Theater

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Final Girl in Innsmouth!

Published January 23, 2014 by biggayhorrorfan

Brittany Burch (Regina) investigates!

Despite my tremendous crush on Shaun Cassidy (???!!!??? – Parker was so much hotter, no?), I was always more of a Nancy Drew kid. Therefore, as I got older, it was quite easy to shift my love for Pamela Sue Martin onto various courageous and vibrant horror queens and final girls.

Currently, Chicago’s Wildclaw Theatre is doing guys like me a big favor by presenting a industrious, young female as the lead in their thrilling adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow Over Innsmouth. Playwright Scott Barsotti transforms the story’s male narrator into an inquisitive lass named Regina Olmstead with smashingly fun results.

As creatively and passionately enacted by Brittany Burch, Olmstead finds herself drawn to the strange town of Innsmouth. Researching urban decay in Arkham, a town near Innsmouth, this crafty femme soon discovers that titular city holds personal history for her. As her curiosity grows, she soon finds her body transforming physically – resulting in a certain knowledge that something fishy is truly going on.

Barsotti and skilled director Shade Murray bring out many mysterious shades here, reminding intense cinema-philes of such works as City of the Dead and (even) Psycho.

The cast works together well to create a sense of unusual intrigue and gill-like dread. Particular shout-outs belong to Jude Roche’s slowly gulping bus driver, Brian Amidei’s informative town drunk and Mark Pracht as a harbinger of doom.

Yet, this is truly Burch’s show and she draws you, fully, into the proceedings with her character’s questioning determination.

The Shadow Over Innsmouth runs through Sunday, January 2016 (2014) at Athenaem Theatre, 2936 N Southport in Chicago.

Further information can be culled at http://www.wildclawtheatre.com.

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Review: Christmas Dearest

Published December 21, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

Mona, one of the kindly lesbian prostitute nuns who raised me, was ashamed of some of the stag films that she did in her dwindling years. But it did get her elected as den mother to a gang of derelict Webelos – so it wasn’t all bad.

Similarly, a bunch of us terror freaks LOVE Joan Crawford NOT for her Academy Award gyrating in Mildred Pierce (although that’s mighty fine, too) but for her controlled hysterics in such cult classics as Strait Jacket (1964), Berserk! (1967) and Trog (1970).

Nicely, Chicago’s illustrious, fun Hell in a Handbag Prductions is currently presenting Christmas Dearest, their version of A Christmas Carol as seen through the diva-like eyes of Crawford. Amazingly articulated by the incredible David Cerda, Joan is given the Scrooge treatment, here, with hilarious results.

One of the show’s true pleasures is its homage to Joan’s later career moves. With a brilliantly sodden Ed Jones, momentarily standing in as the elder Crawford, Cerda (who serves as playwright, as well) takes us to the set of an imagined Sci Fi Monster flick, a perfect stand in for all of our favorite celluloid goddess’ final screen credits. With drunken fervor, Jones’ Joan saves the day – but special notice should be given to handsome Michael John Lea who nicely captures the nuances of such (much younger), late career Crawford love interests as Lee Majors and Ty Hardin.

Featuring exemplary work from Steve Love as the younger, career hungry Joan, Cerda also offers up the final word on the Christina-Joan rivalry, here, making this the perfect holiday stage treat for film lovers of every sort.

Christmas Dearest runs in Chicago through December 28th, 2013. Further information can be gathered at http://www.handbagproductions.org.

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Review: All Girl Frankenstein

Published November 3, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

Hilda, one of the lesbian prostitute nuns who raised me, was going to name her first son, Igor. I think it was because of the bolt in the side of his neck. But one night, Igor simply up and disappeared among the pages of Hilda’s Child Rearing for Dummies book. Better luck next time, Hilda!

Thankfully, Bob Fisher, the founder and main force behind the brilliant (Chicago based) The Chicago Mammals is much better than Hilda where bringing things, creatively, to life is concerned. The Mammals current production, All Girl Frankenstein, written and directed by Fisher, is a sexually ghoulish, forever entertaining delight.

Featuring one of the best professional casts currently performing, All Girl Frankenstein takes the basic plot of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and mixes it with the sordidly scandalous milieu of her personal life. Thus the Frankenstein matriarch (vibrant Julie Cowden) presented here, with a constant paddle at the ready for punishment purposes, seems to be the feminine personification of Shelley’s sternly loving father, the man who raised her after her mother’s untimely death. Bloody infanticide and sexual energy, also, swirl throughout this production – seemingly keeping time with Shelley’s own free love philosophy and the anguish she felt over the loss of multiple children.

Whether it is the unrequited love that childhood friend Henry Clerval (the scene stealing Erin Elizabeth Orr) has for Victor (the passionate Erin Myers) or the blow job that Clerval offers the Creature (a physically astounding Amy E. Harmon) upon their first meeting, Fisher and crew play, magnificently, between the lines of homosexuality and unique gender play, here, as well.

Always fascinating, this is a production for horror fans, lovers of literature and collectors of unique experiences of every sort.

All Girl Frankenstein runs through November 30th, 2013 at the Zoo Studios, 4001 N. Ravenswood in Chicago. Tickets are $25. Further information can be found at http://www.chicagomammals.com and https://www.facebook.com/chicagomammals.
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Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan

Big Gay Horror Fan on (True Crime Show) Double Cross!

Published September 19, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

Oh, fame – Oh, fortune – WHERE the HELL are YOU???!!!!

A universal question, perhaps, but Big Gay Horror Fan may be one step closer. (HA!)

Yep, I recently shot a guest star role on the Investigation Discovery series (www.investigation.discovery.com) show Double Cross, on the episode entitled “The Ex-Factor”. Granted, as I played a (possibly murderous) low income party boy named Pork Chop – there wasn’t much glamour. But, it was a heck of a lot of fun. So, seeing as it would be a crime that I don’t share some behind the scenes shots from this crime reenactment drama – here, we go!!

Oh, man! We used this prop alcohol A LOT!!!

I didn’t drink all of these – I swear!!!

Finally!!

It is true! A lot of time on set is just sitting around and waiting. Above, my lovely co-star Linda and I react to finally being called to film!

The gang on set.

I found another truism realized on set: whenever you film summer scenes – it’s gonna be cold outside!!!

We shot this poolside party scene on the 2nd of July (2013) in Chicago. It was supposed to be a blistering Arizona party scene – so, of course, it was one of the COLDEST summer nights on record!! Robes and blankets covered freezing actors (when not filming)- especially as the evening got later and later!

Smiling – about murder??!!?

Does she look like a coldhearted killer to you?!? Tune into the Investigation Discovery Channel on Thursday, September 19th to find out!!!

I didn’t touch her, mom, I swear! (I don’t think she’ll find that hard to believe, folks!)

Be sure to check out Big Gay Horror Fan on “The Ex-Factor” episode of Double Cross on the Investigation Discovery channel, Thursday, September 19th at 9PM P/S time, 8 Central time. Repeated at 12 AM P/S, 11PM C.

More information can be obtained at:

https://www.facebook.com/events/220103538154235/

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

The Woman with Gigantor Talent: A Conversation with Just Before Dawn’s Jamie Rose!

Published June 15, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

Actress-author Jamie Rose burst into the public consciousness with important roles on the nighttime soap Falcon Crest and the exciting cop drama Lady Blue in the 1980’s. Since then, she has maintained a heady pace with roles in films such as Tightrope, (cult classic) Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town and her numerously eclectic appearances on nighttime episodics. But it is her passionate performances in such films as the beloved slasher Just Before Dawn (1981) and the gothic, criminally underrated Playroom (1990) that have, rightly, earned her the admiration of terror titans, worldwide. The exciting, forward thinking Rose, kindly, took a moment at the tail end of the Cinema Wasteland convention (in April 2013) highlighting Just Before Dawn, to talk with Big Gay Horror Fan about theater, the art of acting and her adventures in the limb flung worlds of horror.

BGHF: Hey, Jamie! So, you’ve done several horror films and (a bunch of) crime dramas. I’m just curious, as a woman, how do you deal with your characters being put in violent situations?

Jamie Rose: Well, you’re playing a character and you have certain requirements. If a character is supposed to cry, if a character is supposed to scream – you do it! How do I, as a woman, react to doing the violence? It doesn’t bother me, obviously (laughs) because I did the movies. But, it just depends, as well. There ARE certain things I won’t do. I turn down stuff a lot. I have never done a cigarette or alcohol commercial. I am somebody who – especially at the beginning of my career – made a lot of money doing commercials. I made a decision, because of things that have happened to my friends and family, that I won’t advertise alcohol or advertise cigarettes. I did an episode of Criminal Minds this season that was incredibly violent. But it was amazing writing and a great character. I know an actress who said “I’m a pacifist, so I don’t do that.” I was like, “Really? Do you do Shakespeare?” She said, “Well that’s off screen!”

BGHF: Not always! Like–

Together: (Excitedly) Titus Andronicus!

BGHF: It’s one of my favorites!

Jamie: I saw it in London, man, and it was so gory that people were passing out! Violence has kind of been a part of – I don’t want to say entertainment – it’s been a part of dramatic literature, a part of drama, from the beginning! With Euripides and –

BGHF: Oedipus!

Jamie: Yes!

BGHF: Everyone plucking out eyeballs!

Jamie: In King Lear, the plucking out of Gloucester’s eyes always happens on stage. Ultimately, I understand her position, though. It’s just not mine. I have more problems with gratuitous nudity. That’s something I don’t do. Or I have to really look at a part – like say Just Before Dawn. At the time, I was a kid and it was my first movie and I was so excited. I felt like it was kind of innocent. I don’t have gigantor breasts. It was not a big deal. If it was Europe, that would be nothing. It wouldn’t be considered anything. I wore my underwear. I had smallish breasts. It’s not even a big deal!

BGHF: Well, I love the female body – and I am almost always happy to see it, no matter what. I think it’s gorgeous!

Jamie: Me too! And, also, the male body!

BGHF: (Laughs) Oh, yeah! – I always lament that there is not enough male nudity in films, though.

Jamie: I think it’s trickier with men, though. Okay, now we’re getting a little graphic – but an un-aroused male: not the most exciting thing to look at! (Laughs loudly) Just a hanging, dangling thing!

BGHF: Well, at least, give me a backside, please!

Jamie: (Laughs) Yeah! The stomach is nice, too! But, we are seeing more of it! But even just in the classical sense, I like stuff. I am a huge Gustav Klimt fan. I have some nudes. I love pin-up art. My husband is like “Ah, you love pictures of nude women!” But, I don’t love pictures of nude women like Playboy. I just think certain pin-up art is beautiful. What can I say?

BGHF: I have to admit, I actually get Playboy in the mail. It’s fun for me and I find it beautiful. Besides, who doesn’t want to see, for example, Lindsay Lohan naked? Just to see what it looks like!

Jamie: (Dubiously) Well —

BGHF: (Laughing) Okay, maybe you don’t!

Jamie: Yeah! I think it’s more ascetically based. I actually think she’s a really good actress. I am really sorry what has happened to her. She’s obviously suffering from a disease. Such a talented girl –

BGHF: I think so, too! Do you think it goes back to her starting out so young and the hardships of early fame? You started out as a child, yourself.

Jamie: I started at age 6.

BGHF: It can be such a hard life.

Jamie: I think it’s that. But — I just did a couple guest star things – a Green Acres and a Family Affair. I did some commercials as a kid. So, I didn’t have that high end fame. I was auditioning along with Jodie Foster and stuff. I was that era. But Lindsay was an actual star, at a young age. So, I’m guessing she didn’t have good support. A lot of it, I think it’s what is around you -the value system in your home. I did a movie with The Olsen Twins when they were 15. These girls were dolls! I gotta tell you, these girls were sweethearts! I don’t know too much about their home life. I know there was a divorce, so it couldn’t have been perfect. But, they love each other so much. And they were so there for each other. They were just delightful. But I felt so sorry for them. We were at a resort called the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas and it was a friggin’ blast. There was a water park and a casino. It was really fun! And here they are, 15 year old girls, and they literally could not go outside without getting mobbed! And — worse than the kids, were the parents of the kids. “My daughter loves you!!!” So, they had to stay in their room. They couldn’t be kids. We actually went out, one day, to a little private island. We smuggled them out. It was just the cast. We had jet skies and we gave them a play day. It broke my heart because they were just sweetie-pies. I just have to say that I adored both those girls!

BGHF: And I adore your performances! You have such duality and layers in your work. The first time I went “wow’ was when you played the mother of Shelly Long in the flashback scenes of Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase.

Jamie: That was a good part!

BGHF: Amazing work!

Jamie: That was an intense role!

BGHF: Well, you did such deep work, there. You could see all the layers of what that character went through to bring her to that point in the story. All your training came through.

Jamie: Thank you! I appreciate that.

BGHF: Is that hard to get into those intensely tough places, emotionally?

Jamie: Well, not anymore. It was. Like with Just Before Dawn, it is truly interesting for me to remember that experience. In some scenes, I feel like my work was terrible. I think he (Jeff Lieberman, the director) did a really good job of editing. But for some scenes, I remember, I really struggled. (Motioning to the photos on her table) There are pictures of me, here, crying when I was getting killed. That was just real. That to me, if there is something called talent, was just my talent. My talent was to be able to behave truthfully under imaginary circumstances. That can be taught. I think, though, I actually had some aptitude for that or I wouldn’t have started when I was 6, right? And I’m an acting teacher, too. So, the hardest thing is to take that, what people sometimes call talent – and people maybe have it to different degrees – and strengthen it. As a teacher, the goal is to strip away all the adulthood crap that you’ve learned, so you can return to that state of pure imagination. I would say to my students, like you say to a kid, “We’re playing store! I’m the clerk, you’re the customer. Okay, that’s it! We’re in!” There’s no having to prepare or studying up on store! But then you become an adult and it’s harder to access that. But, now, I’ve been doing it so long and I’m trained. So, some things I don’t need to have my training for and some things I do need to have my training for. One thing I’ll say, too, is the worse the material, the harder it is to act well. When the writing is good that helps – like the situation in Just Before Dawn. Jeff really is a good director and I think that script is really good. So, I just believed it. When that guy is coming at me, I am scared. I just believed the situation. It’s just freaking me out! It’s freaky!

BGHF: Speaking of freaky – Playroom was another fun horror film you acted in. Do you have memories of making that?

Jamie: Of course! (Laughs) I don’t drink so I remember everything! I have to say the funniest thing about that project! So, I get killed by an electric saw, cutting me in half. The saw was cut out of wood. The spokes weren’t even. They obviously drew it by hand. It looked like a cartoon saw, number one! Then, as it came towards me, it wobbled! I called it the little saw that could! And what’s operating the saw? It’s a guy on a stationary bike with a belt attached to the saw. So, it’s this overweight Yugoslavian guy on a stationary bike who is making the saw turn! So, that’s budget filmmaking!

BGHF: Hysterical! I love that story!

Jamie: Another thing – it was Vicky Jensen who did the art production and production design on that movie.

BGHF: Her work was so good! The old school dig site in that film is truly creepy and believable!

Jamie: Hello! Yes! I went to junior high school with her. Well, she went on to co-direct Shrek and directed Shark Tale. She’s still a friend and she’s amazingly talented!

BGHF: That’s amazing. I love hearing about powerful woman, successful across the board, being creative behind the scenes in horror films – which is thought of, traditionally, as such a male ballgame.

Jamie: Yeah, yeah, yeah! And as far as the horror thing, myself, I’m like an old school horror fan. I always used to watch Creature Feature on my local channel. I loved the pre 1970’s, black and white horror. I was addicted to that: The Wolf Man, The Wolf Man Meets Frankenstein. I, also, love the original Frankenstein. All those old movies – even the cheesy ones! I, also, loved Dark Shadows. I was addicted to Dark Shadows! I even became totally obsessed with Elvira in 1980. So much so that when I was on Falcon Crest, which was a top 10 show at the time, I insisted on going to Knott’s Berry Farm – so we could see Elvira’s show. That is how much I loved Elvira! I wanted to be Elvira! I loved her! I thought she was so beautiful and hot with her cleavage and her black hair. I just thought she was the coolest! Then I met her and — she’s a strawberry blonde in real life!

BGHF: There you go!

Jamie: Right on, baby!

BGHF: Too cool! It looks like we need to wrap it up, here, so can you tell us about some of your current or upcoming projects?

Jamie: I had a book published by Penguin Publishers. Shut Up and Dance. I’m an author and I’m really proud of it. I am, also, recurring on Franklin & Bash this season. It’s a really fun show. I, also, did a great episode of Criminal Minds, which I mentioned earlier. It’s kind of a horror movie, in a way. It’s called God Complex. I was the wife of Ray Wise. I highly recommend it. I really like my work in it. It’s kind of like Medea – serious drama! More than anything, though, I am an appreciator, as well! Of reading, writing and – well, not arithmetic! (Laughs) Let’s just say Readin’, writin’ and paintin’!

BGHF: Perfect!

Be sure to keep up with all of Jamie Rose’s exciting projects at http://www.jamierosestudio.com!

Big Gay Horror Fan, meanwhile, is always worshipping all that is freckled and fabulous at http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan!

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!!

Irene Miracle: Shooting at the Walls with Cinema’s Eclectic Wonder!

Published May 30, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

Well traveled and eternally radiant, Irene Miracle has enlivened everything from dramas such as Midnight Express to a variety of cult films (Night Train Murders, Inferno, Puppet Master, Watchers II) with densely layered and completely believable performances. But her favored work has come on the stage and from her own passionate filmmaking efforts. Here, Big Gay Horror Fan chats with the kind, eternally changing artist about Dawnland, her take on the American Revolution from the Native American perspective, and the challenges she faced when filming the unusual genre film, In The Shadow of the Kilimanjaro.

BGHF: Hi, Irene! So, how did you start your own adventure in filmmaking?

Irene: That’s really easy. I wanted to create projects that I loved. Many of the scripts that were coming across my lap weren’t interesting to me. They didn’t fill me with any desire or passion to be in the film industry. The majority of stuff that comes into your mailbox or from your agent, it’s just not that interesting.

BGHF: So I take it that you had your share of struggles as a powerful, intelligent woman in the industry.

Irene: I did a lot of the films just because I had to work at some point. I had to keep myself going. There aren’t that many roles that I played in films that I was really excited to do. As is usually the case, most of the stuff I have loved is the stuff that I’ve done in theater. Those were the roles that really gave you a challenge and really gave you something to work for.

BGHF: Do you have a favorite stage role of the many you have done?

Irene: I played Mayo Methot, one of Humphrey Bogart’s wives. She was the one with whom he had the most passionate relationship. She could drink him under the table. She came from vaudeville. She was a singer, a dancer – very gifted. But when she came to Hollywood with him, she couldn’t get work.

BGHF: (Laughs) Well, obviously that did not go over too well!

Irene: She was a real ballsy, gutsy woman. She was notorious for doing things like stabbing him in the back when she was jealous about him playing opposite other actresses. The show was called Bogart. (Laughs) That role was the role in the show that every actress couldn’t wait for me to get sick or break my leg. Everybody wanted to play that part! Every night we got standing ovations.

BGHF: It sounds like something I would have loved to have seen!

Irene: Actually, we were touring with that and we planned on taking it to the Kennedy Center. But, as happens in many cases, the producers stole the money and we had to close it down.

BGHF: It must have been so frustrating for her to be so talented and watch her partner go on to achieve his artistic dreams. Its like that common tale of the 50’s housewife on a slow boil because she could do so much more than society allowed her to do.

Irene: She and Bogart kept a carpenter on the property because they broke so many windows and put so many holes in the walls from gunshots! They fought constantly.

BGHF: You brought that rich theater background to a cult film project that focused on another tortured relationship/failing marriage. You did such amazing work opposite Timothy Bottoms in In the Shadow of the Kilimanjaro.

Irene: That was a really hard project to work on.

BGHF: Was it because of the location?

Irene: It was shot in Kenya. That was awesome. I had lived there before with my dad and I absolutely love it! It’s a really magical place. That’s why I wanted to go back. But I got malaria while I was working on that film. I happened to be in one of the cabins with the water that drained from the kitchen north of me and, of course, the mosquitoes were going crazy. I got really, really sick on the shoot. So, there were a multitude of things that happened on that shoot that made it very hard for me.

BGHF: Well, that shows your talent and professionalism. You create a fully realized character – very rich and deep. You can understand her journey – her not understanding her husband and wanting a different kind of life. Your character, Lee, also survives a very vicious baboon attack. Was that frightening to film?

Irene: (Laughs) Yeah.

BGHF: (Laughing) I guess I didn’t even have to ask that question!!

Irene: Baboons are the one primate or monkey that you cannot train. They are simply un-trainable. Working with them was extremely scary. It’s also one of the reasons why we went through three crews on that film. Tim (Bottoms) had a baboon that he kept with him all the time and it became very jealous of anyone who got too close to him. They’re scary – just very scary animals to work with.

BGHF: You took the work that you could and did amazing stuff with it. Now, as we mentioned at the beginning, you’re creating your own projects. Can you talk a bit about your film Dawnland?

Irene: Dawnland was originally meant to be three half hour to forty five minute shorts that eventually would become one feature. I finished the first of the series. But since then I have kind of lost the thread on that. I am really proud of what I’ve done with it. But I am still trying to finish a second short that I started awhile ago. It has an American Indian theme in it, as well, but it’s about an opera singer. She’s a very talented woman who is rethinking the priorities in her life.

BGHF: Is that a theme for you – women searching for meaning?

Irene: No. That’s the only thing I’ve done in that aspect. It just turned out that way. It started out as another story that someone else wrote. But I had to re-imagine another story based on footage that I had. So, I am still trying to finish that.

BGHF: Are there certain things that inspire you – other filmmakers, certain events? Or is it ever changing because you never know what may strike you?

Irene: It’s ever changing – as I think we all are. As we grow, different things become interesting to us. There are films that I hated 10 years ago that I look at now and think are wonderful. I wonder how I couldn’t have liked it, initially. And vice versa! I really think as we grow, our tastes grow. Now, I have several things that I would really love to do. I would love to do a film based on a novel called Ahab’s Wife. It’s the other side of Moby Dick.

BGHF: That sounds fascinating.

Irene: It’s the woman and what she’s going through. He’s out on his adventures but she has had quite a life, herself.

BGHF: It kind correlates back to Bogart in a way.

Irene: Yeah – It’s about what her story is and what her experiences are.

BGHF: I love that.

Irene: Yeah! There are several things that I really am very excited about getting off the ground.

BGHF: Well, I am sure they will all be wonderful – just like you!

Irene: Aw – thank you! You are such a sweetie.

BGHF: Well, back at you! And – thank you for taking the time to chat. You are a true artist, my friend!

Irene: Thank you!

Be sure to keep up with all of Irene Miracle’s incredible artistic journeys at http://www.dawnland-movie.com.

Big Gay Horror Fan, meanwhile, is always singing the praises of the well traveled woman at http://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan.

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

Patricia Morison: B Movies’ Regal Queen

Published March 18, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

As pink studded buildings collapse and the twisted spirals of despair clutch at his nightmare ridden feet, Big Gay Horror Fan reaches out, desperately, and always the ebony Rapunzel-like hair of stage goddess Patricia Morison comes floating past. Clutching at it, he is once again, pulled from his hideous dreams, waking up to a new morning.

Regal to the point of otherworldliness and always exquisitely beautiful, exotic Patricia Morison gained eternal fame as Cole Porter’s muse for his classic 1948 musical Kiss Me Kate. For many, this artistic opportunity saved her from appearances in a variety of low budget Hollywood programmers. But, for cinematic fetishists in the know, these cheap wonders always highlighted Morison’s eclectic grace.

In 1943’s Calling Dr. Death, Morison radiates with concern as Stella Madden, Dr. Mark Steel’s (Lon Chaney, Jr.) prized assistant. But Morison always allows a tone of mystery to pervade her actions – a grand move as Stella soon appears to know more about the death of Steel’s wife than she is letting on. Indeed, during a nightmarish sequence Morison finds herself running between shadowy, toppling set pieces in a brilliantly conceived dance of guilt. The presence of Chaney and J. Carrol Naish (The Monster Maker, House of Frankenstein) along with the moody direction of Reginald Le Borg (The Mummy’s Ghost, Weird Woman) makes this among Morison’s more fright based efforts. But, the dedicated Morison always gave up the exploitation gold in a number of other genre projects, as well.

As Mrs. Hilda Courtney in the 1946 Sherlock Holmes adventure Dressed to Kill, Morison truly gives distinguished Basil Rathbone (Tales of Terror, Queen of Blood, The Black Cat, The Mad Doctor, Tower of London) a run for his money. She excels at sophisticated villainy here, but she is obviously having the most fun when duplicitously disguised as a homely working class matron. But whether grand or downtrodden, Morison shows all her fabulous colors here making one marvel at the fact that the studio system never figured out a grand scheme for her.

In 1947’s Queen of the Amazons, Morison shows much spunk and zeal as Jean Preston. Determined to find her missing fiancé in the wilds of the jungle, Morison sparks immediately with Robert Lowery as experienced guide, Gary Lambert. The two are destined for romance in the Hepburn-Tracy variety, but only after it is discovered that Preston’s fiancé has fallen in love with the vicious and vengeful Zita, the queen of the jungle. Morison’s gritty elegance here is in direct contrast to the extremely awkward (thus thoroughly enjoyable) performance of Amira Moustafa as Zita.

Be sure to check back often as Big Gay Horror Fan (https://www.facebook.com/biggayhorrorfan ) frequently exposes the wondrous exploitation foibles of the most glorious femmes of entertainment.

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

Lia D. Mortensen: A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Favored Mother!

Published January 5, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

There is nothing Big Gay Horror Fan adores more than a beautiful eclectic actress and when it comes to those qualities, Chicago stage actress Lia Mortensen is top of the line! Mortensen has even dipped her elegant feet into the razored bloodshed via her passionate performance of Nora Fowles in 2010’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. Yes, this gorgeous goddess of the boards actually got to chase down Jackie Earle Haley’s Freddy and send him to his fiery destruction! Currently, participating in the incisive stage revival of the mystical, gothic tinged Faith Healer at the Den Theatre in Chicago, Mortensen took a few moments to chat about her time on the Nightmare set and her current role. So, grab your singed sweaters and cherished playbills– and let’s go!

BGHF: Hey, Lia! Let’s dive right into the bloodshed! Was there anything that stands out in particular about your experience working on the A Nightmare on Elm Street remake?

Lia: It was a huge learning curve for me; I was on set for 3+ weeks, filming 7 scenes. This was my largest role to date, and getting comfortable, really feeling like I belonged there was challenging. I also LOVED watching the process from behind the monitor. Watching how the director and the lead photographer set up shots and then seeing that come to fruition. And it was awesome watching/being a part of the special effects! The stuntmen and women really earn their pay.

BGHF: It sounds fascinating! So, what was it like working with (genre remake queen) Katie Cassidy (Black Christmas, When A Stranger Calls) who played your daughter, on Nightmare? Were you able to spend any time together or was it more ‘hello – and go’?

Lia: “Hello – and go”, definitely. Let’s just say there is a distinction between Hollywood and Chicago.

BGHF: Well, all I can say is Ms. Cassidy lost out on some awesomeness! You’ve recently returned to a stage role you first visited many years ago. What has been the most interesting difference in how you approach the role of Grace in Faith Healer now as opposed to the original production?

Lia: Life experience! There is no substitute. The lines on my face have been earned. 17 years ago, there was alot I had to manufacture emotionally. Now, it’s just in me.

BGHF: What has been the most enjoyable aspect of revisiting the piece for you?

Lia: (laughing) I’m not sure the word “enjoyable” applies. Grace’s story is an intense, painful, one on so many levels. I suppose what has been gratifying about revisiting this piece is that we all three have wanted to return to these characters for years. We were too young for the roles the first time around. It’s as if we played a concerto and never resolved the piece with the final note. We are getting to do that now, if that makes any sense. And, I have found more humor in her all these years later. That’s good!

BGHF: Definitely! Grace does go to some dark places throughout Faith Healer. How do you prepare yourself to enter her journey for each performance?

Lia: Some days I think, God, I don’t want to go where she needs to go. But once I put on her sweater (which in my mind belonged to Frank) and sit in her chair backstage, I’m there. I listen to Frank’s monologue as if remembering the words he’s saying and I am transported – the sign of a brilliant play, if you ask me!

BGHF: True! You have forged a successful career as an actress and director in Chicago – which I know has involved hard work and (probably) plenty of emotional horrors. What has sustained you along the way?

Lia: Hmmm, the knowledge that I have no choice! This is what I love and I don’t have any other marketable skills! (More laughter)

BGHF: Well, at the very least, honesty will get you a smile! So, are there any current projects that we should keep an eye out for?

Lia: I will be (as well as Brad Armacost – my costar in Faith Healer) in a new adaptation of Spoon River Anthology at Provision Theatre – www.provisiontheater.org – (where I’m also an ensemble member) this Spring.

BGHF: Great! We’ll definitely have to check that out! And thanks, Lia. This has been better than chasing down a demented child killer any day of the week!

For more information on Faith Healer, which runs until January 20th, 2013, check out www.dentheatre.com.

Big Gay Horror, meanwhile, is always welcoming lovers of the bloody arts at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well!

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!