In another era, before the reign of chain restaurants and branded gas stations, roadside diners and “filling stations” were the highway oasis for eating, fuel and bathroom breaks required of weary travelers.
I remember this excitement, the folded paper maps in the glove compartment and all the vivid vacation adventure and family drive details, peppered with gracious hospitality and delicious menu fare, from my own travels with my older siblings and our parents during my youth of the 1970s.
The folks at Porchlight Music Theatre have similar recollections as they welcome the days of post-pandemic and a return to live performances launching their 27th Mainstage season with “Pump Boys & Dinettes,” now playing through Dec. 12 at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. in Chicago.
With a Broadway unveiling in 1983, creators John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Tony winner Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann also comprised the original cast for this musical revue about a quartet of guitar strumming and piano pounding garage mechanics at a gas station which adjoins the Double Cupp Diner helmed by coffee-pouring and pie-baking singing waitresses — sisters Prudie and Rhetta Cupp — all happily working along a stretch of North Carolina highway.
Porchlight’s latest “Pump Boys & Dinettes” visit — it still ranks as one of the longest running shows in Chicago theater history from when it played the Apollo Theatre in the 1980s — is directed by Daryl Brooks with music directed by Robert Reddrick and choreography by Rueben D. Echoles.
“I wanted diversity, not just in the people, but the music,” said Brooks, explaining his vision for this latest run. “At every turn, (I want) this show to be a slice of comfort and excitement, just like a piece of my grandma’s lemon meringue pie.”
The cast of Porchlight Music Theatre’s “Pump Boys & Dinettes” stars Rafe Bradford as Eddie playing bass, Shantel Cribbs as Prudie Cupp teamed with Melanie Loren as Rhetta Cupp, Ian Custer as Jim on rhythm guitar, Frederick Harris as L.M on piano and especially entertaining Billy Rude as Jackson on lead guitar.
It’s not an easy feat to cast this show with talents able to sing, act and handle instruments, all while providing 90 minutes of homespun fun. The musical number “TIPS” and the show’s title song always rank as my favorite show moments, and this cast did not let me down, along with the bonus counter eye-candy of a spot-on incredible set filled with nostalgic details from scenic designer Sydney Lynne.
Tickets to “Pump Boys & Dinettes” are $45-$74 at www.PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by calling 773-777-9884.
This week, Porchlight Music Theatre also begins its eighth installment of what they dub “Chicago’s Lost Musicals” series, a concept I love, with this rendition having Porchlight talent and creative team revisiting the popular silly sisters revue “Nunsense,” born from the book, music and lyrics of Dan Goggin under the Porchlight halo of direction by Michelle Lauto, musical direction by Kailey Rockwell and choreography by Jenna Schoppe. “Porchlight Revisits Nunsense” is only presented for three performances, Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 18 at 1:30 and 7 p.m. all at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts with single tickets for $49 at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or 773-777-9884.
The Porchlight Revisits series, created and hosted by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, was launched in 2013 and celebrates forgotten musical gems of Broadway, off-Broadway and beyond, inviting audiences to go behind the scenes with an introduction to the luminaries who created the most popular musicals of all time, seasoned with fascinating “behind the show” backstory and juicy gossip via an entertaining and informative multimedia presentation.
What began as an Off-Broadway musical comedy revue production in 1985 about the Little Sisters of Hoboken, has entertained audiences for nearly four decades and spawned a habit of six sequels, three spin-offs and a TV special starring “Golden Girl,” the late Rue McClanahan, as Mother Superior.”
My own late great funny friend Phyllis Diller even hid her famous signature fright wig crown to don a whimple and veil as just one of the who’s who celebrity headliners to play in the cast throughout the years. Others who have nunned-it-up for laughs in stage tours and summer stock productions around the country include Sally Struthers, Georgia Engel, Pat Carroll, Kaye Ballard, Darlene Love, Lee Meriwether, Edie Adams, Cindy Williams and funny JoAnne Worley, now 84, of “Laugh-In,” who is our own Northwest Indiana claim-to-fame from Lowell.
This quick run cast of “Porchlight Revisits Nunsense” features Missy Aguilar as Sister Robert Anne, Cynthia Carter as Sister Mary Regina, Landree Fleming as Sister Mary Amnesia, Rebecca Keeshin as Sister Mary Leo and Kyra Leigh as Sister Mary Hubert.
Another of the stars of stage, screen and TV to convert to this nun comedy was the late, legendary Peggy Cass, who died at age 74 in 1999. Cass won a Tony for her 1956 Broadway role as bespectacled and funny befuddled secretary Agnes Gooch working for “Auntie Mame” opposite Rosalind Russell as the show title character. Both Cass and Russell reprised their roles for the 1958 film version, and both were nominated for Oscars.
Cass is remembered by many as a favorite celebrity panelist on the long-running CBS game show “To Tell the Truth,” which aired from 1956-1991 in various incarnations, as she sat side-by-side equally clever and witty panelist pals Kitty Carlisle, Orson Bean, Tom Poston, Polly Bergen and newspaper columnist Hy Gardner. “To Tell the Truth” has recently been resurrected and airs on Sunday nights, but my parents and myself still enjoy re-watching the original reruns and trying to spot which of three contestants is the real person described rather than tricked by the question of two possible and usually convincing imposters.
My mom has been busy using the last of garden harvest ingredients to make large pots of her homemade chili to welcome the arrival of fall temperatures. Unlike my mom’s recipe, when I make my chili, I like to use refried beans as an easy and flavorful thickening agent rather than my mom’s option of cornstarch or flour.
In an old newspaper clipping from my files from March 9, 1967, syndicated Newsday writer Johna Blinn visited Peggy Cass at her East Side New York City apartment for a lunch interview and was joined by Cass’ beloved canines, her poodles Freckles and Schroeder and a King Charles spaniel named Rufus. Boston-born Cass served beer and chicken tacos with refried beans on the menu, and shared the recipe for the latter to appear in print, crediting the refried bean recipe as coming from Delores, her Mexican maid.
“Don’t ever give someone a recipe unless it’s accurate,” Cass is quoted saying, surely in her trademark braying tone.
“Otherwise, it’s only a waste of good ingredients and time.”
Columnist Philip Potempa has published four cookbooks and is the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at pmpotempa@comhs.org or mail your questions: From the Farm, P.O. Box 68, San Pierre, IN 46374.
Peggy Cass’ Favorite Refried Beans
Makes 2-3 servings
2 strips bacon, cut into 4 small pieces
1/4 cup chopped sweet white onion
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Dash of hot sauce (optional)
1 cup canned pinto beans, drained
Directions:
1. Fry bacon and onion slowly until bacon nearly disappears but does not burn.
2. Add remaining ingredients to the pan and cook until nearly all liquid is absorbed, stirring constantly.
3. Mash cooked bean mixture with a potato hand masher until smooth and serve warm.
