The Mystery of Irma Vep is a parody with a gimmick: all the roles, half of them female, are played by two male actors in a whirlwind of instant costume changes. Charles Ludlam’s outrageous homage to Gothic horror and B-movie monsters touches all the bases—ancient curses, spooky omens, hints of foul murder and supernatural forces, plus werewolves, vampires and a mummy, laid over melodramatic plot twists and topped off with smutty gags and literary in-jokes. It’s the opening show of Panache Productions’ fifteenth season as Springfield’s downtown community theater.
Nov. 8-10, 15-17, CityStage, 1 Columbus Center, Springfield, (413) 283-5980.
