“Irma Vep” Is A Wild Ride at Live Theatre Workshop

Revved up and running hard, “The Mystery of Irma Vep” at Live Theatre Workshop gets its laughs and then some. The jaunty comedy was originally conceived as a gay cabaret spoof of Agatha Christy murder mysteries, while flaunting a campy sense of fun. But now LTW’s production, juiced for the 21st century, turns “Irma” into a speed freak in werewolf’s clothing.

On opening night, Cliff Madison and Stephen Frankenfield not only pulled out all the stops but blew apart the rest of the pipe organ, forever zipping backstage for still another split-second costume change before dashing back out as a different character.

To say there is a whole lot of screaming going on would be another understatement. That part of Frankenfield’s performance as the mightily be-wigged Lady Enid earns him lofty scream queen status. His version of the ditzy dame with a wardrobe full of outrageously frilly gowns creates a new definition of how far you have to go to be way over the top.

Not that Madison is being the picture of modest understatement. His portrayal of the meticulously mannered housekeeper Jane Twisten was deliciously twisted. Much of the rest of the time, Madison was stuffing his own shirt as the puffed-up Lord Edgar, not only the Lord of Hillcrest Manor but also a world class Egyptologist.

“The Mystery of Irma Vep,” as we all know, is a comedy with six characters played by two actors­ -- usually men. Frankenfield also plays the lusty gardener Nicodemus and the Egyptian guide Alcazar in heavily embroidered pink pajamas. Madison’s other role is the mysterious Intruder in black.

In between ominous claps of thunder and bursts of scary music, we learn Lady Irma died under mysterious circumstances three years earlier. Since then a sinister wolf frequently has been seen hanging around the estate.

After intermission, Lord Edgar is in Egypt where Alcazar leads the way to an ancient tomb of a beautifully preserved princess. All this comes together in the final scenes with much noise, confusion, scuffling about and a swirling series of costume changes.

Backstage a team of three dressers is keeping both actors properly attired and pointed in the right direction. In a thoughtful touch, the dressers get to take a curtain call right alongside Frankenfield and Madison. The dressers are Shanna Brock , Cecelia Lance and Jaclyn Lee.

“The Mystery of Irma Vep” plays at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, to July 19 at Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. Tickets are $15-$18. For details, www.livetheatreworkshop.org

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