Hey ... Hey ... Hilarious!

By Kai Bisby

That sharp-tongued, talented, cross-dressing comedian Billy Francesca is at it again. Yet another Hollywood Refugee Production outdoes itself with a heaping dose of music, twangs, big wigs, and gingham -- and that's just Francesca! After a successful run of the hit show Identity Theft, the Cavern Club Theater at Casita del Campo (1920 Hyperion Ave. in Silver Lake) welcomes back the timeless and twisted troupe in Hey, Hey! That's My Tractor!, running Wednesdays through Sept. 14. The wacky musical delivers their brand of cartoon crazy, knock down, drag out (and I do mean the drag is out!) hilarity. Inspired by an ever-funny exchange between Rose and Dorothy on The Golden Girls, Hey, Hey! That's My Tractor! is an original musical based on the tragic tale of Jolene Crackcorn (Francesca) and her son Jimmy, who are on the verge of losing everything when a hot lesbian porn star waltzes into town and wants to take the Crackhorn's farm right out from under them. As the underdog story of a mother and son overcoming the evils of corporate development (or something like that), this is the third revival of one of Francesca's most well-received shows, but is the world premiere at the Refugees' new home. A small, memorable, and talented crew of performers rounds out the cast: Michael Patrick Coughlin, Chantel DeGroat, Kenny Keileher, and Edgar Silva, along with Francesca, all play off of one another so well and have such an obvious good time performing, it is beyond impossible not to be entertained (and when they mess-up, the hysterics are flying!). As I have written previously, The Hollywood Refugees are truly in it for the love of performing. They represent a new breed of original comedy that screams of gay, old-school black-box performances that take their shows to the edge and nearly jump. And did I mention that drinking is always encouraged? For tickets and information, call (323) 969-2530, or visit www.hollywoodrefugees.com.