed through songs they each juggle, with support from the rest of the cast.
The score is composed of ballads, ditties, torch songs, and narratives in a variety of genres. These are often inspired by the origins of the presenting character presenting: German cabaret, British barrelhouse, French chanson, Irish traditional, and many others.
"Puttanesca" is boisterous fun but also a wonderful opportunity for actors to build complex characters and test their singing skills with challenging and interesting material. The six talented theater artists in this cast rise to the occasion and support each other as surely as do the people they portray.
Andrew Walker, a charming and effective storyteller as Owner, guides us through the action as three friends meet to celebrate a big change: Baroness is preparing to relocate to Pennsylvania to make her evolution, as a German veteran in her field, “from tawdry dominatrix to postwar bride.” Briley Meek embodies her full tilt, using her expressive face and strong physical comedy skills to nail Baroness. She brings her musical numbers, especially “The Gypsy in My Purse” and “Oh, How I Miss the Kaiser!” to vibrant life. Julia Faust (as Duchess) makes a dynamic impression upon first entrance during the expertly presented “Theme from Café Puttanesca.” As the flirting British party girl who’s learning the ropes, Faust brings a wrenching, wistful melancholy to “The Dreamer’s Lament,” one of the most powerful numbers in the production.
Sabrina Hamble (as Marquesa) is a bawdy spirit with confident vocal energy who is appropriately skilled to master the traditional French musical stylings of bitter yet tender “Artists and Models” and “Allez-Vous En,” a tribute to Baroness. She’s also not afraid to vault over the bar when the mood strikes. Exclusively heard cooking and cursing in the kitchen during the first two-thirds of the show, Georgeanne Yehling (as Rosalina) makes an impact when she emerges and performs her spotlight number, “Per Sempre.”
Walker’s Owner is an Irishman, which is most apparent when he careens and soars through “My Mother’s Frying Pan,” an ode to domestic violence that’s actually pretty catchy. Ben Balleau (as Piano Player and the production’s music director) skillfully incorporates the vocal ingredients supplied by the five friends into a feast of many varied courses, thanks to his impeccable timing at the keyboard and keen awareness of the performers in action.
Set designer J Branson created an authentic bistro complete with a working bar that feels like a cozy space where friends regularly cherish time together. Property design by Tracy Ciambra gives the space life with attention to detail that makes for a convincing, welcoming environment. Costumes by Chadwick Armstrong are perfectly 1948, beautifully suited to each individual’s temperament, and they fit like a dream despite the constant movement required of the actors. As for movement, choreographer Jenny Mitchell stages the many numbers in a way that emphasizes both the closeness of the crew and the competitive spirit that sometimes arises between them.
In a program note, Bumgardner wrote that he was surprised when Ogborn told him that Roxy’s was only the fourth production company the writer/composer/lyricist had given approval to produce "Cafe Puttanesca." Ogborn also shared that Stephen Sondheim was his mentor, and listening to the sexy, witty, complex lyrics and melodies in this show, it is easy to imagine.
The way, too, that the prostitutes are written — not one-dimensional victims or libertines, but real women with humor, ambition, and lives to live — touched me deeply. While the script is not as cohesive a narrative as I might like, these strong characters driven by such compelling music make for an entertaining and thoughtful night at the theater.
The Details
"Cafe Puttanesca"
May 1-17, 2025, at Roxy's Downtown, 412 1/2 E. Douglas Ave. in Wichita
Performances begin at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday evenings. Saturday matinee performances begin at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $42. Learn more and buy tickets online.
Visitor Note: The main entrance to Roxy's is located behind the building, off the parking lot.
Teri Mott is a writer and actor in Wichita, Kansas, where she covers the arts as a critic and feature writer. She is a co-founder of the SHOUT.
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