BCBF-toprint.jpg

It’s just as fun as the poster would have you believe. And as their press release states, “This show has no redeeming social value WHATSOEVER, so if sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, and little people offend you, this comedy is definitely not for you.” Well, sign me up. Bikini Creature Beach Feature is a charming mélange of '60s beach blanket flicks, '80s sex gooferies à la Hardbodies, and grindhouse motorcycle gang pictures. Bikini beach bunnies dance, a sea witch vamps, the local motorcycle gang cruises around with their ape, and Guantanamo Baywatch and the Lordy Lords soundtrack the shenanigans. It’s kinda like reading a particularly great Josie and the Pussycats comic book.

More after the jump.

Brought to you from the makers of The Copyright Infringement Before Xmas and last year's haunted house The Blood Shack, Bikini was written by the Lordy Lords' Matt Stanger, who obviously loves the crap outta all things cheese-tastic. The show is something like a teen girl’s magazine-clipping collage—a little Frankie and Annette, a little Gremlins and Ghostbusters (tubular Gizmo and Slimer airbrushed T-shirts by Stanger), and some creature feature and burlesque. With all this homage, it makes for a fun variety show feel, the flipside being not much happens plotwise. Girls dance, the Sand Witch (Tana Miller) sings, Guantanamo Baywatch rocks out. That lack of forward momentum in the story isn’t criticism—not much ever happened in a beach party movie—but you should know what you’re getting yourself into. My only true complaint would be the strange inclusion of a Big Daddy Roth-like character (Ian Kennedy); his intrusion into the beach circus was jarring and unwelcome. It seems like it would be easy to reference Rat Fink in another way without putting a hiccup in the hijinks. But, shit, that’s no big thing. Everyone’s obviously having a blast onstage and it’s infectious. The production is a great time. Even my reluctant husband had fun, and that’s saying something.

Also cautionary tale for the drinkniks in the audience: Slow your roll at the bar. Don’t be like me and find yourself on the south side of buzzed after the intermission. It’s rare that my once-a-year theatre experience has a full bar and the opening-night show got off to a slow start… enough with the excuses, Bikini’s the perfect chaser to a whiskey soda.

Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside
through Sunday, April 3
8 pm, $12-15, 21+
You can get tickets here through Mercury ticketing.