My Review of 'Secondo' at TheaterWorks.

The show: ”Secondo” at TheaterWorks Hartford

What is it?: Jacques Lamarre’s sequel to his play-with-food show, “I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti,” based on the stories of author Giulia Melucci , and directed by Rob Ruggiero.

What makes it special?: Once again the show stars Antoinette Lavecchia. It’s not often —well, ever? — do you see an actor undertake a role and then, in a separate work, take on the same character again 10 years later.

What’s it about?: Now married for 10 years, the character of “Giulia” is preparing a special anniversary meal for her husband, a film curator at Lincoln Center who is returning from a trip to Cannes. But we gather that something’s amiss in the marriage as she nervously prepares the meal and try to works things out the best way an Italian-American can: Food and Confession.

She prepares a meal?: Yep. Once again part of the appeal of this solo show in two acts is the juggling act of watching an actor perform an extended monologue and prepare a three-course meal. Now that’s drama.

Sound like fun: Unfortunately, that’s the most exciting drama in the show. The emotional highlight is when a pot of simmering cream boils over.

Damn: However, though the drama is predictable from the start of the show, you’re in good company with Ms. Lavecchia. It’s like seeing an old friend and picking up just where you left off. She is again charming, funny , and chatty, like a favorite neighbor who delights — but also doesn’t outstay her welcome. And she’s the type of person who would even bring a dish to dish.

And what’s cooking?: That’s the fun part of the show. Watching her prepare one easy appetizer, one challenging main course and a less-than-successful desert is mesmerizing in itself. (The program should include the recipe for its main course. Or local restaurants where it is being served. It looks so yummy.)

Any food samples? This isn’t Cosco.

And beyond the meal?: Because the character is based on a real person (Melucci’s “I Loved, Etc.” was based on her own bad dating experiences) there’s an authenticity here.. But this could be the show’s weakness, too. Because this character is not fictional, one can only create so much drama out of a situation and here it is a wan one at best.

I should say spoiler alert here but it will come to exactly no one’s surprise that there’s another man in this character’s life. The constant — and annoying (we get it, we get it) — phone calls and texting from a not-so- mysterious someone from the very beginning makes the revelation at the end of the short first act rather anti-climactic. What’s surprising is the chaste nature of the conflict, perhaps due to the fact that the character is based on Melucci who might only want to be portrayed in a certain way. That’s one off the advantages of fiction.

Now there’s some humor to be deserved from Catholic guilt — even on acts yet to be enacted — and Lamarre taps into that as best he can but the playwright can only go so far without losing the author or the audience, and that’s the pickle. Or pepperoncini.

So other aspects of the show has to pick up the comic slack: calls from her mother, a desperate plea to Whole Foods, Alexa jokes, and a funny running gag about the audience itself. But the overall tone the piece pretty much matches the likable but far-from-edgy cook. One longed for something a little more tough, more surprising, even more wicked, to make the character and comedy pop. Instead we’re in Pleasantville.

But if you have to live there there is no better person to hang with than Lavecchia. What’s not to like? (She has that instant friend quality that the late great Valerie Harper had.)

Production values?: Brian Prather has created a dream kitchen, nicely lit by Carter Miller.

Who will like it?: Those who like easy-going theatrical entertainment. . Fans of cooking demonstrations.

Who won’t?: Those wanting more meat in their theatrical ragu.

For the kids?: The storyline on marital issues probably won’t engage them.

Thoughts on leaving the parking lot?: This show is the type of pleasant entertainment that will work on many regional and community theaters whose audiences aren’t that demanding for juicy drama, especially those theaters that have already produced “I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti.” One can even foresee a third piece to this possible trilogy — if it wasn’t based on Melucci:, with perhaps the death of the character’s husband or mother. Food as comfort, remembrance and therapy. Call it “Finito.”

Basic info: The show at 222 Pearl St. theatre runs through Aug. 28.