Ricky Delorey II headlines the cast of the dark adult comedy “Women Behind Bars,” the next production of Aloha Performing Arts Company. He is cast crossgender as The Matron, Pauline Weisskurcher, a role created off-Broadway by Divine, who went on
Ricky Delorey II headlines the cast of the dark adult comedy “Women Behind Bars,” the next production of Aloha Performing Arts Company. He is cast crossgender as The Matron, Pauline Weisskurcher, a role created off-Broadway by Divine, who went on to star in many John Waters films. The Matron’s flunky assistant, Louise, is played by Janemarie Singer.
Others in the cast are: Robin O’Hara as Blanche, a delusional Mississippi ex-debutante; Sara Hagen as Jo-Jo, a hyperactive slum runaway; Rachel Leonard as Cheri, a big blonde with low morals but a high price tag; Jackie Kalani, in the double role of The Warden and Granny Sarah Lee Crocker, a religious old lady with a poisonous tongue; Arlene Araki, as Gloria, a hard-living, cigarette-smoking murderer; Nani Moreman, as the speed-addled space cadet Ada; Priscilla Basque as Guadalupe, a fiery senorita from Puerto Rico; April Mai as Mary, the innocent, young newcomer destroyed by the system; and Kikiola Pimental as The Man, who plays several characters.
“Women Behind Bars” was written by Tom Eyen and is an edgy satire intended for mature audiences only. It contains profanity, violence and sexual situations, and is not appropriate for children. The show first appeared off-Broadway at the Astor Place Theatre in 1975, and has since been produced at various regional theaters across the country and abroad. It is set in the Women’s House of Detention in Greenwich Village, in the years 1952 to 1959, and follows a young prisoner from innocence and wrongful incarceration to cynicism and a life of crime.
APAC’s production is directed by Jerry Tracy, assisted by Cathy Riehle, who is also the costume designer. Other designers include: Tracy and Mark Murdock, set; Bob Gage, lighting; Toni Reynolds, props; and Miguel Montez, sound. Montez and Jan Rae are the producers, Annabelle Treacy and Melissa Atwood are production assistants, Terry Ann Fujioka is the stage manager and Cameron Bailey-Bram is house manager.
Performances will be July 12 to 27 at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu, at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through July 27. Tickets are $20 and $17 and are available by phone at 322-9924 weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., online at alohatheatre.com, or at the box office beginning one hour prior to performance time. For more information, call 322-9924.
