‘Chicks’ to take over stage

Six weeks of four-hour-long rehearsals will all lead up to the great stage battle, in which two women take on a tribe of “voodoo vegetarians” to save Planet 19.

Trista Baldwin’s “Chicks With Dicks II: Battle with Cannibal Sluts from Outer Space,” a satirical play about science fiction films, will debut Thursday at the Bloomington Playwrights Project.

The group put on the prequel, “Chicks with Dicks I,” three years ago. 

To celebrate the return of “Chicks,” the group has commissioned an art exhibit by local artist Cappi Phillips. The exhibit will incorporate innovative mosaic techniques with everyday objects including hair rollers and barrettes. The exhibit will be on display throughout the production of “Chicks” and will be shown at the 9th Street Window Box Gallery.

Director Richard Perez, who is also the group’s artistic director, was worried in the
beginning about having a completely different cast from the prequel.

“I was a little unsure at first, but honestly, this cast is great,” Perez said. “Truly, we’ve been blessed.”

Assistant Director Holly Holbrook agrees and said the show has a very youthful but diverse cast. The show’s title sparked some controversy, and as a result, there are two different promotional posters: the original as well as a “censored” version, which has different text.

Dancer Emily Cohen, who graduated from IU in 2008, recalls having the posters put up and taken down in the same day at Bloomington Bagel Company, where she works.

“I thought they would last at least a week,” she said. Cohen said she remembers the original show also having some censored posters. “It really is stupid,” she said. “I just don’t get it.”

Sophomore Chelsea Rigdon, who stars as Vespa DeAmour, said that despite its title,
the show is not sexual at all. She said the play doesn’t have any swear words and has few sexual references, if any. Rigdon, whose family is driving four hours to see the show, said they think the play is appropriate for all ages. The show, which has a mostly female cast, is more about girl power, she said.

“If anything, it’s poking fun of science fiction,” said Rigdon, who also mentioned the cast had to watch science fiction films to better understand the show and what it’s
about. This is Rigdon’s first major show since high school.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “Rehearsals have been so much fun. I can’t wait for people to see it.”