David Cerda will forever be hailed as our local-claim-to-fame, clever crowned ruler of stage camp, all from humble region roots as a 1979 graduate of Hammond High School. His Hell in a Handbag Productions, based in Chicago, is now in season 24 of silly send-up shows.
The holidays have been fruitful for Cerda and company for packing in audiences for a mostly sold-out run of Cerda’s new world premiere of Hell in a Handbag Productions’ “The Real Housewives of The North Pole,” the latest parody written by Artistic Director Cerda and directed by Tommy Bullington. It opened Nov. 20, added more performances, and now is playing through Jan. 4 at The Clutch, Handbag’s boutique 70-seat performance space at 4335 N. Western Ave. in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood.
“The Real Housewives of The North Pole” features ensemble members including Cerda, reprising the role of gossipy socialite Gladys Dasher, along with David Lipschutz portraying producer and media personality Andy Cohen, Terry McCarthy as makeup artist Cookie, and Robert Williams as Mrs. Frosty the Snowman.
Along for this sleighing stage ride are Kelly Opalko as a dippy production assistant, Taylor Mercado Owen as suave sobriety coach Carlos, Britain Shutters as a salty Suzy Snowflake, Anna Rose Steinmeyer as Clarice, wife of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Honey West as tipsy Mrs. Ruth Claus. Honey West, who was born and raised in Gary, is a 1979 graduate of Lew Wallace High School and earned a musical theatre degree from Indiana University.
The 90-minute plot entails Santa and all the North Pole’s “power players” being indicted for fraud. It’s the women of the North Pole who decide to save their families from financial ruin by agreeing to an offer from Andy Cohen from the Bravo network, who whisks them into reality TV stardom with his latest broadcast production, “The Real Housewives of the North Pole.” Audiences also get a dose of plenty of cameo appearances by some of the North Pole’s most famous (and infamous) citizens through the magic of elf workshop technology.
David Cerda originated the character of gossipy Gladys Dasher back when he first dreamed up the idea for the tale of “Rudolph, the Red-Hosed Reindeer,” his silly cross-dressing deer adaptation he dreamed up in 1997. His script originally had Gladys as hailing from Lowell, Indiana. During the 13th annual run of “Rudolph, the Red-Hosed Reindeer,” Cerda added a new subplot based on the TV pop culture headlines of the year and included a “Dancing with the Stars” competition to the storyline, including the addition of the Suzy Snowflake character.
“Like it or not, ‘The Real Housewives series’ is also a pop cultural phenomenon, so it’s only natural that Handbag would tackle it, head on,” Cerda said.
“I find the entire Bravo and Andy Cohen universe both compelling and cringeworthy, and I think it’s a barometer of the world we live in today. Handbag Productions is known for its satirical take on pop culture, making it the perfect company to bring this over-the-top reality series to life on stage. The series mirrors society’s obsession with fame and excess, highlighting both the allure and absurdity of modern celebrity culture.”
Final performances of “The Real Housewives of the North Pole” are 7:30 p.m. Jan. 1, 2 and 3 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4. General admission is $44.25 with VIP reserved seating paired with a drink ticket for $56.25 at handbagproductions.org.
Hell in a Handbag has a mission statement “dedicated to the preservation, exploration and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage.” It is a501(c)(3) not-for-profit.
“As we enter this 24th year, I can’t help but feel proud to have survived for as long as we have,” Cerda said.
“Handbag is more than a theater company. We’re part of the Chicago community and the ensemble doesn’t take that responsibility lightly. We are here to celebrate who we are through the lens of camp and the theater of the ridiculous as a uniquely queer art form. I’ve been told I belong in an institution, but I’ve never imagined Handbag would become a Chicago institution.”
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and weekly radio host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at philpotempa@gmail.com.
