Co-Ed Prison Sluts is a filthy, sometimes depraved, musical with real heart. It succeeds in shocking with one line and charming with the next. An improvised musical, it has been running off and on since 1988 and it is easy to see why it has endured.

The simple set and table seating make the theatre feel like a comedy club. The show starts with punchy opening number Hey, We're in Prison including tap-dancing, and goes into an enjoyable scene in which Heath Cordts shines as Slick, the Southern paedophile, with spot-on accent. Also very good is Dunbar Dicks's Hamster Man, with a great range of facial expressions. There's inspired choreography in the show-stealing Shit, Motherfucker - made up entirely of swear words. Coleen Murray (new-girl Alice) is clearly a very confident dancer and outshines the others. Alice's bittersweet life story, told in song, sums up the show well. It is darkly funny - lines include 'my mother was a prostitute, made me do coke, it was a hoot' - but also tragic, compelling sympathy with the character.

The show's shining star is Steve Hnlicka as Dr Bello, a cross-dressing psychiatrist with more problems than his patients. After a shaky start in which it seems he isn't entirely sure of himself, he gets into his stride, playing with the material. Without spoiling some of the funniest scenes of the show, Dr Bello hypnotises his patients and dresses as a woman while rubbing himself and asking 'inappropriate' questions. He gets more and more worked up in an erotic frenzy - so brilliant that it hurts to watch.

Ellen Stoneking's delusional Dame is another character with real depth; her song - which she belts out with a powerful voice - is bitterly funny. The unrequited love story between her and Hamster Man is touchingly told. It's impressive that the characters are so easy to sympathise with behind the sleaze. Part two opens with a fine performance by Thomas Whittington, who had little chance to shine with his meagre material in the first half. Heath Cordts turns in a barn-stomping performance with Hey, Little Girl - probably the most night's most shocking song. In this musical, nothing is out of bounds.

Costumes are all very detailed for such a small show. Dr Bello's frocks get more and more fantastical as it goes on. The show ends with a Tim Burton-esque song from The Clown, played by Clay Goodpasture. There is an exciting, tense build-up leading to a reprise of the opening song by the cast; and a sing-along with the audience - a fun touch. Co-Ed Prison Sluts is not a show for the easily offended. But deep down, it's a musical that touches the heart as well as the funny bone.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Heath Cordts - Slick. Dunbar Dicks - Hamster Man. Clay Goodpasture - The Clown. Steve Hnlicka - Dr Bello. Ken Manthey - The Warden. Colleen Murray - Alice. James Stanton - Skeeter. Ellen Stoneking - Dame Toulouse. Taco - Fluffy (the dog). Thomas Whittington - Henry.

Company Credits: Company Credits: Writers - Original Ensemble: Tom Booker, Bob Fisher, Ed Furman, Frank Kentra, John Harizal, Susan Messing, Tom Rossen, Ellen Stoneking, Mark Sutton & Kahlua. Director - Mick Napier. Original Music - Faith Soloway. Musical Director - Lisa Mcqueen. Lighting Designer – James FitzGerald. Sound Designer - uncredited. Technical Director – James FitzGerald. Producer - Jennifer Estlin. Company - Annoyance Productions. Website - www.annoyanceproductions.com

END

(c) Matthew Rose 2009

reviewed Friday 1 May 2009 / Annoyance Theatre, Chicago, USA.

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com