**** Recommended POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical is a mashup of all those whiny musicals about orphans, crazy people, hookers with a heart of gold and, of course, poor people with the curious edition of a wealthy, self-righteous Republican woman. It’s funny and very creative but way too long. When you’re finding your seats in Chopin’s Studio Theatre, be sure you can see the whole stage because there are spots where the action is blocked by a post. 3 ½ Spotlights
POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical was written by Handbag Ensemble Member, Tyler Anthony Smith, who also plays Nance, the above-mentioned hooker in a red dress. Smith says, "When I was in the fourth grade, I was supposed to be in the ensemble of our district's high school production of Oliver! I got sick, missed too many rehearsals, and was forced to exit the show. So not only is this Handbag's response to Apple TV's Schmigadoon!, it's also my revenge."
POOR PEOPLE was directed by Stephanie Shaw, with music direction by Andrew Milliken, choreography by Christopher Kelley. Although the tunes sound familiar, the lyrics are anything but. In fact, the lyrics are cleverly rewritten to fit the parody, poking fun at everything musical. The campy dialogue is filled with asides explaining where we are in the process.
So, the story begins in New York – in 1979 for some reason I couldn’t fathom – with the orphans in the care of Miss A (Sydney Genco), whom they not-so-lovingly dubbed Aunt Afghanistan. They’re trying to escape the clutches of cigarette-smoking, sex-starved Meany. Red-headed Li’l Orphan Arnie (Dakota Hughes), who sings mournfully of Yesterday (you’ll recognize the tune), dreams of finding their parents.
Escaping from the orphanage, Arnie stops to pet a darling tuxedo cat which turns up as Fosse Kitty (Matty Bettencourt) later. Chased by Miss A and her minions, Arnie jumps into a magical manhole, emerging in 1815 in Paris. Now, instead of searching for their parents, Arnie wants to get back to the future.
Since they’re stuck, Arnie meets the lovely but doomed Pantene (Caitlin Jackson), who sings about her shampoo before she kicks the bucket from tuberculosis. Soon after, they happen upon Nance, who takes them to meet the mysterious – and blinged-out – Fagin (David Cerda) and possibly join his gang.
Alas, out of the magical manhole pops an even more feral Miss A, followed by the truly evil Mama Moneybags (Brittney Brown), a self-righteous Republican hypocrite from the future, there to eliminate all the prostitutes – and Fagin’s income – so the future will be pure. Fagin, Epipen (Taylor Dalton). Twinky (Patrick O’Keefe) and the truly scary Beggar Woman (Elizabeth Lesinski) unite against the terrible two.
Meanwhile, Nance and Pretty Rick Boy (Tommy Thurston) and fall in lust with each other, but their romance is doomed when the truly despicable Groomer of the Flop’ra (Shane Roberie) catches up with Nance who flees in terror. And the terrible two become the really terrible three!
The ensemble/understudies include Connar Brown, Miguel Long, Halli Morgan and Brandon Nelson.
Hell in a Handbag’s production of POOR PEOPLE! The Parody Musical has been extended to June 23rd in the Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. Street parking is available around the neighborhood.
Running time is 2 hours, 25 minutes. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm; Sundays at 4:00 pm. Tickets range from $42-$60. FYI handbagproductions.org or buytickets.at/hellinahandbagproductions/1116848.