It is a strange time indeed to be seeing Red Scare on Sunset. Stray Dog Theatre chose it as part of their fifteenth season, which means the decision was made about a year ago. But even compared to that period of time, things have become more...well, pick your own adjective here.
Red Scare talks about the McCarthy era, a time when society was looking for communists and Russian influence in all sorts of places. The phrase then was “Communists under [ and in] the bed”. The play takes place in Hollywood, where, because of its influence on society, the searching and its consequences were searing, serious stuff. But this is a comedy from the pen of Charles Busch, best known as the author of Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. Most of his work falls into the camp of high camp, and this is no exception.
Pat Pilford, a slightly aging radio star who’s a big deal, and her bestie, Mary Dell, the star of a lot of successful movie musicals, are at the heart of the show. Pat’s very much on the anti-Commie side, and fires an actor on the air because she believes he’s one of Them, either a Red or a pinko. Her pal Mary has Pat and another, younger, actress named Marta Towers, to tea that afternoon. They’re joined by Mary’s husband Frank, a less successful actor. Marta’s big on method acting, and that intrigues Frank. He meets Marta secretly to plan a visit to a method acting studio. Time to start looking under those beds.
Will Bonfiglio plays Mary Dell. Cross-dressing is a tradition in nearly all Charles Busch’s shows, and Bonfiglio nails it from top to bottom, exquisite and perfect and droll. Pat is Shannon Nara, tearing into the comedienne role with rabid enthusiasm. Stephen Peirick gives us Frank, borderline hapless, very believable in his struggles to try to make himself a better actor and keep up with his big-name wife.
Lots of the cast play multiple roles. Michael Baird goes from a suave Hollywood director to a grandmother with some stops in between, and it’s difficult at first to recognize him in his female roles, so strong is the transformation. Stephen Henley is the deeply swishy butler at Mary and Frank’s luxe lodgings, plus three other folks. He’s clearly having great fun with it all. Gerry Love, one of SDT’s favorite villains, glowers nicely as several unpleasant guys, and Ariel Roukaerts makes her debut here as the slinky, multi-accented Marta. (We never do figure out why she’s dropping Yiddishisms in her first scene, but that’s Busch, not Roukaerts.) Chris Ceradsky, also a newcomer, is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning playwright. He’s properly sleazy but seems to be characterizing the writer as young, strange since he knew Pat long enough ago to – oh, never mind, you’ll find out.
Understand, none of this is played straight. By design, Busch’s plays are meant to be over the top, the epitome of the word “camp”, a concept he helped popularize. The acting has so much chewing of scenery that the play should have been sponsored by the Greater St. Louis Dental Society. That’s not a criticism, it comes with this particular sort of work.
Gary Bell directed and one of his best staff decisions was Amy Hopkins as costume designer. These are wonderful, gloriously over the top, particularly the architectural creations that are hats that could do for a day at Ascot. My favorite, though, was Mary’s costume of burgundy brocade and faux-leopardskin, elegant without (somehow, considering the setting) being sarcastic. Tyler Duenow’s lights play their part well, and Rob Lippert’s scenic design, keeps us in the early-Fifties Los Angeles feeling perfectly. Justin Been did the music and sound, particularly important in this show and it melds perfectly.
Please be aware that this is full of adult content and what we would now consider stereotypes. It’s not a show for delicate sensibilities.
At a time when we’re muttering about Russians again and worrying about extremism, Red Scare on Sunset is quite disconcerting when you go even a half-inch beyond the obvious. I’m sure that’s just what Stray Dog intended.
Red Scare on Sunset
through February 24, 2018
Stray Dog Theatre
2336 Tennessee Ave.
314-865-1995
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