In a place in the universe where musical comedy can combine the homogenous vision of "The Stepford Wives" with the political machinations of "The Manchurian Candidate" and somehow present them with the glam sensibilities of what looks like England’s "Absolutely Fabulous" on acid, the titillated theatergoer will find SCALPEL, an entry in this year’s Fringe Festival.

Complete with nods to the above-mentioned films (zombie-like women, and redone ladies who lunch who repeatedly use the same phrase to describe their savior surgeon) and a look that screams Patsy from AbFab, SCALPEL is a campy musical that, given proper sound, staging and props, could have life beyond the festival, especially in the downtown theater scene.

The leggy Candis Cayne gets some kicks in during a series of couture catfights that are choreographed and staged with a combination of creativity and hilarity, as friends become foes under the duress of striving for perfection, political power, and the stinging nudge of a mind controlling computer chip called "The Body Electric." As the scalpel meets flesh, and once the chip is installed, the remade ladies become unknowing assassins, doing the bidding of the evil Dr. Bulgari. However, the devious Bulgari is no match for feisty housemaid Martha, her computer-savvy son Jeffrey, and one done lady, Mrs. Jacqueline Tilton, who refuses to give up and give in.

Imperfect, really silly, but guaranteed to make you laugh in spite of it all, SCALPEL is a riot and then some.