Review by Lauren Emily Whalen
Including the phrase "trigger warning," which Artistic Director David Cerdadrops in the house speech, while referring to 's use of strobe lights and simulated gunfire. Celebrated campmaster Charles Ludlam's final play is chock full of brutality - death by piranha, daily rat deliveries, hair that is almost offensively big - and thanks in large part to director Shade Murray, it's all darkly hilarious. The Artificial Jungle is Handbag's first Charles Ludlam and without a doubt, one of its strongest productions.
Cerda has his own following: as his Mother Nurdinger entered on opening night, resplendent in a tall gray wig and a fetching housedress, several members of the audience applauded. Indeed, he's built a gay empire: a long-successful theater company that pushed gay representation long before diversity in pop culture was, well, popular. When Cerda channels a somewhat...challenged Mother in the second act, the laughs get louder. He's wisely chosen a show by Ludlam, the godfather of dark camp, and handed the directing reins over to Murray, whose impressive bio includes credits at Steppenwolf, A Red Orchid and Writers' Theatre, among others.
Murray once again proves his mettle as a director by amping up every bit of ridiculousness Ludlam's script has to offer - and then some. The music cues (brilliantly designed and composed by Brando Triantafillou) are appropriately soap opera-esque. Keith Ryan's wigs and Kate Setzer Kamphausen's costumes are loud and colorful, festooned with animal prints befitting the exotic pet store full of parrots (that don't actually talk) and eager, bloodthirsty piranhas. Speaking of the latter, Mark Blashford's puppets almost steal the show all by themselves - hungry snakes and baby mice add to the hilarious menagerie and provide a lot of laughs.
Everyone's well-cast, from Chazie Bly's clueless law enforcement officer to Genco's horny, conniving housewife (think Fran Drescher with 'roid rage). Though at times Jones and Cerda fumble their dialogue, Murray's smart staging and actor-coaching smoothly guide the audience past The Artificial Jungle 's few hiccups. If you're into the idea of a bloodier version of Little Shop of Horrors minus the wistful singing,plus adult content, The Artificial Jungle is a thoroughly fun hour and forty-five minutes. Grab a drink, bop along to the piped-in preshow pop music and watch what happens when ruthlessness, tarantulas and hair full of secrets spectacularly crash.
The Artificial Jungle continues through October 28th at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays 7:30pm, Sundays 3pm. Tickets are $32 in advance, $39 at door (students/seniors: $25), and are available by phone (773-327-5252) or at Stage773.com (check for availability of ). More info at HandbagProductions.com. (Running time: 1 hour 45 minutes, includes an intermission)
Photos by Rick Aguilar Studios
behind the scenes
Shade Murray (director), Samantha Gribben (set design), Kate Setzer Kamphausen (costume design), Rachel Lake (lighting design), Brando Triantafillou (sound design, original music), (wig design), Adrian Hadlock (props design), Mark Blashford (puppet design), Lana Whittington (violence coordinator), A. Kay Wyatt (production manager), Alexandra Hazen (stage manager), Rick Aguilar Studios (photos)
Tags: 18-0939, A. Kay Wyatt, Adrian Hadlock, Alexandra Hazen, Brando Triantafillou, Charles Ludlam, Chazie Bly, David Cerda, David Lipschutz, Ed Jones, Hell in a Hanbag Productions, Kate Setzer Kamphausen, Keith Ryan, Lana Whittington, Lauren Emily Whalen, Mark Blashford, post, Rachel Lake, Rick Aguilar Studios, Samantha Gribben, Shade Murray, Stage 773, Sydney Genco
Category: 2018 Reviews, Hell in a Handbag, Lauren Emily Whalen, Stage 773
