Review: SCREAM, QUEEN, SCREAM!

David Cerda, the crown prince of Chicago Camp, is back and in top form with his latest queer take on horror anthologies, SCREAM, QUEEN, SCREAM! Cerda, the artistic director of Hell in a Handbag Productions, wrote the show and also stars in one of the trilogy of stories. It runs through Oct. 31 at Mary's Attic (5400 N. Clark).

Though HIAH doesn't do the horror anthologies annually, it somehow doesn't feel like Halloween season without one of these shows ("Cher at 20,000 Feet" from a HIAH Halloween production a few years ago remains one of my all-time favorites thanks to a spot-on impression of the diva as well as its overall absurdist tone). SCREAM, QUEEN, SCREAM! ranks right up there with the best of the groups prior outings.

The evening of one-acts is hosted by Dragula (John Cardone). Cardone's character, who wears a wig of hair done up as horns, is equal parts Crypt Keeper and Elvira; he's both sexy and creepy at the same time. He sets the scene for each of the pieces (much like the Crypt Keeper does on "Tales from the Crypt"). Cardone is also a gifted improviser -able to fill time interacting with the audience when cast members need a bit more time with their quick costume changes.

In "Taco Tuesday" Rachel Hadlock is hysterical as an office temp who isn't quite what she seems. Kristopher Bottrall palys office worker Candy, who is the only one who seems to notice that the temp is not normal. Also providing laughs are Shiv Mann as the closeted, nebbish boss Amir Kamaliazad, Laura Coleman as Kandy with a K and Chad as the margarita-loving HR director Carol.

In "The Box (based on "The Crate" segment in the film "Creepshow"), Cedra plays verbally abusive alcoholic Betty Carr with equal parts Adrienne Barbeau (who played the character Wilma in the film) and Betty Loren-Maltese (the disgraced former town president of Cicero). Chad is her much put-upon husband Harvey who frequently fantasizes about murdering her and seizes on the opportunity when an ancient box with a dangerous creature (Lolly Extract) is found in storage at the university. Ed Jones is particularly effective as Jeffrey Thompson, a professor driven to the bottle after unleashing the contents of the box. Laura Coleman also finds much comedic fodder as Shirley the janitor.

The final segment, "Shut Up and Die, Maggie!" is based on "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" and features Ed Jones as twins Maggie (the belle) and Aggie (the bookworm). It's plot is as sticky as spilled sweet tea, but suffice to say all the tropes of Southern Gothic horror are absurdly exaggerated. Jones' acting and comedic skills are put to the test in a confrontation scene in which he argues with himself (words cannot do this scene justice). Christea Parent, as cantankerous housekeeper Birdy, manages to steal a few laughs as does Jamie Smith as Maggie and Aggie's dim-witted cousin Whitney. Chaz Bly also deserves a big shout out for a particularly revealing scene in which he loses his head (and much more). Extract also provides shadow-puppetry that enhances the laughs.

Lovers of Camp theater will relish this romp. Cerda and his plucky ensemble put the "howl" in Halloween. And true to the title, you'll scream --with laughter.

SCREAM, QUEEN, SCREAM! runs through Oct. 31 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark. Tickets, $22-$40. www.handbagproductions.org

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