www.talkentertainment.com - Nov 2 2006
http://www.talkentertainment.com/
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Evil Dead: a musical to die for

Review by Oscar E Moore
(from the rear mezzanine for)
talkentertainment.com

First, The Drowsy Chaperone. And now, Evil Dead – the musical. Both Canadian imports. Both wildly and riotously, side-splittingly funny. It must be something in the water of our Canadian neighbors. Something that induces a mind liberating creativity that causes us to hemorrhage laughter. At the New World Stages (Stage 1/340 West 50th Street) with hysterical book and clever, trashy lyrics by George Reinblatt – Music by a quartet of fellow zany people (Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond, Melissa Morris and George Reinblatt) we are given a transfusion of comedy that the New York theatre sorely needs. So many people on the exact same wave length – perhaps somewhat wacky – make this musical a must see event.

Some years ago, it might have been called “a happening”. I only mention this as the first four rows are considered “the splash zone” for reasons made obvious by the plastic ponchos supplied by the theatre so that when the hacking and chain saw killings get going, those seated there will not be too drenched in the red stuff. The seats are covered in plastic when the audience enters and so we know something different is going to happen – it’s a gimmick which gets the audience raring to go and sets the mood for the marvelous mayhem that follows. Mayhem expertly directed by Hinton Battle and Christopher Bond. It is a Feydeau farce crossed with Little Shop of Horrors and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. With buckets of blood and a bit of Hairspray thrown in for good measure. What gory, glorious fun.

I don’t want to give too much away by explaining the plot and its complications. Be surprised! Over and over again. But after seeing this show you would be well advised to be careful who you decide to go away with for a week’s vacation in an empty cabin in the woods. A cabin designed here by the incredibly gifted David Gallo. A cabin that comes to life amongst all the carnage and death. Disney, eat your heart out! Special mention must be made for the special effects and makeup design by Louis Zakarian and the fight choreographer, B.H. Barry. Terrific lighting effects by Jason Lyons add to the macabre humor. The entire show is timed within an inch of its life with all of the actors able to execute all that is asked of them. The cast is incredible – singing and dancing and clowning and killing - Jennifer Byrne, Jenna Coker, Renee Klapmeyer, Tom Walker, Ryan Ward, Brandon Wardell, Ryan Williams and Darryl Winslow. As is the singing Moose, the dancing and foreboding forest trees and the disembodied hand and head that you won’t soon forget in your wildest nightmares. At the end of Act I – our hero Ash sings “I’m Not A Killer” while decapitating his girl friend Linda with a chain saw and getting a facial of freshly splattered blood. It’s delightful! It’s to die for!