Theatre Downtown does it again with Die Mommie Die!

A murder mystery turned topsy turvey.  This show was hilarious, raunchy and fun.  Actor Kevin Bee (in drag as Angela) led this local cast of fun loving Hollywood jews down a windy (somewhat predictable) path of adultery, murder and intrigue.  Angela and Tony are having an affair, but when Angela's husband Sol finds out, things get way out of hand.   Angela poisons Sol, but then maid Bootsy conspires with Sol to pull off the ultimate charade, Sol's death.  Kids Lance and Edith can't let their fathers murder go unavenged, but when they get too close, they learn the long hidden truth about Angela's twin sister Barbara.

Complete cheese and corn, but this cast pulls it off nicely.   Big kudos to Scott Poole as brother Lance and Joe Saunders as the gigolo, Tony Parker.  When these actors are on stage, it's hard to watch anyone else.   Their facial expressions and antics really made the show.   The scene where Lance's dressing ritual is interrupted by Tony is priceless and I have to say probably the best scene in the show.  Scott was sufficiently disturbing,  and has you completely believing that he is a psychotic OCD homosexual with an overactive libido.   Joe fits perfectly into his role as the slimy gold digging lover who looks and acts remarkably like Jim Carey.

A nod to Jennifer Gannon, who many Orlandoians remember as pooch Sylvia in the troop's version of the show by the same name.   She brought the same energy and expression to her role as Edith, the ultimate Jewish American Princess. 

Christian Kelty as Sol Sussman, displayed the perfect booming voice and slovenly attitude for a Hollywood Jew movie mogul.  I somewhat remember Christian from his last role at Fringe in Jedi Handbook, but he so seamlessly fit into the role as Sol, that he was nearly unrecognizable.

Mark and I both agreed, that Kevin's drag Angela was probably the weakest performance of the night.  Although he had great costumes and wigs, his face lacked expression, his mannerisms were flat, his jokes missed the mark and he just wasn't believable. 

Memorable Moments:

Loved the door bell to the Gone with the Wind theme as well as Angela's final stage exit to the same music and movie tribute.   When characters entered at the beginning of act 1 & 2, some unique theme song would chime and the characters would play along wondering where the music came from.    Also loved the word "constipated", Sol would say it, pause in the middle and a toilet sound would echo in the background.   Also really loved the giant four foot suppository as well as the endless one liners and pretend sex acts.

Worth the $18

Definitely worth the price of admission and a great way to spend a Friday night when pretty much all of the hit movies have a splat.