“The Golden Girls Save Xmas” : The Lost Episodes. reviewed by Frank Meccia

****”The Golden Girls Save Xmas” is a delightful and hilarious production that pays homage to the beloved television series while adding its own unique twist. The show successfully captures the essence of the original characters, bringing them back to life in a new and entertaining way. Because of the Artistic Direction of David Cerda who plays Dorthy, he created another wonderful episode for his anthology of Golden Girls classics. One of the strengths of this parody is its clever writing.

The script is filled with witty one-liners and sharp dialogue that keeps the audience engaged throughout. Thanks to the talents of Ryan Oates as Sophia the jokes are well-timed and often self-referential, especially when they are delivered by Blanche played by Grant Drager, he knows how to produce that sultry aspect of her, and considering the aspect of the play is that Blanche injured Santa Claus’s  back because of a rump in the sack and now he can’t deliver all the presents around the world for Christmas eve. And of course, you have dim-witted
Rose played by Ed Jones, who has the delivery of Betty White down perfectly, and  understands the importance of Santa and his mission.

The actors effortlessly embody their respective characters, capturing their mannerisms and quirks perfectly. Their comedic timing is impeccable, delivering punchlines with precision
and eliciting genuine laughter from the audience. The set design also deserves praise for its attention to detail. The familiar living room of the Golden Girls’ house is faithfully recreated, transporting viewers back to their favorite sitcom setting. Under the direction of Frankie Leo Bennett he created the perfect setting for this show. What gets the audience in the mood is in the beginning the audience sings out “Thank you for being a friend”, the start of every TV episode for 8 years. Additionally, the costumes are spot-on, further enhancing the authenticity of each character portrayed, Madeline Felaver definitely knew her 80’s clothing. But to make the audience believe you need excellent make-up and wigs and a big thank you too Liz Syd Genco and Keith Ryan for an excellent job.

The entire ensemble was in the show. Eustace Allen, Kelly Bolton, Michael Rashid, and Robert Williams as Mrs Claus and Scott Sawa as Stan were perfect in their roles. “The Golden Girls Save Xmas” excels in many areas, it does have a few minor flaws. At times, some jokes may rely too heavily on references from the original series, potentially alienating those who are not familiar with it. Additionally, certain scenes could benefit from tighter pacing to maintain momentum. Overall, though, “The Golden Girls Save Xmas: A Lost Episodes
Parody” is a perfect example of the outstanding work that Hell In A Handbag is known for.

The show plays till Saturday Dec 30th.

Show times are Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 7:30 and Sunday 3:00pm.

Tickets can be purchased at www.handbagproductions.org or the
Box Office at 773-472-6469.

Hoover-Leppen Theatre is located at Center on
Halsted 3656 N. Halsted, free parking in the Whole Food garage, just take the
elevators to the 3rd floor.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “The Golden Girls Save Xmas”:The Lost Episodes.