In 2005, Britt Menzies painted a picture for her daughter, Emma, who now attends Inman. Menzies, whose son, Max, is a sophomore at Grady, followed up the painting with a commercial line of t-shirts, children’s books and dolls under the name “StinkyKids” (derived not from an unpleasant odor, but from the phrase, “little stinker”).
The latest iteration of Menzies’ brand, “StinkyKids The Musical,” debuted in New York City in 2012, and has now come home to Atlanta. The show opened Friday, Feb. 13 at Synchronicity Theatre (Peachtree Pointe, 1545 Peachtree Street), and will run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through March 8.
“The kids are just so engaged because … it just constantly goes, there’s no real dull moment in the show,” Menzies said after a preview of the musical. “The parents love the show, because there’s a lot of adult humor in there.”
Menzies hatched the idea, but credit for the musical goes to Sammy Buck, who wrote the book and lyrics, and Daniel Acquisto, who composed the score. The pair, who refer to themselves collectively as “Bucquisto,” have been writing musicals together since 2000.
Clearly not locked into one specific genre, Bucquisto’s shows range from StinkyKids, featuring an adult cast playing six-year-old characters, to an autobiographical concert musical, “The Seven Year B*tch,” whose target audience is presumably older.
Janai and Delroy Walters attended the preview of “StinkyKids” with their two-year old daughter and three-year-old son.
“Even at this age, they understood enough of the storyline that I could say, ‘Should she go across the street, is that a thumbs up or thumbs down?’” Janai Walters said. “And he’s like, ‘No, mommy, that’s a thumbs down.’”
The show, one act lasting only about an hour, follows the plight of a ragtag bunch of six-year-olds whose hopes of a trip to “Captain Happy’s Jumpy Fun Super Bouncy Indoor Place” fall flat when main character, Britt, gets gum stuck in her hair.
The troupe deals with issues familiar to viewers of any age: an argument over who is best friends with whom; disputes over what rules should and should not be broken; and a frantic ensemble effort, “You’re Not Gonna Get in Trouble,” to comfort the gummy-haired Britt (a song made weaker by the unnecessary YMCA-style spelling of the letters T-R-O-U-B-L-E).
The musical numbers were composed simply but thoughtfully, and served varying purposes. Some, like “Maybe This Is A Mistake,” a cautionary tale against crossing the street unattended, featured directives on how to live safely as a six-year-old.
Others seemed simply to combine words and phrases that might sound amusing to young ears—for example, “Spearnana Mintberry Winternapple,” or “Captain Happy’s Madrigal,” an a cappella tribute to Captain Happy’s Jumpy Fun Super Bouncy Indoor Place.
Where the musical succeeded most, at least in terms of audience response, were the recurring jokes. Any mention of Captain Happy’s triggered an angelic choir of “ahhhs” from the StinkyKids—not quite an original gag, but what’s originality to a six-year-old? Another relatable hook was the jingle of an ice cream truck offstage, followed by the slobbery, sugar-enamored slurring of, “IIIICE CREEEAM,” from the cast.
“StinkyKids” is no groundbreaking piece of art, but it isn’t trying to be. It succeeds as a light-hearted musical most older theatergoers should find enjoyable (or, at the very least, tolerable) and most toddlers and small children will love. The next step for StinkyKids is an animated comedy sitcom, said Menzies, clearly still following the scent of success.
