SUMMARY

Psycho Beach Party is a comedic play by Charles Busch that parodies and spoofs 1950s psychological thrillers, 1960s beach movies, and 1970s slasher films. The play is set in 1962 and tells the story of Chicklet Forrest, a teenage tomboy who wants to be part of the Malibu Beach surf crowd. However, Chicklet has multiple personalities, including a dangerous alter ego named Ann Bowman.

“Gidget”, Frankie and Annette beach party epics, and Hitchcock psychological suspense thrillers such as “Spellbound” and “Marnie” are given a shotgun marriage. Chicklet Forrest, a teenage tomboy, desperately wants to be part of the surf crowd on Malibu Beach in 1962. One thing getting in her way is her unfortunate tendency towards split personalities. Among them is a black check out girl, an elderly radio talk show hostess, a male model named Steve and the accounting firm of Edelman and Edelman. Her most dangerous alter ego is a sexually voracious vixen named Ann Bowman who has nothing less than world domination on her mind.

HISTORY

Psycho Beach Party premiered on July 20, 1987 at The Players Theatre, New York City. It was directed by Kenneth Elliott and presented by Theater-in-Limbo, Kenneth Elliott, and Gerald A. Davis. The play was previously presented at the Limbo Lounge.

MEDIA

REVIEWS

"Fiendishly funny! Zany!”" - Associated Press

“Gidget Goes Berserk!” - The New York Times

“Catch the wave of laughter.” - Gannett Westchester Newspapers

"Hilarious" - Gannett Newspapers