Caged Dames presented by Hell in a Handbag at Theater Wit

Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended

"...Freed from the constraints of their usual cramped quarters at Mary's Attic, Hell in a Handbag's creative team (especially set designer Zachary Gipson and choreographer Love) make the most of the larger Theater Wit stage while retaining the intimacy and slap-dash aura that often makes the company feel like the most whacked-out community theater group you will ever see."

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...Revived from its 2006 version, the new Dames has more songs by show creator David Cerda, plus snazzy production values and miked queens (would that Crazy Eyes were so lucky). Props to both Elizabeth Morgan as Mary and Cerda as the prison warden, but Christea Parent's Schnitzy takes the cake with her solo, which contains the delicate line "Can you not see the Nazi in me?" It's all the sass of good drag with twice the singing."

Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...Caged Dames lovingly mocks the language and conventions of those old exploitation films such as 1950's Caged: Mary, convicted as an unwitting accessory to the robbery attempt that left her husband dead, finds herself thrown into a micro-society populated by the likes of mob moll Big Lorraine (Sydney Genco), heart-of-gold streetwalker Trixie (Steve Love) and gently batshit murderess Myrtle (Elizabeth Lesinski), all of whom are overseen by petty, hardened Matron Elsie Emerson (Ed Jones)."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended

"...Zachary Gipson has created a masterful, Jeff Award deserving set that functions beautifully. Love’s choreography is always fun, especially when he is dancing it himself. Kate Selzer Kamphausen’s costumes are sturdy, as is Musical Director Emily Barrett’s band. Jacob Christopher Green’s wigs are terrific, as are the props by Meeleah Heindenreich. Loretta and puppeteer Lolly Extract deserve a special shout out! You won’t leave the theater humming any of the tunes, but the ballads are effective and the title number and “Riot in the Big House” got the audience moving. The sound is pretty good with new wireless mics, although a lot of lyrics get lost in the mayhem. Erik S. Barry’s lights are murky at times, but it is all held together nicely by AJ Wright’s brassy and sassy direction."

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...With characters, setting and a plot ripped directly from every hokey Women in Prison movie ever produced, David Cerda has achieved the impossible. He’s outdone himself with this bigger, longer and uncut adaptation of his own play that not only boasts a stellar cast, but is brimming with broad humor, hilarious songs, a full band and glorious scenery and costumes. This production is sharply directed and choreographed with flair and pizzazz. It’s an obvious collaborative labor of love and respect by everyone involved. The result is an over-the-top, fun-filled production laced with exaggerated humor that takes drag performance to new heights. Ladies: start your engines. Camp in Chicago is now open for the summer."

The Fourth Walsh - Recommended

"...My favorite aspects of this production are Handbag’s signature playfulness. Handbag regular Ed Love (Elsie) hilariously accuses a cast member of being insignificant. This sends Mario Mazzetti into the riotous “I’m Typist/Guard” song. Throughout the show, the perfectly daft Elizabeth Lesinski (Myrtle) sputters nonsensical comments. Her unexpected and ridiculous insertions are a hoot. And Cerda, in his customary Joan Crawford way, continually zings the joke with his haughty deadpan."