Posts Tagged ‘charles busch’

SDT Entertains with Campy, Energetic “Vampire Lesbians of Sodom”

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on June 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Vampire Lesbians of Sodom
by Charles Busch
Directed by Gary F. Bell
Stray Dog Theatre
June 10, 2023

Sarajane Clark, Greta Johnson, Victor Mendez, Zander Huber
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

The latest production from Stray Dog Theatre is from celebrated playwright and drag artist Charles Busch, who seems to be a favorite of this theatre company, since they’ve performed several of his works in the past. Vampire Lesbians of Sodom is a fairly short play, but it packs a lot of laughs into its roughly 70 minute running time, featuring Busch’s campy style and an energetic cast who all seem to be having a great time on stage.

The story is told in three scenes, starting in the infamous biblical city of Sodom, then moving into glamorous 1920’s Hollywood, and finally arriving in glitzy 1985 Las Vegas. Most of the actors play a variety of roles, with notable exceptions being the two main characters, La Condesa Scrofula de Hoya (Sarajane Clark) and Madelaine Astarté (Xander Huber), whose rivalry lasts for many centuries. I won’t give too much away, because that might spoil the fun, but basically, it includes quests for amorous conquests, the blood of virgins, ambitious movie stars, and lots of stylized melodrama. It’s actually a fairly thin plot, but the point isn’t the plot, really. 

The point here appears to be letting the actors ham it up as much as possible, and they do that with impressive enthusiasm, led by the gloriously theatrical Clark and Huber, who make the most of their roles as glamorous, seemingly ageless rivals. The rest of the cast includes Rachel Bailey, Greta Johnson, Victor Mendez, Nara, and Sean Seifert, most of whom play a variety of roles, with Seifert a standout in a hilariously physical performance as Las Condesa’s sycophantic butler in the Hollywood sequence. Johnson also makes a humorous impression as two different young, seemingly clueless aspiring starlets, and Mendez gleefully overacts his role as a movie star and jealous boyfriend. The staging is fast-paced and energetic, with moments of physical comedy, witty banter, and all that hilariously overdone emoting.

The set, by Rob Lippert, is appropriately versatile, featuring a mountainous backdrop that is modified with signage in the Hollywood and Vegas scenes. There are also gleefully whimsical costumes by Colleen Michelson and wigs by Sarah Gene Dowling. Tyler Duenow’s lighting and Justin Been’s sound also contribute to the humorous tone of the production.

Overall, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom is a broadly comic show that revels in its own silliness. With its use of language and innuendo, it’s not for everyone, but it’s a fun showcase for its enthusiastic cast. Fans of bawdy, campy comedy, and particularly those who appreciate the works of Charles Busch, should especially enjoy this show. 

Xander Huber, Sarajane Clark
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre is presenting Vampire Lesbians of Sodom at the Tower Grove Abbey until June 24, 2023

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Stray Dog Theatre’s “Red Scare on Sunset” is a Campy Cast Showcase

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on February 12, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Red Scare on Sunset
by Charles Busch
Directed by Gary F. Bell
Stray Dog Theatre
February 8, 2018

Shannon Nara, Stephen Peirick, Will Bonfiglio
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre’s latest production is the second play I’ve seen by local theatre company a period of two months that has dealt with the “Red Scare” in the entertainment industry in the 1950s, but the two plays couldn’t be more different. While New Jewish Theatre’s A Jewish Joke was a one-man show that took on the topic seriously, SDT’s Red Scare On Sunset is a deliberately over-the-top campfest with an enthusiastic cast of eight performers portraying a variety of roles. It’s a completely different approach to this much-portrayed subject, and it brings some sharp satire along with its laughs, although the message can be somewhat confusing at times.

The story takes us to the world of television, radio, and film in vibrant Los Angeles in the 1950s. Wholesome “All-American” movie star Mary Dale (Will Bonfiglio) is married to struggling actor Frank Taggart (Stephen Peirick), who has ambitions for more “serious” acting roles. The Red Scare is at its height, and Mary’s BFF, the brash comic radio host Pat Pilford (Shannon Nara) fires an actor on her show because of his alleged Communist ties. Frank is seduced by the charms of rival film actress Marta Towers (Ariel Roukaerts), whose invitations to a famous acting coach’s Method acting class lures him into the clutches of “the Party”, and soon the far-reaching effects of the conspiracy are revealed, with some surprising and not-so-surprising twists along the way. It’s a broad, satrical look at politics, conspiracy theories, censorship, the acting business and acting techniques, and more, with extremely broad characterizations and deliberately over-the-top, hammy acting. There are many memorable moments, and the message can be surprisingly caustic amid all the humor, when it becomes unclear who the “good guys” and “bad guys” are. I’m assuming that confusion is mostly deliberate, although the message comes across as somewhat muddled, and it’s not always clear what this show is trying to say, since the “how” seems to become more important than the “what”.

The cast is strong, for the most part, led by the deliciously campy performance of Bonfiglio, who makes the most of his role as the “heroic” Mary. Bonfiglio’s performance is matched by that of Nara as the crass, determined Vaudeville veteran Pat. Peirick as Frank and Roukaerts as Marta also seem to be having a lot of fun in their exaggerated roles, as does Stephen Henley is multiple roles. The ensemble of Gerry Love, Michael Baird and Chris Ceradsky lend their support in a variety of broadly comic roles as well.

The technical aspects of this production add a lot to the overall atmosphere of the play. Rob Lippert’s fairly simple set backed by a large movie screen provides an excellent setting for the action. and Amy Hopkins’s colorful, occasionally outrageous costumes contribute to the comedy well. There’s also strong work from lighting designer Tyler Duenow. The staging is fast-paced, with heightened sense of “seriousness” that contributes a lot of the comic effect.

Overall, Red Scare On Sunset is a fun production. If it’s not always entirely clear in what it’s trying to say, it’s still says it in a stylish way. The overall effect is one of style over substance, but with some extremely strong comic performances and a good deal of energy and attitude.  There are a lot of laughs to be had here.

Ariel Roukaerts, Gerry Love, Stephen Peirick, Chris Ceradsky
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre is presenting Red Scare On Sunset at Tower Grove Abbey until February 24, 2018.

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