Much of the company’s allure is that it managed to transform a humble dessert into a saccharine spectacle.

Children have a higher threshold for saccharine foods, which is why sugar-laden cereals and sweets are often targeted toward kids, Avena said.

So many films about the loss of a parent are undone by their saccharine tone.

Their debut, “Thee Sacred Souls,” dealt heavily in romantic love, occasionally veering into the saccharine, while “Got a Story to Tell” is often reflective and philosophical.

"There’s little of the saccharine baggage of the average musical, no romance, no learning life lessons, no big introspective moments."