*** Recommended *** Hell in a Handbag’s unauthorized parodies of those old black and white films and TV shows from the fifties are always packed with double entendres, puns, running sight gags and bad wigs. Their revival of their 2019 hit, The Drag Seed – a parody of the 1956 film, The Bad Seed – has all of that and more – in pink – with bling! Be prepared for murder, mayhem and a lot of laughs. 3 Spotlights
Connie Lingus (Ed Jones) and her absent partner, Other Mother, absolutely dote on their absolutely perfect 11-year-old son Carson (Patrick O’Keefe), whom they adopted after the child was found in a Walmart in Dyer, Indiana. Carson is a self-absorbed child who is fiercely competitive, prefers non—binary pronouns and loves dressing as girl.
While Connie is altering a skirt for Carson, upstairs neighbor, Miss Charles (David Cerda), gives him a scepter from his glory days as Miss Calumet City. No matter what they do or say, Carson is furious because they came in second in a drag pageant at their school, the Josephine Baker Rainbow Academy for Gifted Students.
At the Academy, Carson and the winner, Summer Breeze (Tyler Anthony Smith), reprise their acts at the school picnic. Carson thinks first prize, a tiara, should have been theirs, so after the performance, they confront Summer, demanding the tiara. Carson pushes Summer into the lake, then hits them with the scepter.
Ms. Ficus (Danne W. Taylor) visits Connie to reveal that Carson was the last person to be seen with Summer. Connie defends her child, but secretly worries. Meanwhile, Lee (Kelly Anchors), the janitor, found Carson’s bloody shoes and taunted them.
Meanwhile, Connie saw a television documentary about a female serial killer from Indiana. Her friend, Jennifer Frittata (Sydney Genco), did some research and found out that the serial killer had a son, who was found wandering in a Walmart in Dyer! Then Connie found the tiara – and the bloody scepter - in Carson’s bag, and asks them about it. Summer's mother, Wendy Breeze (Eliizabeth Lesinski), turns to drink as she mourns.
Nothing good ever comes from confronting The Drag Seed, as everyone who crosses Carson finds out!
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Ed Jones’s portrayal of Connie Lingus. In spite of all the melodrama and murder, he found a way to show Connie’s vulnerable side. David Cerda’s Miss Charles is not-so-gracefully aging, but still willing to befriend/defend The Drag Seed.
Note: Guests must show proof of vaccination with photo ID before entering the theater. Guests are required to wear masks while inside the building.
Hell in a Handbag’s production of The Drag Seed runs through March 20th at The Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division, Chicago. Free parking is available at Holy Trinity Church, Division & Noble, one block east, or some unmetered street parking on Division Street between Noble & Bosworth. Running time is approximately 2 hours with an intermission. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 4:00 pm. Adults only, please. Tickets are $27 in advance, $32 at the door. FYI handbagproductions.org and thedragseed.eventbrite.com.