Pet Shop Boys…and Girls

Artificial Jungle – Hell in a Handbag

 

Continuing Hell in a Handbag Productions’ tradition of presenting parodies of B-film classics and old, time-honored television shows, Shade Murray beautifully directs Charles Ludlam’s last comedic pastiche. Written in 1987, a year before his death, Ludlam’s final theatrical work follows more than two dozen previous satires of Gothic novels, old movies and pop culture, such as “Eunuchs of the Forbidden City,” “Turds in Hell” and, his most famous play, “The Mystery of Irma Vep.”

Mr. Ludlam’s parodies were called “ridiculous” by Brendan Gill because, in the eyes of that theatre critic, the playwright’s work surpassed being labeled as merely farce or absurdist. Ludlam’s plays overflow with broad comedy and feature at least one cross-dressing or drag role, making this play a perfect choice for David Cerda’s campy theatrical company.

Inspired by the gritty, melodramatic film noir thrillers of the 40’s and 50’s, Ludlam’s play cobbles together several common elements from movies. Taken from “Therese Raquin,” the play features a woman who’s unhappily married and sharing a home with her husband’s domineering mother. When the woman falls in love with a hunky truck driver, the couple resorts to extreme methods to their achieve happiness. From “Double Indemnity,” a provocative housewife, who wishes her boring husband was dead, teams up with a sexy insurance salesman to make her dreams come true, with the added bonus of a fortune with which the couple can start a new life. In Roger Corman’s black comedy, “Little Shop of Horrors,” a slightly inept florist’s assistant raises an unusual plant in the shop of his penny-pinching boss. The plant is wilting and dying until the assistant accidentally discovers that it thrives on human blood. In order to achieve both success and the love of a beautiful female store clerk, the florist discovers that he has to kill and feed his victims to the plant.

Borrowing moments from these three films, Charles Ludlam sets his over-the-top comedy in a tacky, New York pet shop. Hausfrau and domineering mama, Mother Nurdiger, own the store, which is actually run by her nerdy-but-nice grownup son, Chester, and his sexy, seductive wife, Roxanne. Basically lazy, and bored with married life, Roxanne suggests that Chester should advertise for some help, preferably a younger man. 

In walks Zachary Slade, a handsome, virile guy who finds himself instantly attracted to Roxanne. She finds Zachary to her liking, as well, and together they plot to get rid of Chester. Ludlam adapted the man-eating plant from “Little Shop of Horrors” into an aquarium of flesh-devouring piranhas. It would be a crime to divulge any more of the hilarious plot details, except to say that a frequent visitor to the pet shop is Officer Frankie Spinelli. The friendly cop’s annual Thursday night domino game with the Nurdiger clan regularly brings him into the store, just as the plot thickens.

The outrageous, unorthodox and often uncouth story is a great fit for this company. Donning the wig once again, David Cerda pricelessly plays demanding Mother Nurdiger. Traipsing around the store in her dowdy housedress and sensible shoes, Mr. Cerda ditches his usual diva duds to play this capricious, crabby old lady to the hilt. Last seen as Betty White in the company’s “Golden Girls” parodies, and usually performing other drag roles, like Lana Turner in “L’imitation of Life,” Ed Jones, one of Chicago’s finest comic actors, is marvelous as Chester. Mr. Jones has this amiable schmuck down to an art form, and, even after his character’s death, Mr. Jones continues to evoke laughter. Another favorite member of this innovative theatre company, handsome Chazie Bly is a kind of aw-shucks, Barney Fife police officer, who can never seem to see the obvious.

This production is fortunate to have two more talented, amusingly absurd comic company members in the leading roles. Sydney Genco is delicious as the oversexed, big-haired Roxanne. Costumer Kate Setzer Kamphausen and wig master Keith Ryan have dressed and coiffed Ms. Genco dead-on, possibly influenced by Peggy Bundy from TV’s “Married…with Children.” Corseted in pushup bras and swaddled in low-cut blouses and tight, shiny, short skirts, Ms. Genco hobbles around the stage in the highest heels imaginable, badgering and braying at everyone. She’s given even more stature with Mr. Ryan’s scarlet fright wig. 

Zachary is played to perfection by ruggedly handsome David Lipschutz. This gifted actor has not only been enjoyed onstage in many Hell in a Handbag productions, but he’s directed a number of their plays, as well. Here Mr. Lipschutz is a standout, capturing all the requisite melodramatic line deliveries, meaningful looks and sly glances. He looks sensational, as well, with his two-day stubble, weathered jacket and tight jeans. Hopefully audiences will be seeing a lot more of this skilled actor in upcoming shows.

Directed with bold brashness and great spunk and spirit by Shade Murray, this is one of Hell in a Handbag’s finest and funniest productions. With it’s grisly murder plot, the timing is perfect for a Halloween horror. Samantha Gribben’s colorful, compact, yet intricately detailed scenic design and an array of very funny, yet appropriate, properties, the hard work of Mr. Adrian Hadlock, are coupled with an menagerie of delightful pet shop creations executed by Mark Blashford/Lanky Yankee Puppet Co., all contribute to make this a showstopper. Add an appropriately cheesy original score and sound design by Brando Triantafillou and you have an over-the-top comic thriller that’s bound to provide both laughter and chills along Belmont Avenue.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas      

    

Presented September 20-October 28 by Hell in a Handbag at Stage 773’s Black Box Theatre, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 773-327-5252 or going to www.stage773.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.