Hell in a Handbag Productions presents LADY X spoof

THE SETTING AND PLOT

We meet a group of dames who work in a seedy nightclub recently taken over by the sister of a mob boss. As in the classic melodramas of the 1930’s and 1940’s, the plot involves murder, sex, drugs and clever banter.

If you love classic Hollywood, you will appreciate the affectionate parody the show offers. All the usual classic Hollywood dames are portrayed. We see the sassy and willful leader, the aging spinster, the ditzy broad and, of course, the innocent. It’s the closest any of us will get to seeing Mae West or Rita Hayworth in Gilda live on stage.

BRILLIANT COMEDIC TIMING

It’s not difficult to imagine the entire cast getting together and watching old movies together in preparation for their roles. It seems as if each role has been perfectly cast. Christea Parent is brilliantly sassy as Mary Dwight. Even if her uncanny comedic timing had even been slightly lacking, her mannerisms are perfectly fitting to the era.

Caitlin Jackson, as one of the many talented dames, has a voice that could fill a room 50 times the size of the intimate space of Mary’s Attic. Elizabeth Lesinski creates a lovable but moronic woman that makes the crowd roar with laughter anytime she opens her mouth.

The moving between on and off stage becomes part of the gag as well. Often, what is going on in the shadows or behind some scenery is even more comedy on the side or behind other comedy. Frankly, it might be worth seeing the show more than once.

At no point was the crowd quiet. If they weren’t laughing, they were cheering or hissing at the villain. This is not a show for people who are looking for traditional or stuffy theatre. This is a show for those looking for a good time. The show is well-suited for the space it uses and the crowd is encouraged to drink during the performance. It is loud, it is glitzy and it is endlessly entertaining.