And the Butler Didn’t Do It

Who Killed Joan Crawford? – Glitterati Productions

A violent storm rages outside, but within the cozy, countrified cottage, belonging to Emmy Award-winning soap opera star, Trick Rogers, a birthday party is about to commence. The theme for the elaborately festive soiree is to come dressed as one of the iconic characters that Joan Crawford played in her films. So, one by one, each of the five gay men, decked out in full drag, arrive with gifts in his arms and hostility in his heart. It turns out that one of the guests is consumed with more than mere bitchiness. His masked malice toward the birthday boy and his sycophantic entourage is unleashed as this merrymaker turns into a murderer.

Michael Leeds’ award-winning 2016 comic whodunnit is written  like a mashup of “Boys in the Band” and a gay Agatha Christie murder mystery. In the style of “And Then There Were None,” he sets the scene in a remote location on a dark and stormy night. It happens to be the evening of the Tony Awards broadcast, as well. All the guests arrive, most of them already “friends,” but each has a secret that he’s kept hidden from the others, until this evening. Confessions will be made, souls bared, relationships exposed and wigs come off. To make matters even scarier, the host is mysteriously absent from his own party, and the road in and out of the property has been blocked by a fallen tree. Lightning flashes, thunder rumbles and the rain continues to fall…and so do the guests, one by one.

John Nasca, the gifted co-founder and artistic director of Glitterati Productions, guides his talented cast to murder, martinis and mayhem. He’s ably assisted by the incomparable Honey West. Jonathan Berg-Einhorn’s impressive scenic and prop design is beautiful and even includes a stairway to the house’s upper level. Matthew R. Chase helps heighten the mirthful melodramatics with his scary sound design, augmented by a original musical soundtrack by Tyler Miles. And, of course, Mr. Nasca has, once again, beautifully designed the scrumptious costumes, complemented by Brian Estep’s makeups and Robert Hillard’s period wigs. Each is a work of art and style, that truly make this show.

Although a few lines occasionally get muffed, the entire cast delivers a great evening of fun and festivities that’s worth a visit. As Gene Harlow, the backer of a new musical that will star the soap actor, Trick Rogers (a handsome Luis Jimenez), John Cardone is a particular standout, looking fantastic and turning  bodaciously bitchy as Joan Crawford, from “Mildred Pierce.” Draped in a fur stole over a gorgeous gown that clings perfectly to Mr. Cardone’s svelte silhouette, the actor is the whole package. Brava!

Lee Wichman seems to have modeled his chatty character after Joy Behar, from “The View,” as Harvey Goldberg. Enchanting in his frock and wielding an glittering axe, Wichman is hilarious disguised  as Joan Crawford, from “Strait-Jacket.” Michael Hampton, as psychiatrist Stewart Fry, is very funny and quite stunning in a sunshine-gold, sequined sun dress that simply lights up the stage, much like Mr. Hampton’s performance. Brilliant Patrick Rybarczyk is properly pushy and callow as Leo Lawrence, the composer of Trick’s new musical, that’s still in the works. He wears his Joan Crawford drag handsomely and completes fiercely with Cardone for the title of the most obnoxious party guest. And the youngest partygoer, writer David Hoch, who’s been helping Leo with his memoir, is played with demure delight by John Magana. His character is too young to really know Joan Crawford’s films, so he arrives, much to everyone’s horror, dressed as Faye Dunaway, playing Joan Crawford, in “Mommie Dearest.”

As the booze flows…and flows…and flows, secrets are dished, the wigs eventually come off and so do the boxing gloves. Jealousies flair, egos become tarnished, the body count grows higher and the storm rages on. By the end of this hilarious evening, no one is safe. And audiences will be left breathless from laughing and stunned by which party guest is killing all the Joan Crawfords in the cabin. A warning to the wise: watch your back!

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas         

Presented October 4-November 10 by Glitterati Productions at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport, Chicago.

Tickets are available at the box office, by calling 773-935-6875 or by emailing www.glitteratiproductions.com.

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