Shelley Winters lives—and dies—in Hell in a Handbag Productions’ remount of its long-running hit “POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical.” It’s a bitchy, sexually ambiguous summer splash.
The book switches between a New Year’s Eve “Poseidon Adventure” fan fest to the arc of the movie itself. Fans comment on the action and then play the characters they pretend to be. The cast attacks the songs and story with energy and appetite, like Shelley at a cruise-ship buffet. Trista Smith is a real boost in the keester as the ship’s resident tramp; the ever-reliable Ed Jones is a giggle as flakey musician Nonnie.
The film/play integration can be awkward at times, and the fans’ monologues drain the energy from the overlong piece. Fortunately, “POSEIDON” has energy to spare. It has all the trademark HIAH camp and kitsch plus a little uplift at the end. Which never hurts. (Lisa Buscani)
“POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical, ” Hell in Handbag Productions, plays at the Chopin Theater, 1543 West Division, (312)409-4357, through August 16.
Rated “Argh” for Intense Fun! A Review of “The SpongeBob Musical” by Kokandy Productions In an underwater seascape of jewel tone colors and sparkling glass coral reefs, the residents of Bikini Bottom go about their day as usual—a school of sardines flitter around in pink 1960’s mod-style dresses, a muscular lobster performs shoulder presses with an oversized barbell and a pirate hands out stickers to spectating “land-lubbers.”
