Times may be hard, but there is still joy to be found, even after a long week. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a moment of emotional release. Welcome to Playbill's Feel Good Friday feature.
For many '90s kids, nothing is more emblematic of the era than Bernadette Peters. Or rather, Bernadette Peters' suggestive commercials for Breyers ice cream, which really emphasized the importance of natural ingredients before it was trendy. So what better way to celebrate the diva's return to Broadway in Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends than her teaming up with another longtime buddy: Breyers.
This week, Breyers released the first images of their new campaign with Peters. For the brand's new line of low-calorie ice cream, they tapped into Peters' reputation for aging gracefully (if at all)—in these new ads, vanilla ice cream is now marketed as "anti-aging cream."
As Peters said in a statement: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Breyers again after more than 30 years. The message behind Breyers CarbSmart 'Anti-Aging Cream' truly resonates with me and I'm so inspired to remind everyone that aging well isn't just about what you see in the mirror, but about what you can do to help yourself feel younger, and that includes enjoying life's simple pleasures."
It wasn't long before the ads inspired a number of Broadway tributes. Former Wicked Elphaba Jessica Vosk donned a red wig (from her current role in Beaches The Musical) for a parody photo using Lume deodorant: "Pssst…want to know my secret to a youthful undercarriage? It’s simply Lume for your privates and beyond. #notanad NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Strong obsession with Bernadette Peters recommended."
Upcoming Broadway productions Oh, Mary! and Death Becomes Her also posted their own responses (note the anti-aging potion pin in the Death Becomes Her post).
If a two-time Tony winner and Stephen Sondheim muse wants us to eat more ice cream, or put it on our faces, who are we to disagree?
Feel Good Friday: Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe Help Lindsay Mendez Get Married
