What’s That Smell? The Music of Jacob Sterling lovingly and not-so-lovingly sends up every legend-in-his-own-mind composer and lyricist with a Broadway-size ego but not the talent to match.
What ‘What's That Smell?' is About
What’s That Smell? The Music of Jacob Sterling opens on Leonard Swag’s CLOT, (Composers and Lyricists of Tomorrow), which looks like a public-access television show for hapless Broadway wanna-be’s. But this night is special because Leonard is welcoming his longtime friend, Jacob Sterling (nee Silverstein), who has been “prominently up and coming for 20 years.”
It’s been a career full of disappointments for Jacob (his musical verion of La Femme Nikita was to debut three days after 9-11), but he’s about to get his break. Jacob is on the verge of getting his latest show, Shopping Out Loud, on Broadway.
And so we are treated to a night of songs from his trunk, stories from his life, and insecurities from just about everywhere.
What You’ll Like About ‘What’s That Smell?’
You’ll like the music. Tongue is firmly in cheek with songs such as “What’s That Smell?” It’s satire in the vein of Gutenberg the Musical.
You’ll like Leonard and Jacob. Peter Bartlett, as Leonard, is spot on in his characterization of “Man in Love with Broadway.” Just watch him gaze blissfully as Jacob (David Pittu) plays and sings. And David Pittu positively shines as he carries off the complete obliviousness required for a character like Jacob Sterling. (After a medley of songs from Shopping Out Loud, which names almost every retail chain in America, Pittu deadpans, “But I don’t think I’m selling out.”)
Performances are outstanding from Pittu, Bartlett, and the trio of enthusiastic Shopping Out Loud performers, Chandra Lee Schwartz, Max Kumangai, and Matt Schock.
Who Put This Show on and Stars in It?
David Pittu not only stars in What’s That Smell? The Music of Jacob Sterling, he wrote book and lyrics and co-directed with the Atlantic Theater Company’s Neil Pepe. Randy Redd wrote the music.
What’s That Smell? played a sold-out run at the Atlantic before transferring to its current home at New World Stages.
The show was produced by Daryl Roth and the Atlantic Theater Company.
What’s That Smell? The Music of Jacob Sterling, now closed, was at New World Stages, 340 W. 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues.