You may remember the group of TikTok creators who came together several weeks ago to create a Broadway-style musical inspired by the 2007 Pixar film, Ratatouille. The content was adapted by Michael Breslin and Patrick Foley and presented by TodayTix and Seaview productions as a benefit for the Actor’s Fund.
Ratatouille is about Remy (Titus Burgess), a rat living underneath Paris, who dreams of becoming a chef. He has his chance when he comes across Alfredo Linguini, a bumbling new hire at Gusteau’s, a restaurant that has fallen from grace. Remy hides under Linguini’s toque and brings Linguini and Gusteau’s to culinary success.
I couldn’t stop smiling as I watched the 50 minute musical. I could feel the comaraderie of everyone else watching the stream at the same time as I did. In fact, there were so many people watching that I experienced some technical difficulties.
The show’s music, written by several creators on TikTok, is catchy and left me still singing and humming after the stream ended. The show’s opening number, “Anyone Can Cook” is a particular favorite of mine. Kevin Chamberlain as Chef Gusteau excuded contagious energy that hooked the audience in for the rest of the performance.
I also loved that the show featured an overture and that the stream included footage of Broadway Sifonietta, a 20 piece orchestra comprised of female musicians, playing the music.
The casting by Taylor Williams could not have been more perfect. Titus Burgess is hilarious and compelling as Remy and Andrew Barth Feldman is so charming as Linguini. (Feldman even looks a little like the animated character). I also loved seeing Ashley Park “return to Paris” as sous chef Colette after recently watching her in Netflix’s Emily in Paris.
The show is full of clever musical theater references to shows in including Cats, A Chorus Line, and Six (which was written and directed by Ratatouille’s director, Lucy Moss). It was particularly hilarious to have Priscilla Lopez reference “Nothing,” her song from A Chrous Line. Every one of these allusions not only made me happy, but it added to the feeling of being part of the theater community as I watched.
I also loved seeing all nine members of the Broadway cast of Six as “rat queens” in the ensemble. It was exactly what my Broadway-missing heart needed.
There are moments, especially at the end, where the story feels a little rushed between songs, but that is understandable due to the swiftness with which the production was put together.
Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical brought me so much joy and was as close to being in a Broadway theater as I’ve been since March 2020. You can still buy tickets for a “give what you can” contribution until January 4 at 7 pm.
Bubbling up with Helena 