By Steve Duffy

Review -- Pageant is a spoof of a beauty contest where six wacky beauties are all vying for the title of “Miss Glamouresse”. Each girl represents a region of the United States and they go through the various stages of competition: talent, evening gown, swim suit and as a beauty crisis hotline operator. What makes this show so hilarious is that the girls are really men playing girls.

The script is witty and the musical numbers and songs (“Natural Born Females” and “She’s Got Something Extra”) are brilliant. There is also a zany “spokes-model” event which requires each beauty to promote the Glamouresse products. Five judges are chosen from the audience and are allowed to score the contestants. Each of the ladies are funny and talented.

Nicholas Ryan Rowe, who portrays Frankie Cavalier the host, provides a welcome guide to all of the hilarious mayhem that takes place on the stage. 

Pageant is showing at the Stoneham Theatre until October 5, 2008. For ticket information call 781.279.2200 or visit www.stonehamtheatre.org.