September 11-17, 2003

artpicks

Café Puttanesca

Theater

According to Italian legend, pasta alla puttanesca was served by ladies of the night looking to lure men into their homes (and presumably, beds). OK, fine, it roughly translates to "whore's pasta." But riper inspiration for musical comedy there never has been. And if there is anyone can make it work, it's Barrymore-winning composer and lyricist Michael Ogborn. But this is not a play about pasta. Rather, Café Puttanesca visits a café in Amsterdam just after WWII, where three prostitutes -- named The Duchess, The Baroness and The Marquesa -- meet and talk (and sing and dance) about their lives. The songs are sure to be typical Ogborn: witty, charming and, of course, a little naughty, especially in this case. The show brings together a trio of actresses who are not only Arden veterans but bright and worthy lights on the theater scene: Tracie Higgins, who was excellent as the troubled Lindbergh servant in Ogborn's Baby Case; Mary Martello, Barrymore nominee for Into the Woods; and all-around radiant cabaret queen Jilline Ringle. The always funny Tony Braithwaite plays the owner of the title café. The show, receiving its world premiere at the Arden, will move to Pittsburgh for a production at City Theatre at the end of November.

Café Puttanesca runs Sept. 11-Nov. 2 (with post-show discussions on Oct. 5, 15 and 19), $22-$40, Arden Theatre, 40 N. Second St., 215-922-1122.

—Lori Hill

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