The Mystery of the Haunted Bush

The Golden Girls Meet the Skooby Gang

They say that timing is everything. Well, just in time for Halloween, Hell in a Handbag is presenting another hilarious original episode of their Golden Girls series. These beloved parodies have always delighted audiences, particularly the LGBTQ+ community, as well as all those Liberal-minded theatergoers who have good taste. So don your masks and head on over to the Chopin Theatre where the fun and frolicking is just beginning.  

In this latest installment, Rose is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her dear nephew, Fred. He’s bringing along his amateur crime investigating friends, The Skooby Don’t Gang. But besides looking forward to a reunion with her favorite relative, Rose is frightened about something. She’s really hoping that Fred and his friends can help her solve a mystery that’s been haunting her Miami home: a giant bush is stalking the neighborhood, wreaking terror among all the senior citizen residents.

In addition to the Skooby Don’t Gang (who, coincidentally, perfectly resemble television’s famous Scooby-Doo crew), another famous sleuth has dropped by to spend a few nights. Sophia’s best friend, 93-year-old Nancy Drew, is having her house fumigated so she’s asked to stay a few nights with the Golden Girls until she can return home. But when “America’s favorite 30-something teenagers” arrive, not only are they starstruck by meeting their idol, Skaggy finds himself attracted to the elderly Ms. Drew. And then we learn that Daffy and Velva, the two female flatfoots, are exploring their growing sexual attraction for each other. Meanwhile, Fred is enjoying flaunting his gay lifestyle and Skooby is, well, just relishing being a dapper doggie.

This new Halloween episode of The Golden Girls was brilliantly written by multitalented Artistic Director David Cerda, the company’s time-honored diva known for his classic portrayal of Dorothy Zbornak. Mr. Cerda, as always, is sensational in this iconic role. His droll parody of Bea Arthur is full of attitude, style and biting line delivery. Bravo, David, for always bringing it, and thank you for yet another wonderful Golden Girls satire.

The entire gifted cast is, as always, irrepressibly impeccable. The three wonderful Chicago actors who’ve made these classic characters their own over the years are forever fantastic. Ryan Oates’ scurrilous Sicilian senior citizen Sophia, Grant Drager’s sprightly and sexually bodacious Blanche Devereaux and Ed Jones’ softhearted St. Olaf simpleton, Rose Nylund once again bring their charm, style and double-entendres to the stage for our enjoyment. Add to these Golden Gals the deadpan drollery and silver tongue tastelessness of talented Danne W. Taylor, playing that naughty nonagenarian, Nancy Drew, and you have a quintet of nonstop laughs.  

But there’s more! Add to the hilarious high jinks the talented members of the Skooby Don’t Gang. Always one of my favorite Chicago actors, Caitlin Jackson is positively perfect as that perceptive whizkid Velva; Daffy, as portrayed by the wonderful Liz Lesinski, strikes her poses and creates a ditzy character that totally lives up to her name. Handsome Josh Kemper returns as Skaggy, a role he originated several years ago, and he’s funnier than ever. Ben Meneses makes his first appearance with Hell in a Handbag as the delightfully droll, cute and clever canine, Skooby. 

Another of Handbag’s multitalented Renaissance men, the stylishly flamboyant Tyler Anthony Smith (the gifted creator and star of their recent musical parody, POOR PEOPLE) is quite simply all that and a bag of glitter, as Fred. And super support comes from cast members Scott Sawa, so wonderful as Stan, and also the emcee of the two between-acts Trivia Games, as well as a deliciously delightful Michael S. Miller who plays both Miles and the Golden Girls’ nosy neighbor Rita Claxton.

Kudos go to Madeline Felauer for her vast wardrobe of Costumes. They not only include fitting garb for each character (like the Skooby Don’t Gang in an homage to Scooby-Doo), and different daily outfits for each character, but also appropriate apparel for when the characters switch roles as a disguise. Syd Genco and Keith Ryan are, as always, spot-on with their Makeup and Wig Designs, which add another level to the portrayal of each wacky character.

This show marks Hell in a Handbag’s unbelievable 82nd production. It’s an hilarious Halloween-themed farce filled with playfulness and purple fun. Members of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community, as well as every openminded theatergoer, will have a great time revisiting Dorothy, Sophia, Rose and Blanche—and just in time for our scary Samhain Celebrations. THE GOLDEN GIRLS MEET THE SKOOBY DON’T GANG, David Cerda’s latest chapter in his popular series of cleverly-written parodies, is filled with fun. Director Frankie Leo Bennett has done a remarkable job staging this large, talented cast, always helping each actor fine-tune his or her comedic chops to the fullest. Handbag’s new offering overflows with saucy, adult Tricks with plenty of fantastic, farcical Treats. Don’t miss it or the Bush might get you!  

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented October 10-November 3 by Hell in a Handbag Productions at the Chopin Theatre at The Chopin Theatre Mainstage, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the door or by going to www.handbagproductions.org. or www.bit.ly/hauntedbush.

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