Highly Recommended - Skooby Snacks - Matt Simonette, Chicago Reader 10/16/24

"Two television universes have unexpectedly collided on Chopin Theatre's mainstage with The Golden Girls Meet the Skooby Don't Gang: The Mystery of the Haunted Bush--a funny and raunchy new installment in Hell in a Handbag's popular Golden Girls parody franchise.

It turns out that Rose's (Ed Jones, excellent here) nephew is none other than fresh-out-of-the-closet amateur sleuth Fred (Tyler Anthony Smith) of the Skooby Don't gang, who wander the country solving the creepiest mysteries. Fred's got Skooby (Ben Meneses)--not to be confused with a certain canine crimefighter whose copyright is closely guarded by Warner Bros. Discovery--and the perpetually stoned Skaggy (Josh Kemper) in tow. They're of course joined by Velva (Caitlin Jackson) and Daffy (Elizabeth Lesinski), both in the throes of fully realizing their burgeoning pansexuality.

Nature abhors a vacuum, so the appearance of the Mystery, Inc. (-ish) Gang means some monster will appear in their wake. Cue the titular Bush Monster, who for some reason seems to have its sights set on Rose. Writer and Handbag artistic director David Cerda tosses in a world-weary nonagenarian Nancy Drew (Danne W. Taylor) for good measure.

The details of the mystery don't make too much sense, and the script could have used some tightening. But the wisecracks just keep coming, this time punctuated with high-energy slapstick once the Bush Monster attacks the Golden Girls' house. A bit wherein the Golden Girls and the Skooby gang swap identities--especially when a Skooby Don't outfit manages to make Cerda's Dorothy even dowdier--is alone worth the price of admission. Excellent direction from Frankie Leo Bennett and a fully game cast make this one a must-see

**** The Golden Girls meet The Skooby Don't Gang: - Frank Meccia, AroundTheTownChicago.com

" Hell in a Handbag Productions has once again delivered a riotous and unforgettable theatrical experience with their latest world premiere, The Golden Girls Meet The Skooby Don't Gang: The Mystery of the Haunted Bush. Artistic Director David Cerda has indeed saved the best for last with this hilarious and campy production, capping off the season in spectacular fashion. Directed by Frankie Leo Bennett, the show masterfully blends the beloved Golden Girls characters with the classic Scooby-Doo gang, creating a quirky, nostalgia-filled mashup that's perfect for Halloween.

The performance is a vivid homage to the Golden Girls sitcom, capturing the essence of the iconic TV show in both humor and characterization. David Cerda, who plays Dorothy, brings his signature flair to the role, embodying the sharp wit and dry humor of the character with impeccable timing. His makeup and overall look are spot-on, though a slightly more era-appropriate wig could enhance the authenticity of Dorothy's 90s aesthetic. Regardless, Cerda's performance is a highlight of the show, as his comedic prowess is undeniable.

Grant Drager as Blanche delivers an uproarious performance that taps into the sultry Southern charm and exaggerated sexuality of the character. His portrayal skillfully teeters on the edge, pushing the comedic boundaries in a way that perfectly suits the outlandish nature of the production. Ed Jones, as the sweetly naïve Rose, completely nails the character's look and mannerisms, capturing her ditzy but lovable persona with great comedic effect. The physicality and vocal delivery are flawless, making Jones' Rose one of the most delightful elements of the show.

Ryan Oates returns as the feisty Sophia, the wisecracking Sicilian matriarch who never fails to land a punchline. His portrayal is remarkable for its attention to detail--from the way Sophia walks to the biting delivery of her famous one-liners. The ensemble of Golden Girls characters feels both true to the original while being humorously amplified in the campy world Hell in a Handbag is known for.

The Skooby Don't cast brings a wonderfully faithful and absurd take on the classic cartoon characters. Tyler Anthony Smith's Fred is a near-perfect imitation, right down to his signature orange ascot. Caitlin Jackson as Velva brings a sharp wit and intelligence to the role, while Elizabeth Lesinski as Daffy nails the character's ditzy charm. Ben Meneses as Skooby, the beloved dog, and Josh Kemper as Skaggy, whose raspy voice is instantly recognizable, round out the gang with delightful precision. These performers clearly grew up watching Scooby-Doo, as their portrayals bring the animated characters to vivid life on stage.

Special mention goes to Danne W. Taylor as Nancy Drew and Scott Sawa, who hilariously plays Dorothy's ex-husband Stan and also engages the audience with Golden Girls trivia during intermissions, adding an extra layer of interaction and fun.

The premise of the show is delightfully absurd. Rose's cousin Fred (from St. Olaf, naturally) visits, bringing the Skooby Don't gang along, only for a spooky mystery involving a haunted bush--or is it a tree?--to ensue. The bizarre plot is exactly what fans of Hell in a Handbag Productions have come to expect, and it works perfectly for a Halloween-themed performance.

Highly Recommended - The Mystery of the Haunted Bush - Colin Douglas, ChicagoTheatreReview.com, 10/15/24

"They say that timing is everything. Well, just in time for Halloween, Hell in a Handbag is presenting another hilarious original episode of their Golden Girls series. These beloved parodies have always delighted audiences, particularly the LGBTQ+ community, as well as all those Liberal-minded theatergoers who have good taste. So don your masks and head on over to the Chopin Theatre where the fun and frolicking is just beginning.

In this latest installment, Rose is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her dear nephew, Fred. He's bringing along his amateur crime investigating friends, The Skooby Don't Gang. But besides looking forward to a reunion with her favorite relative, Rose is frightened about something. She's really hoping that Fred and his friends can help her solve a mystery that's been haunting her Miami home: a giant bush is stalking the neighborhood, wreaking terror among all the senior citizen residents.

In addition to the Skooby Don't Gang (who, coincidentally, perfectly resemble television's famous Scooby-Doo crew), another famous sleuth has dropped by to spend a few nights. Sophia's best friend, 93-year-old Nancy Drew, is having her house fumigated so she's asked to stay a few nights with the Golden Girls until she can return home. But when "America's favorite 30-something teenagers" arrive, not only are they starstruck by meeting their idol, Skaggy finds himself attracted to the elderly Ms. Drew. And then we learn that Daffy and Velva, the two female flatfoots, are exploring their growing sexual attraction for each other. Meanwhile, Fred is enjoying flaunting his gay lifestyle and Skooby is, well, just relishing being a dapper doggie

This new Halloween episode of The Golden Girls was brilliantly written by multitalented Artistic Director David Cerda, the company's time-honored diva known for his classic portrayal of Dorothy Zbornak. Mr. Cerda, as always, is sensational in this iconic role. His droll parody of Bea Arthur is full of attitude, style and biting line delivery. Bravo, David, for always bringing it, and thank you for yet another wonderful Golden Girls satire

The entire gifted cast is, as always, irrepressibly impeccable. The three wonderful Chicago actors who've made these classic characters their own over the years are forever fantastic. Ryan Oates' scurrilous Sicilian senior citizen Sophia, Grant Drager's sprightly and sexually bodacious Blanche Devereaux and Ed Jones' softhearted St. Olaf simpleton, Rose Nylund once again bring their charm, style and double-entendres to the stage for our enjoyment. Add to these Golden Gals the deadpan drollery and silver tongue tastelessness of talented Danne W. Taylor, playing that naughty nonagenarian, Nancy Drew, and you have a quintet of nonstop laughs.

But there's more! Add to the hilarious high jinks the talented members of the Skooby Don't Gang. Always one of my favorite Chicago actors, Caitlin Jackson is positively perfect as that perceptive whizkid Velva; Daffy, as portrayed by the wonderful Liz Lesinski, strikes her poses and creates a ditzy character that totally lives up to her name. Handsome Josh Kemper returns as Skaggy, a role he originated several years ago, and he's funnier than ever. Ben Meneses makes his first appearance with Hell in a Handbag as the delightfully droll, cute and clever canine, Skooby.

Another of Handbag's multitalented Renaissance men, the stylishly flamboyant Tyler Anthony Smith (the gifted creator and star of their recent musical parody, POOR PEOPLE) is quite simply all that and a bag of glitter, as Fred. And super support comes from cast members Scott Sawa, so wonderful as Stan, and also the emcee of the two between-acts Trivia Games, as well as a deliciously delightful Michael S. Miller who plays both Miles and the Golden Girls' nosy neighbor Rita Claxton.

Kudos go to Madeline Felauer for her vast wardrobe of Costumes. They not only include fitting garb for each character (like the Skooby Don't Gang in an homage to Scooby-Doo), and different daily outfits for each character, but also appropriate apparel for when the characters switch roles as a disguise. Syd Genco and Keith Ryan are, as always, spot-on with their Makeup and Wig Designs, which add another level to the portrayal of each wacky character.

This show marks Hell in a Handbag's unbelievable 82nd production. It's an hilarious Halloween-themed farce filled with playfulness and purple fun. Members of Chicago's LGBTQ+ community, as well as every openminded theatergoer, will have a great time revisiting Dorothy, Sophia, Rose and Blanche--and just in time for our scary Samhain Celebrations. THE GOLDEN GIRLS MEET THE SKOOBY DON'T GANG, David Cerda's latest chapter in his popular series of cleverly-written parodies, is filled with fun. Director Frankie Leo Bennett has done a remarkable job staging this large, talented cast, always helping each actor fine-tune his or her comedic chops to the fullest. Handbag's new offering overflows with saucy, adult Tricks with plenty of fantastic, farcical Treats. Don't miss it or the Bush might get you!

Highly Recommended - Handbag's 'The Golden Girls..' a hilarious adventure not to be missed" - Kimberly Katz, BuzzCenterStage.com 10/15/24

"I look forward to every Hell and a Handbag production - because I know they're always a great time. The company's spot-on takes on adored characters, from those in the Golden Girls to Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, always blend high camp humor with a warm, heartfelt touch.

In Handbag's latest offering, the world premiere of The Golden Girls Meet The Skooby Don't Gang: The Mystery of The Haunted Bush, we get a brilliant mash up of beloved characters from the Golden Girls and Scooby Doo. Does it work? It absolutely does. This new comedy, penned by the immensely talented David Cerda, and directed and choreographed with flair by Frankie Leo Bennett is one of the team's best yet

The adventure kicks off when Rose spots a leafy, brush-covered monster--dubbed the "haunted bush"--lurking around the complex where she, Dorothy, Blanche, and Sophia live. "The haunted bush"... you can already imagine the fun to be had with that one. As the monster sightings increase and the girl's fear escalates, Rose calls in her nephew, Fred, and his Skooby Don't Gang of crime solvers to investigate. And just like that, these two worlds collide in a side-splitting adventure, which only gets wilder when Nancy Drew joins the team. Yes, the famous girl detective, Nancy Drew! As with any Handbag production, the laughs in this comedy-mystery are as outrageous as they are plentiful. Packed with cartoonish chase scenes, snappy one-liners, well-timed slapstick and a hefty dose of innuendo-driven humor, this new production at Chopin Theatre's mainstage is a hilariously bold comedy with all the right twists and turns.

This cast is packed with all your favorite Handbag stars. The Golden Girls are back! Yay! Ed Jones shines as the naive but loveable Rose Nyland, while Grant Drager is a tour de force as flirty Blanche Devereaux, delivering one witty remark after another. David Cerda reprises his role as Dorothy Zbornak, commanding the stage with every line and Sophia Petrillo is wonderfully portrayed with grit and sass by Ryan Oates. Dorothy's ex, Stan is riotously played by Scott Sawa, drawing several big laughs while also interacting with the audience throughout the show for Golden Girls trivia, with the winners (everyone who plays) getting to reach in and choose a prize from the mystery bag. I won a Handbag magnet! Woot!

The Skooby gang is also superbly cast, led by Tyler Anthony Smith as Fred. Smith absolutely crushes the role and delivers one funny scene after another from the moment we are greeted by his ass as Rose opens the door to welcome her nephew. Elizabeth Lesinski is delightful as Daffy while Caitlin Jackson is just perfect as Velva, the two heavily crushing on each other throughout the play. The gang is rounded out well with stellar performances from both Ben Meneses as Skooby and Josh Kemper as Skaggy, cracking voice and all. Michael S. Miller is funny in his dual roles as Miles and Rita Claxton and Danne W. Taylor gets some hearty laughs in taking on the role of Nancy Drew, especially in a love scene that no one could have seen coming. But all is possible in the Handbag multi-verse

Handbag's talented cast has perfected the art of camp humor, skillfully addressing and laughing at the subjects of sexuality, while also evoking compassion --all within a familiar, friendly, and entertaining environment.

While the cast is exceptional, the creative team also does a tremendous job in putting together a set that brings the audience into the center of the mystery. Marcus Klein (Scenic Design), Liz Cooper (Lighting Design) and Danny Rockett (Sound Design) team up to deliver a visual and audio experience that uniquely pulls in each and every audience member while Sydney Genco (Make-up Design), Keith Ryan (Wig design) and Madeline Felauer (Costume Design) seamlessly bring the characters to life.

For those Chicagoans lucky enough to have been watching Handbag productions for the last 22 years, going to one of their shows is like being at a party with a bunch of your best old friends. With this show, it's a place to sing the Golden Girls theme song, laugh at bawdy jokes, and just let your heart breathe free for a while, even though it seems like chaos and unfriendliness are raging all around the globe.

I highly recommend this final production of Hell in a Handbag's 22nd season for audiences who want to have a good hard laugh, a nice drink and a solid night of fun, hilarious entertainment.

Highly Recommended - Hell in a Handbag doles out the treats with Double the Farce in the latest chapter of Golden Girls - Kathy D Hey, ThirdCoastReview.com 10/15/24

"There are not many certainties in life and when a sure thing is discovered we all should enjoy it. So, just in time for the Halloween season, Hell in a Handbag Productions has concocted a hilarious farce and sendup of two beloved American shows with The Golden Girls Meet the Skooby Don't Gang: The Mystery of the Haunted Bush. This production was written by artistic director David Cerda and directed by Frankie Leo Bennett, and it is my favorite out of the Golden Girls spoofs.

Cerda and the Handbag ensemble take the characters of Rose, Dorothy, Blanche, and Sophia over the top with drag done the way it should be. I compare them to how the Monty Python characters make their female characters hilarious by not doing an "impersonation" but embodying them. Cerda's Dorothy is an homage to Bea Arthur's dry humor and facial expressions. I started laughing when Rose (Ed Jones) entered with that cotton candy hair and ditzy farm girl mannerisms. Grant Drager has perfected trampy Blanche's mannerisms seemingly always on vibrate.

Rose's nephew from St. Olaf is Fred (Tyler Anthony Smith) from the famous teenage sleuths with the groovy van. Smith is always hilarious but gets to shine as Fred down to the doll hair and orange ascot. Caitlin Jackson is fantastic as the bookish Velva complete with the pleated skirt, soup-bowl bob, and glasses. Daffy (Elisabeth Lesinski)is the glamorous girl everyone wanted to be when we thought Fred was straight and they were dating. Josh Kemper is perfect as the eternally stoned Skaggy (with his faithful pup Skooby--Ben Meneses).

Sophia (Ryan Oates) and her friend super-sleuth Nancy Drew (Danne W. Taylor) stir up plenty of trouble. Taylor is hysterically funny as the frisky and up-for-anything Nancy Drew. If you have ever ridden the 147 bus in Chicago, you have seen this Nancy Drew. Her hair is platinum white in a bob from the late '60s. She wears a Chanel knockoff jacket and a slip. She appears to have forgotten the skirt. Taylor sits gap-legged wearing frilly ankle socks and does unspeakable things with Skaggy as a traumatised Skooby looks on

A giant bush begins haunting the Miami idyll and it looks just like one of the ridiculous creatures that the criminals on Scooby Doo who gets unmasked and complains about how they would have gotten away with it were it not for "those pesky kids." Be prepared for your illusions to be shattered, as Velva and Daphne explore the love that dare not speak its name. Nancy Drew has a serious drug habit and blew out her veins in the '60s. Blanche always wears crotchless underwear and thinks that Velva is Lebanese and not lesbian. Scott Sawa shows up as Dorothy's schlub of an ex-husband Stan. Be prepared for Stan's trivia questions in between costume changes

The Mystery of the Haunted Bush blends the sitcom and the cartoon so well that it is a great farce in addition to a spoof. Some walls turn, secret doors are entered, and slapstick collisions with '50s-style movie screams. The mystery is not a surprise but is perfect for this meeting of television classics. Marcus Klein's scenic design is complemented perfectly by Liz Cooper's lighting design. Keith Ryan's wig designs deserve an award. Syd Genco's makeup captures the essence of each character. A special shout-out to costume designer Madeline Felauer for capturing the animation style and bringing the Golden Girls off the small screen and onto the stage.

I highly recommend The Golden Girls Meet the Skooby Don't Gang: The Mystery of the Haunted Bush. It's a fun evening of laughs, double entendre, and perhaps how we imagined the Scooby Doo gang to be as we got older. Remember that Shaggy used to eat the Scooby snacks as well. How stoned did he have to be? Also, look for some hilariously sentient moments from Skooby. It's an adult Halloween treat that may give you a bellyache from laughing

Recommended - Theater Review 'The Golden Girls'.. - Emma S. Rund, StageandCinema.com 10/31/24

"THE SKOOBY ON HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THIS BUSH, OR SKOOBY DON'T GO? DEPENDS ON YOUR TASTE Hell in a Handbag Productions' world premiere of The Golden Girls Meet the Skooby Don't Gang: The Mystery of the Haunted Bush promises a highly entertaining evening with drag, raunchy humor, and beloved characters young and old. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite deliver. Still, the camp parody makes for an amusing evening despite its Zoinks! moments.

The Golden Girls Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia await the arrival of Rose's nephew, Fred, and his friends, Daffy, Velva, Skaggy, and Skooby (references, of course, to the beloved cartoon Scooby-Doo). Rose (Ed Jones) has asked Fred (Tyler Anthony Smith) to come to town for a casual visit, but she has ulterior motives. She really wants Fred and his mystery-solving friends to help her solve the mystery of a haunted bush thatâ€TMs been stalking her lately. Oh, and Nancy Drew (Danne W. Taylor) is also there -- a point the gang is very excited about it but doesn't have much of a payoff.

While The Golden Girls and the Skooby gang work on solving the mystery of the haunted bush, a series of hilarious chase scenes ensue, and are the most successful aspect of this show, with wonderfully timed door slams and monster reveals. It had never occurred to me that the Scooby-Doo episode format would translate so well to stage, but with David Cerda' s writing, Frankie Leo Bennet's direction, Madeline Felauer's costumes, Syd Genco's makeup, and Keith Ryan's wigs, it really does. Now I want to see more Scooby adaptations.

Aside from the chase scenes, the characters arenâ€TMt putting a lot of effort into solving this mystery. They seem more interested in sleeping with each other (Velva and Daffy are secretly a couple, and Skaggy finds himself in bed with Nancy Drew herself). Nothing against the sexual tension, but it kills the momentum of the mystery a little. When we got back to investigating, I couldn't remember who I was supposed to suspect.

While Cerda certainly writes some very funny moments, the biggest issue with this show is the comedic timing. There doesn't seem to be an outside eye making sure jokes hit their mark. A few struggle to land with deliveries that can't find their rhythm. Others were overcomplicated, coming across as inside jokes. If it weren't for those meddling jokes, this could have been a hoot. That said, the play and the company seem self-aware. This is no Angels in America. They're just having a good time with what it is: a goofy low-budget parody.

If that's what you're expecting, I think you'll have a good time. The energy in the space is welcoming, and you can even try your hand at some trivia during costume changes for the chance to win a prize. What fun! With all the above in mind, if you're a big fan of both The Golden Girls and Scooby-Doo, I think The Golden Girls Meet the Skooby Don't Gang makes for a good goofy evening. If you're not that demographic you might want to skip this one.