VALET OF THE DOLLS | Russ Meyer isn't the only one shameless enough to go Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Ryan Landry and his Gold Dust Orphans have gotten their hands on the 1967 celluloid camp classic based on Jacqueline Susann's 1966 novel and inserted enough broad, raunchy farce into its lurid tale of nice girls done in by sex, show biz, and barbiturates that the hilariously over-the-top show might as well be titled Pillzapoppin! From the Dory Previn theme song to the bathroom dunking of Helen Lawson's here flaming pompadour of a wig, Landry knows when not to improve on the original. But in his version, genteel Anne Welles — who achieves fame as spokesmodel for a national chain of parking lots — has a nasty case of Tourette's syndrome, buxom Jennifer North gets third-degree burns from a dust-up with nasty sister-in-law Miriam's much-invoked lasagna, and drug-addled Neely O'Hara's big number is called "My Baby Ain't Circumcised." As in most Orphans outings, James P. Byrne's production is low-budget but elaborate, with multiple costumes and props, cut-out cartoon scenery, and a singing, dancing, sex-simulating cast of dozens, several of whom are Muppets. Landry makes hay of the aging-diva Susan Hayward role, and the "Homewrecker" with whom Neely spouse Ted Casablanca cavorts is played by a dog. A hard-knock life indeed. | Machine, 1254 Boylston St, Boston |www.brownpapertickets.com| Through November 22 | Curtain 8 pm Fri-Sat | 5 pm Sun | $35
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA | "If you like Alice in Wonderland, but there's not enough sex and violence in it, then Dissocia is the show for you" is how edgy British playwright Anthony Neilson describes his fantasy, in which Lisa Jones is trying to recover a critical lost hour in her life and wondering whether the "curious inhabitants" of Dissocia will be inclined to help. Emerson grad Philana Mia stars as Lisa; Danielle Fauteux Jacques directs. | Chelsea Theatre Works, 189 Winnissimet St, Chelsea | 617.887.2336 | Through November 29 | Curtain 8 pm Fri-Sat | 3 pm Sun | $25 advance; $30 doors
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN | The Longwood Players take up the popular Charles Schulz–inspired musical, complete with the Red Baron, the little red-haired girl, and Charlie's futile attempts to make contact with that football. The cast includes Matthew Finn as Charlie, April Pressel as Sally, Jason Luciana as Snoopy, Ian Flynn as Linus, Michael Chateauneuf as Schroeder, and Rachel Savage as Lucy; Kaitlyn Chantry directs. | Cambridge YMCA Theatre, 820 Mass Ave, Cambridge | 800.595.4TIX | Through November 21 | Curtain 8 pm Thurs-Fri | 2 + 8 pm Sat | $19-25; $16-$22 students, seniors
