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

[rating=5] I can think of no better way to start off the holiday season then with laughter. What better way than with Hell In A Handbag’s latest production, “The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes”. David Cerda has a way of bringing out cheers and smiles in people, no matter what type of day life is throwing at you. This particular episode of The Golden Girls produced nothing but smiles and laughter from the audience.

Because of a scheduling conflict, I was unable to attend on opening night, and so I was one night early, the last night of “preview week” and an understudy went on. It was probably not exactly as the show was meant to be as the actor was still with script and had a few stumbles here and there. Little mistakes with their lines added to the frivolity for the audience. I think the actors were having fun as well and played off the errors releasing any anxiety they might have before opening night.

In this episode, Shady Pines has run out of funding and a local councilman wants to close it. If they do, Sophia’s friend Nancy Drew will have no place to spend the holidays. Sophia is joyfully played by Ryan Oakes-quite funny.

David Cerda is the perfect Dorothy. The costumes (Robert-Eric West) are very 80’s ( the time of the sit-com) and are as authentic as one can expect. Cerda pulls off the character just as Bea Arthur did the original. Ed Jones is the perfect Rose ( I am sure Betty White is smiling down on Jones) . The sexy and vivacious Blanche is done to perfection by Grant Drager. I was greatly impressed by these three actors truly making us feel that we had indeed peeked in on an actual episode that was never released for TV.

It was also fun to see Coco Sho-Nell as Wanda. Her presence was quite uplifting. This cast is great, but as great as a cast is, they are only as good as the  director makes them. Director Spenser Davis makes this production flow from start to finish. There were no holes or lag time in the script or the production.

A special recognition must go out to the scenic design consultant Christopher Rhoton for the set. I felt that this was the actual set from the TV series. I did a few double takes as I thought the reproduction of the TV set was flawless in every way.

If you need to get away from the hurly burly of the holiday season, and just want to have two hours of pure enjoyment, then you want to see “The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes” at The Hoover Leppen Theatre at The Center on Halsted Street, 3656 N. Halsted in Chicago.

Parking is street/metered and available at 808 West Addison. call 773-531-4899 for current rates

“The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes” will continue thru December 30th with performances as follows:

Thursdays 7:30 p.m.

Fridays 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays 7:30 p.m. ( except December 10th-no show)

Sundays  3 p.m.

Added performance: December 18th at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, December 21st at 7 p.m.  NO PERFORMANCE on Christmas Eve or Day

Tickets range from $29 and can be purchased at www.handbagproductions.org or buytickets.at/hellinahandbagproductions/775153

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

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