While most stereotypes of beauty queens are far from true, there does exist an element of cheesiness and ludicrousness among some beauty pageants. And there are some contestants who make claiming crowns their life’s ambition, often taking it a little too far. And of course, there’s the good old-fashioned beauty queen scandal that pops up in the news every now and then.
   “Pageant: The Musical”, now at 14th Street Playhouse, takes the worst of these stereotypes, adds to it regional stereotypes of the contestants’ hometown and tops it off with an all-male cast portraying females to produce a riotous farce that keeps the laughter coming.
   Especially entertaining is the talent segment, featuring hilarious over-the-top mockery of a stampeding tap dance, dramatic poem recitation, ventriloquism, and interpretive dance. Oh, and there’s also a contestant who skates while playing the accordion.
   At the end of the show, several audience members get charged with judging whether it will be Miss Deep South, Miss Bible Belt, Miss Industrial Northeast, Miss Great Plains, Miss Texas or Miss West Coast that takes the crown.
   Directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Bill Russell, the musical runs through Oct. 24 at 14th Street Playhouse. Visit www.14thstplayhouse.org for more details.