Review: A Campy, Contemporary SKOOBY DON'T

Spike your breakfast cereal with vodka and settle in for SKOOBY DON'T a hilarious adult parody of that Saturday morning cartoon staple "Scooby-Doo."

Hell in a Handbag artistic director David Cerda should be commended for his script. After 47 years of being on the air in some form or another, the characters and situations have become a parody of themselves right down to the signature line "And I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for you meddling kids." Couple that with the fact that the original 1969 Hanna-Barbera cartoon, "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?", was itself a parody of the popular TV sitcom "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (albeit crossed with the 1940s radio show "I Love a Mystery") and it is perhaps surprising that Cerda found anything left to poke fun of.

Cerda is a master of parody, however. He bases his latest on the formula of the original show's sequel, 1972's "The New Scooby-Doo Movies" in which the amateur, teenage detectives of Mystery, Inc. were joined each week by a different celebrity guest star or two.

The show opens with Velva (Caitlin Jackson, channeling her cartoon counterpart to perfection), Daffy (the comedically confused Elizabeth Lesinski) and Fredd (Will Kazda, who hits all of his comedic marks) unmasking the latest villain. Their collective passion for solving a mystery is gone; the gang is merely in it for the paycheck now.

After decades together in the same van (and clothes), the gang is snapping at each other. Velva is a bit too much of a know-it-all, Daffy is still trying to come to terms with animators' needs to make her a more positive role model for girls (she used to be drawn as a size zero and is now a size 8). The finally out and proud Fredd expresses some concerns that Scaggy (Josh Kemper in a perfect, Doppelganger performance) and his faithful canine companion Skooby (Christopher Wilson) don't seem to be pulling their weight in the mystery solving department. For their part, Scaggy and Skooby would rather smoke a bowl and disappear into a closet with a jar of peanut butter.

To resolve their many conflicts, the gang take a holiday at a secluded hotel owned by Velva's Aunt (who happens to be Academy Award winning actress/singer Cher, played to lip-licking perfection by Ed Jones). Kazda's reactions when Fredd first meets Velva's famous aunt are spot on.

Of course, Cher has invited the gang with ulterior purposes: her inn is haunted by a monster (Jamie Smith). The gang has one more chance to work together to solve the mystery or end their alliance for good.

Cher's transgendered son Chaz (Caitlin Boho) works as a bellhop in his mom's inn. The hotel's other two guests are Kris and Caitlyn Jenner (Cerda and Chazie Bly). The pair are shooting a new "reality" show (which Kris is scripting). Cerda's Kris is tough as nails, manipulative and demanding (not too far off from his Joan Crawford). Bly is often cast in HIAH productions as dim-witted eye candy and its actually nice to see him step out beyond that type of role. His Caitlin is definitively feminine, but still struggling with letting go of her former identity as a male athlete and protective father.

Wilson's Skooby, much like his cartoon counterpart, is rightfully the focus. His Skooby is loveable, goofy and yes, even sexy.

While the comedy consistently fires on all cylinders, Cerda's social commentary is the attraction here and elevates the parody to something a bit more profound. Kazda has the best scene in my opinion where Fredd has a melt-down because he doesn't understand how Skooby self-identifies himself and as a gay man who was once oppressed, Fredd feels guilt because he thinks he should understand.

A close second would be when Chaz confronts Caitlyn about the epitome of white male privilege: Caitlyn's unyielding support of the Republican party and its anti-trans policies.

Director Derek Van Barham keeps things briskly moving (scenes never overstay their welcome) and does a terrific job in choreographing the large cast. The scenic design by Brad Caleb Lee is some of the best that HIAH has produced on the Attic's tiny stage. Kate Setzer Kamphausen's costume designs reference the original shows palate with her own unique spins (Skooby's costume is especially creative). Sydney Genco's makeup designs are well done (the creature in particular is incredibly effective and slightly terrifying).

A few things don't work, though. Jones' impersonation of Cher is better in smaller doses (Jones' performance in "Cher at 10,000 Feet," a spoof from several seasons ago, is still one of my favorite HIAH parodies, but it's a 20 minute skit, not 90 minutes).

Also, the addition of two original songs at the end of the show seem to come out of nowhere. Better to bookend the show with musical numbers (the "Skooby Don't" theme song would certainly work as an opener).

These are minor quibbles, though. This adults-only comedy hits just the right balance between nostalgia and comedy with several rather poignant comments on feminism, queer and popular culture and trans identity. SKOOBY DON'T is a "Skooby do" for lovers of camp parody.

SKOOBY DON'T runts through Nov. 4 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark. Tickets $28-$42. Call 800.833.3006 or www.handbagproductions.org

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