Scott Bradley, co-creator of “Carpenters Halloween,” has created a mashup of the classic sci-fi films “Alien” and “Aliens” with the music of rock-band Queen, complete with puppets, dance numbers and “one giant queen.” The result is a romping, though sometimes uneven, “Sci-Fi Rock ParOdyssey” that explores the androgyny of aliens, Freddie Mercury and action heroes alike. Split into two parts—one for each film—the show gets off to a bumpy start, with some song lyrics and dialogue overlapping and muddling both. Despite an enGROSSing reimagining of the infamous chest-bursting scene, the “Alien” half could use some tightening up, while the “Aliens” half is delightfully captivating thanks to inspired choreography (including a group of sassy aliens), well-parodied dialogue (particularly from Scott Ray Merchant and Anne Litchfield in gender-reversed roles), and a climactic battle scene between the renamed Ridley (Ryan Lanning—an actor with killer pipes) and the Alien Queen herself (Bradley). The nightclub setting helps play up the camp factor. (Zach Freeman)
Circuit Nightclub, 3641 North Halsted, (800)838-3006. Through December 18. $15-$25.
A Jewel of a Show: A Review of Gem of the Ocean at the Goodman Theatre As with the epic tales of the ancient world, the characters’ stories blend together into one complex, interrelated narrative that gives insight into the past and offers moral and practical guidance for the present.
