We all know the story. Someone from a state far, far away has a dream to make it big in the city that never sleeps. Every media has treaded this territory, from HBO’s newest comedy Girls to the behind-the-scenes documentary Every Little Step. Now there's Carolann Valentino’s one-woman show called Burnt at the Steak.
The "plot" follows Carolann and her adventures at Sir Loin’s Steakhouse in New York City, where she attempts to juggle life as a (very good - she tells us) waitress and an aspiring performer. There’s plenty of whacky characters to meet throughout the evening, ranging from an overbearing maitre’d to a ditzy hostess. Valentino goes from character to character with gusto but ultimately dishes out the same thing over-and-over again.
Valentino's characters are too similar both physically and vocally. Playing just one subdued, quiet character would have been an interesting surprise and allowed the actress to show more versatility. Even the dumb-blonde hostess is riddled with deranged, obnoxious qualities that don’t distinguish her from the others. The assistant manager of the restaurant named Clint has the same one-eye-open and one-eye-closed facial habits that our heroine utilizes. We're not on the edge of our seats awaiting who Valentino will portray because we pretty much know what’s coming next: someone intense and crazy.
The show is cute at times, such as when we meet a woman from Jersey who’s seeking some lovin'. Channeling table-flipping Theresa from The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Valentino creates her most hilarious character. Watching her “move to the rhythm of the chew” is quite rewarding. But I wanted to see more of the chaos in balancing a day job and a career in the arts. I want to see how a hard-working actress-waitress unwinds at home after a long, hectic day. I want to see Valentino attend just one audition -- she is in New York to be a performer after all. Instead, we get her complaining that she’s “missing so many auditions to be at the restaurant.”
The ending is somewhat sappy and out-of-the-blue - “I feel healthy and alive being here with you, my audience” - but it’s definitely heartfelt and I prefer it to the campiness of numerous prior moments.
She’s got energy galore, a beautifully husky voice and her story is a relatable one, but Carolann Valentino’s one-woman show feels like a piece that could be solid in the future with more time in the kitchen.
Burnt at the Steak is playing at the Richmond Shepard Theatre.
