Bette Davis & Joan Crawford Celebrated In 'Bitchslap!'

Once upon a time in a land called Hollywood, there lived two goddesses of the sliver screen: Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Er, Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. They made many wonderful movies (separately) and became hugely successful stars. Then one day, they decided to make a movie together called "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?" Let the diva smackdown begin!

The Waterfront Playhouse proudly presents "BitchSlap!" written and directed by  Darrin Hagen and starring: Christopher Peterson as Bette Davis and RAndy Roberts as Joan Crawford. Spurring on the intrigue is Vanessa McCaffrey as the wily Hedda Hopper. "BitchSlap!" opens on February 25 and runs until March 7 for nine  performances only. (PLEASE note the special curtain time of 7 pm for ALL performances.)

"BitchSlap!"is a funny (and occasionally touching) look at two of our greatest film legends. "BitchSlap!" tells of the real-life show-biz feud in which these two stars battle royally, (like Queens!) over roles, top-billing, Oscars and MEN. Their early struggles, their successes, their affairs, their confrontations are all part of the play. The Edmonton Sun calls "BitchSlap!" "Bawdy, cutting, malicious, caustic and very, very funny."

Director/playwright Darrin Hagen is an award-winning writer, composer, actor, television host, as well as Canada's most notorious drag performer. He was the co-host of "Help!TV,"  and  "Who's On Top?" in which he became the first Drag Artiste in Canada to host a national television series. Hagen was honored with the Rosie Award (Alberta Motion Picture Association) for best Male Host. His first one-man/woman play, "The Edmonton Queen: Not A Riverboat Story," was awarded an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding New Work in 1997. Other comedies include: "Tornado Magnet: A Salute to Trailer Court Women," "Tranny Get Your Gun!," "Li'l Orphan Tranny,"  "Tranne of Green Gables," and "Men Are Stoopid, Women Are Cra-azy" (all co-written with Chris Craddock). BitchSlap! was THE hit of 2005's Edmonton and Winnipeg Fringe Festivals.

Christopher Peterson is a renowned female impersonator, who has performed all over North America. His legendary stage show, "Eyecons," features a vast range of impersonations (using his own voice,) from Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, Joan Rivers, Barbra Streisand, as well as many others, and of course, Bette Davis.  He is the recipient of a Dora Award (Canada's Tony) and has appeared in many theatrical productions in Canada and the US. Locally he has appeared in the Founder's production of "Howard Crabtree's Whoop-Dee-Doo!" at the Waterfront and with the Key West Pops. He was in the award-winning documentary "We're Funny That Way," as well as being featured as Lucille Ball in the film "Rat Race" with Cuba Gooding, Jr.

RAndy Roberts has also performed all over, including appearances in Britain and Spain. His legendary stage show, "RAndy Roberts LIVE," is an all live, multi-media tribute to some of the world's most loved performers, including Joan Rivers, Cher, Mae West, Bette Midler and many others, including the audience favorite, Consuela. Using his own voice to make these ladies come alive, Randy closes each show with a mini-lounge act where he sings some of the great standards. He has performed in clubs and cabarets, as well as with large orchestras, including our own Key West Pops and Key West Symphony. Also locally, he was one of the stars of "Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly" at the Red Barn, as well as "Penny Lane" at the Waterfront.

Vanessa McCaffrey is a playwright/director/actress who has appeared on all of the stages of Key West. At the Waterfront, she has appeared in "Equus" and "The Sum of Us," directed Mark Watson's smash hit "The Times" and co-wrote "Easy Come" for 2003 the Key West Theatre Festival.  Last season she was one of the directors for The Red Barn's "Rompers" (which she will be repeating in May in a new version) and has appeared at the Barn in "Dancing At Lughnasa," "Bed Among The Lentils" and "The Lover." At TWT she was in "Don't Dress For Dinner."

Tickets for "BitchSlap!" may be purchased by calling 305-294-5015 or through their online ticketing at www.waterfrontplayhouse.org. 

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