Murder, Rewrote presented by Hell In A Handbag Productions at The Den Theatre

Chicago Reader - Recommended

"...It’s all good, clean, dirty-minded fun in the usual Handbag tradition, and Rutherford’s and Howe’s songs provide their own earworm delights. It’s obvious that Rutherford has affection for the underlying material and the character Lansbury played. Much like Hell in a Handbag’s long-running The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes productions, this show celebrates women of a certain age who aren’t going to let themselves be pushed around or thrown off the scent. And there’s also a nice little audience participation twist, a la The Mystery of Edwin Drood, at the end of the 100-minute show."

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...The show is so engaging that audience members cannot help but speculate on the ending during intermission. So before the whodunnit becomes a “Who Did It”, we observe how the characters are all at the “right place at the right time” with a likely motive plus the opportunity to have done the deed. Having the audience figure this out is, in large part, what makes the story tick. Go ahead and see it!"

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...There’s no denying that when it comes to LGBT+ parodies of 20th century pop culture, Hell in a Handbag is in a class all their own. The witty writing team of Ed Rutherford (book & lyrics) and George Howe (music & lyrics) have given Chicago audiences a world premier to die for! It’s a brand new tuneful satire to enjoy as the summer theatre season sadly draws to a close. Hopefully, if judged by the unbridled enthusiasm of the opening night audience, this will be just the beginning. Let us all hope that Bessica Feltcher, particularly as hilarioulsy portrayed by talented Britain Gebhardt, will return to solve another “Murder, Rewrote” mystery…maybe even more!"

Buzznews.net - Highly Recommended

"...Murder, intrigue, and Angela Lansbury: the three universally acknowledged truths that make up a great mystery story. Hell in a Handbag's production of Murder, ReWrote: The Musical Parody at the Den Theatre is the perfect cross-section of drag show and musical. Expect to laugh, cackle, restrain yourself from singing along, and make an immediate tribute to the incomparable Angela Lansbury as you’re reminded of what an icon graced our screens and stages for the better part of a century."

Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Somewhat Recommended

"...So, murder aside, it’s light as a bonbon, and Rutherford and Howe manage to ingratiate both the original show’s die-hard fans as well as the uninitiated. However, its lightness doesn’t really seem to support a two-act structure, and even with a brief intermission, the whole shebang’s about ninety minutes long. And in keeping with a TV spoof, time is given over to archly macabre parodies of otherwise innocent daytime commercials. These are very much in keeping with Rutherford’s archly macabre Black Button Eyes productions, but these are accompanied by clunky rolling walls, the maneuvering of which can’t help but sag the pace. (Other TV-centric gags, like a live “freeze-frame”, are more successful.)"