Capsule Stage Reviews: Bright Lights, Big City, Present Laughter, Time of My Life, The Splasher, Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens

Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens The air conditioning was broken, the sound system twanged like cheap karaoke and the stage was so poorly lit that it was often hard to see – all of that and more turned Unhinged Productions' Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens into a pretty sorry night of theater. The kitschy musical about a cabaret in a far-off galaxy, its oddball denizens and a serial killer who uses a glittery sling-back as a weapon has fun potential. Still, two hours is way too long to linger on this cellophane-thin story that celebrates sexual diversity and features characters with punny names like Anna Labia (Jenna Wallis), Bunny Lingus (Elizabeth Bannor) and Jack De'ath (Chris Patton). And though the cast is peppered with some very appealing performers, including Patton as the evil Jack and Candyce Prince as Jubilee Climax, the space vixen who wants to save the world, they aren't enough to shape this show into a finished production. Craig Bushey's direction is flat, the singing is often far off key and the dancing is...well...let's not go there. Not to mention, this sweaty production can't overcome all the technical difficulties of its venue. Through June 21. Silver House Theatre, 1107 Chartres, 713-547-0126. — LW