Crowns and Pronouns

The Drag Seed – Hell in a Handbag

David Cerda, the gifted performer, prolific playwright and one of the treasures of Chicago Theatre, is known for mining every ounce of humor from his LGBTQ parodies of well-known TV and film classics. They include dozens of original productions, like “The Golden Girls” and “The Poseidon Adventure.” This time around, Chicago’s Countess of Camp brings back one of his most popular, vintage productions. Loosely adapted from the film classic,“The Bad Seed,” this is a gay version of the famous, b&w psychological horror-thriller film from the 1950’s. It tells the story of a seemingly perfect little girl who will stop at nothing—not even murder—to get what she wants. But the big news is two-fold. Not only has the play been joyously revived, but following a run at Chicago’s Chopin Theatre, the production is Big Apple bound. The show will transfer, from March 31-April 10, to LaMaMa Experimental Theatre Club, in New York City! 

In Cerda’s gender-bending mannered melodrama, Rhoda, the perfect little girl has become Carson, a perfect little boy. This child is different in that Carson aspires to eventually become the future star of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Carson enjoys performing while wearing wild wigs and sexy women’s clothing. And, since it’s now au courant and cool, Carson prefers to use non-binary pronouns (they, their, them). Connie Lingus, the little boy’s adoring mother, absolutely worships her child and accommodates his every wish. She smothers Carson with so much love and adoration, she practically smothers him. She diffuses tense situations by asking variations of “What would you give me for a basket of kisses?” And Carson always answers, with mock innocence, “Why, I’d give you a basketful of hugs.” But while Ms Lingus is proud of her perfect child’s many talents and accomplishments, she’s blind to Carson’s secret desires for which the child will lie, cheat, steal, bully and much, much worse.   

In a nod to RuPaul’s “Drag Race,” Mr. Cerda has changed the movie’s penmanship competition to a drag show contest, an event more in keeping with what Hell in a Handbag audiences come to expect. Carson aspires to stardom by securing the rhinestone-encrusted tiara that will proclaim them as the school winner. The pageant is held at the Josephine Baker Rainbow Academy for Gifted Children, an institution that’s one of the most revolutionary, broad-minded schools in America. Carson’s progressive teacher, Miss Ficus, supports all her students equally, but when young Summer Breeze is awarded the crown, she heaps mountains of praise upon the talented redheaded child. Naturally, Carson’s murderous jealousy grows out of control. It eventually ignites the community around the child and burns everyone with the kid’s revenge.

Returning to Hell in a Handbag, where she originally directed this play at Mary’s Attic, along with such other hits as “Scarrie the Musical,” “The Birds” and “Die! Mommie, Die!” Cheryl Snodgrass expertly guides her talented cast in another bravado production. Costume Designer Gregory Graham returns to this production, once again going wild with the sequins, spangles and pink, lacy frills. Keith Ryan and Sydney Genco (who also plays a supporting role in the show) lend their respective talents to creating appropriately awesome wigs and makeup designs.

But, as always with David Cerda’s camp creations, it’s his brilliant cast of actors who make this production shine. Ed Jones, the reigning queen of comedy at this company, returns as Connie Lingus. Jones gets better and funnier with every role he undertakes. Loved as Lana Turner in “L’Imitation of Life,” Estelle in “Lady X” and Rose Nylund in all the installments of “The Golden Girls: Lost Episodes,” Ed Jones is hilarious here as a whipped cream addicted lesbian mother who only wants the best for her child. No one conveys an expression of “What the hell is happening?” better, and he’s the absolute master of the double-take, always guaranteed to evoke belly laughs from the entire audience. Bravo, once again, to the exquisite, incomparable Ed Jones!

Making his HIAH debut, Patrick O’Keefe” is magnificent. He’s strong, full of energy and very funny as Carson, the driven, non-binary, 11-year-old, who’ll stop at nothing to get what they want and achieve greatness. Although a young actor, O’Keefe comes with plenty of theatrical experience. He’ll be remembered from Theo Ubique’s recent production of “8-Track: The Sounds of the 70’s,” Music Theater Works’ “Mamma Mia!” and PrideArts’s wonderful “A Man of No Importance.” Here he adds one more outstanding role to an already distinguished resume.

The supporting cast is terrific, as always. Danne W. Taylor is PC perfection as New Age educator, Miss Ficus. Wonderful Sydney Genco recreates her role as Jennifer Frittata, the sexy next-door neighbor who suspects there’s something foul going on in the Lingus household. Kelly Anchors humorously plays Lee, the grungy apartment caretaker, who could easily put a stop to Carson’s aspirations. The mistress of runny mascara, Elizabeth Lesinski again portrays weeping Wendy Breeze, the anguished, alcoholic mother of Carson’s competition. And Tyler Anthony Smith gets a real workout once again by playing no less than four roles in this production! He’s especially delightful, however, as Summer Breeze, Carter’s competition for the school crown. And not to be forgotten, of course, is the master himself. David Cerda comically portrays Miss Charles, the gay landlord and champion of Carson’s aspirations, complete with his signature eye rolls and dry delivery that always brings down the house.

This hilarious revival is the perfect diversion to drive away the winter blues. It’s a bawdy, over-the-top black comedy that’s filled with broadly-drawn characters and an abundance of adult humor. Despite still having to be vaccinated and masked, the audience will enjoy David Cerda’s parody, as it slays with its outrageous comedy and bizarre situations. And this production marks a real milestone for David Cerda, who’ll be taking his show on the road and leaving them dead in the Big Apple. Hell in a Handbag Productions, with their hilarious satires and over-the-top performances, will soon be known beyond Chicago in America’s Theatre Capital, as they spread their much-loved satire and schtick to a whole new audience.  

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented February 24-March 20 by Hell in a Handbag Productions at The Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the door, by going to www.handbagproductions.org or www.thedragseed.evenbrite.com.

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