Reindeer Games and Jazz Hands

SnowGirls—The Musical–by Hell in a Handbag

Reindeer Games and Jazz Hands

Derek Van Barham’s high-stepping holiday parody of the erotic cult film, “Showgirls,” with spritely music by David Cerda, follows the career of a pretty, if somewhat naive and overly ambitious reindeer named Snowmi Malone (nicely played by HiaH newcomer, Harper Leander). First discovered hitching a ride to the North Pole, with the hopes of becoming a showgirl, or, um…SnowGirl, Snowmi’s battle cry is, “I’m a dancer, not a whore.” Robbed of all her possessions, Snowmi luckily meets sweet, rosy-cheeked Jolly (play with affability by Brittani Yawn), a kind, young reindeer who designs costumes for a living. She takes in the homeless runaway reindeer and provides friendship and support for the spunky and ambitious Snowmi, while she bumps and grinds her way up the smarmy ladder to stardom.

In the pursuit of her dream career, Snowmi encounters a variety of bawdy characters, some of them familiar folks from popular Christmas stories and carols; others are satirized characters from “Showgirls.” There’s a very funny, oversexed Mrs. Claus (hilariously portrayed by audience favorite, Erin Daly) and her philandering, fur-attired hubby, Santa (Terry McCarthy, who also plays two other characters); there’s red-nosed Rudolph (portrayed with a smirk and a leering eye by Max McKune) and sultry snowgirls Dasher (Sharon Rae Ryan) and Dancer (Amelia Bell). Parodied characters from the film include Yuletide Gay (a feisty Marissa Williams), elfin-earred Zip (Grant Drager, who hilariously played Blanche in HiaH’s “Golden Girls” ), Herbie (Patrick Stengle, in his HiaH debut) and the bitchy, bisexual headliner of her own show lounge, Ice Crystal Conners (played by the always astounding, greatly talented star of so many HiaH productions, Sydney Genco).

Besides the talented cast, the real stars of this production are Kate Setzer Kamphausen’s very funny, anatomically correct costumes (notice the additional nipples on the female reindeer!). Combined with Sydney Genco’s imaginative makeups and some super creative wigs and hair designs by Keith Ryan, the visuals in this show may be what audiences take away and will remember most. This and the continuous availability of spirits and libations from the bar, that’s located just behind the seating.   

The story is episodic and inventively recreates the plot of the 1995 Joe Eszterhas/Paul Verhoeven movie, scene-by-scene. Audiences unfamiliar with the film, which this musical parodies, may get a little confused by what exactly is happening, or the lack of clear exposition. However, there’s enough over-the-top characters, R-rated scenarios, raunchy dialogue, double-entendres and lascivious dance moves, created by director/choreographer Jon Martinez, to carry rowdy audiences through this adult holiday entertainment.

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas           

Presented November 15-December 30 by Hell in a Handbag Productions at Mary’s Attic, 5400 N. Clark, Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the door, by calling 800-838-3006 or by going to www.brownpapertickets.com.

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