The many faces of 'Irma Vep' haunt Danville…
The many faces of 'Irma Vep' haunt Danville Village Theatre
John Carter/Role Players Ensemble
Alicia von Kugelgen, left, and Dana Lewenthal star in Role Players Ensemble fast-moving farce, "The Mystery of Irma Vep."
By Sam Hurwitt, Correspondent |
PUBLISHED: April 18, 2019 at 4:38 pm | UPDATED: April 19, 2019 at 4:37 am
A beloved gothic horror spoof packed with vampires, werewolves, mummies, creepy paintings and even more horrific puns, "The Mystery of Irma Vep" has been a popular favorite on stages in the Bay Area and around the country since the 1980s.
Charles Ludlam's wide-ranging 1984 parody of vintage melodramas, thrillers and breathless romances is also a delightful quick-change extravaganza with two actors in a multitude of roles.
While Ludlam's 1984 comedy has popped up here and there around the Bay fairly frequently over the years, it's traditionally been played by two men, with drag part of its campy appeal.
But Role Players Ensemble's production at Danville's Village Theatre is reportedly the comedy's first Bay Area foray with an all-female cast. Alicia von Kugelgen and Dana Lewenthal costar in the RPE production directed by Mike Reynolds.
Details: Through April 28, Village Theatre, 233 Front St., $20-$35; 925-314-3400, www.roleplayersensemble.com
Sam Hurwitt, Correspondent
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