By: Grant Vance ~Staff Writer~

Sept. 27 marked the premiere of Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s brand new foodie comedy,
“I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti.”
The very fresh and original play is a one-woman show set in Giulia Melucci’s kitchen, as she showcases her long history of failed relationships and the long-lasting lessons she learned from them, all while making a hefty batch of her fresh, home-style spaghetti from scratch served throughout to eight fortunate audience members.

Adapted from the best-selling memoir of the same title by Giulia Melucci, the play paces itself
by using each distinct course in her intricate spaghetti dinner to focus on her individual past relationships chronologically, using a cleverly-chosen antique from each relationship as a tally of what was.

The different items from each relationship serve as a perfect pacing method and add good fun to the sitcom-style formula of story telling by giving the audience something visual to associate with the experiences of each different man impacting Giulia’s exciting, culinary-centric life. Described as a “foodie’s dream version of ‘Sex in the City,’” the play intricately utilizes the appealing aspects of the modern sitcom to keep the audience guessing and invested in each new relationship, all-the-while weaving in a vast amount of scattered pop-culture references to cement its universal charm.

Despite the wonderful writing found in “I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti,” the show finds its true charm through the voice of lead actress Antoinette LaVecchia. LaVecchia, a former Broadway performer, uses an Italian accent and witty intimacy to make the audience feel as if going over to Melucci’s for dinner is a weekly affair. In addition, her masterful acting skills were put on display, going so far as to work in an audience member’s cell phone ringing as if it was a part of the show.

“I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti” is a wonderful piece of theater that highlights just how flexible and innovative the art form can be.

For all interested in homemade food, delightful charm and clever storytelling, check out the show at Playhouse in the Park through Nov. 2.