ARTS . Arts Picks

Carrie

Oct. 6-Nov. 7, $15-$26, Underground Arts at the Wolf Building, 340 N. 12th St., 215-627-2577, bratproductions.org.


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Published: Sep 28, 2010

[ theater ]

When Brat Productions chose the Stephen King-approved Erik Jackson adaptation of the bloody screamfest that is Carrie, you breathed a sigh of relief. This is no Grease and Desist; after all, no one can stop its drag queen lead, Jersey's own viciously talented Erik Ransom, from essaying the tale of a flaxen-haired high-schooler who gets pranked, tamponed and bucketed — and then gets even in the campiest, goriest fashion. No one can halt the messiest-ever prom night since Prom Night. No one can slow the madness of religious zealotry versus good old growing pains. OK, extreme growing pains. Taking after Sherry Vine, who originated the femme impersonator role off-Broadway in 2006, wide-eyed Ransom leads an all-star Philly cast (including Jess Conda, Leah Walton and Colleen Corcoran) through the spookiest stage vibes since Brat's Barrymore-nominated creepfest, Haunted Poe. Expect director Michael Alltop to bring the same weird passion to King's taunting teen masterpiece. "We had all this blood left over from Haunted Poe, and I could think of no better way to put it to use than by doing Carrie," says Alltop."I love the script, but it still amazes me that Stephen King approved it in the first place. The only thing I can figure out is that having Carrie played by a man in drag is actually closer to what he had in mind, visually, than what Sissy Spacek looked like in the movie." Bloody right.

Oct. 6-Nov. 7, $15-$26, Underground Arts at the Wolf Building, 340 N. 12th St., 215-627-2577, bratproductions.org.