Drag troupe renders show in typical blood-curdling horror

Published: Thursday, October 29, 1998

Thursday, October 29, 1998

THEATER: Success of ŒVampire Lesbians' lies in intentional overacting, general deviancy

By Vanessa VanderZanden

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Lesbians. Vampires. Sodomy.

And that's just in the title.

This strange fairy tale of gothic horror provides plot twists and staging as yet unavailable on Broadway. Because, well, quite frankly, the socialites behind mainstream theater have got too much class to run a campy vehicle like "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom." The intimate back lounge of North Hollywood's Aaah Capella's Cafe, however, provides the perfect setting.

Running at 10:30 on Friday and Saturday nights through Nov. 14, the trashy performance prides itself on poorly acted scenes and a sparsely designed set. Yet, by emulating the style of low-budget horror film productions from the past 50 years, the work hits its mark. And who better to perform such a piece than an acting troupe with two drag stars at its helm?

Padded Productions pairs the talents of young, spry Kelly Mantle and older, more established Debbie David as the two vampirical beasts in question. Playing smoothly off of each others' devious quips, the duo carries the show through even its slower scenes if a play like "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom" can lay claim to including slow moments. With sharp wits and well-timed deliveries, the expressive faces of the leads almost trick audiences into believing they've scored tickets to a top-notch performance.

Almost.

After all, the plot does render a fine display of emotional catharsis impossible. The opening scene has two hard-bodied gay guards of the ancient land of Sodom slipping each other sexual innuendos right and left. Their short skirts a-flapping, the two eventually deliver their employer a monstrous succubus a gum-snapping virgin for the offering.

From here, the story gets wacky.

As the androgynous, blood-sucking creature (David) slurps life out of the valley-speaking adolescent (Mantle), the distraught victim bites back. This retaliation incurs an eternity of vampirism upon her, for which she bitterly blames the immortal haunt. Chasing the aging ghoul from one time period to the next, the plot weaves from Sodom to Hollywood circa 1920 to '80s Las Vegas. And in true sappy, made-for-TV style, the tale resolves itself somewhat merrily, with love gushing from one terror's cardiovascular system to the next.

Like the steady stream of blood pumping from the heart to the aorta to the veins to the capillaries, the show goes on. And on. But it doesn't go on for too long; when it reaches the edge of audience members' capacity for stilted, over-acted and under-acted sequences, the peculiar spectacle calls it quits.

And not a moment too soon for most tired viewers, the theatrical performance completes its mission to shock and tickle a giggle. Though it may not fulfill those in need of spiritual guidance, it does offer a useful lesson to the audience at large: never bite a succubus back when it's trying to suck your blood. It'll just result in an eternity of suckiness.Photos courtesy of Padded Productions

Debbie David plays La Condesa and the Succubus vampire in "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom."

Shane Mathews (left) and Ethan Wilde play the guards of the Succubus's temple in Sodom.

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