[NEohioPAL] Review of Beck's "Evil Dead: The Musical"

[Bob Abelman]

Getting a rise from Beck's 'Evil Dead'

 

Bob Abelman

News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times Courier

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics 

 

This review appeared in the News-Herald 5/22/09

 

Some theatergoers find that entertainment, like revenge, is best served cold-comfortably predictable, neatly confined to the boundaries of the proscenium arch, and non-participatory.

 

Evil Dead: The Musical, in production at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, is not for them.  It is for patrons who like their entertainment in their face, outside the box, and all over their clothes.  

 

The play is based on the 1981 horror/comedy cult film Evil Dead by Sam Raimi and its equally low-budgeted 1987 sequel.  Those familiar with the original works will derive particular pleasure from the stage version, although a fun time can be had by all who enjoy silly spoofs, really cheesy special effects and flesh-eating demons. 

 

Like the film, the horror in this play is broad and the comedy is cheap.  There are buckets of fake gore, which manage to coat audience members sitting too close to the black box stage.  And, like the film, the play's dialogue generates more than its share of groan-'cause-it's-so-bad-it's-good reactions. 

 

The simple story revolves around five college students, who break into an isolated cabin in the woods for a Spring Break weekend of debauchery.  They discover an ancient, long-lost Book of the Dead in the cellar and, of course, mistakenly resurrect evil forces that swallow their souls.

 

The outrageously campy music and lyrics by playwright George Reinblatt and his drinking buddies, with titles that include "All the Men in my Life Keep Getting Killed by Candarian Demons," are far from show-stoppers.  Nonetheless, under the no-holds-barred direction of Scott Spence and fine musical direction of Larry Goodpaster, this very talented cast sings them with the right degree of satirical sincerity and sells them as if they were stolen.  

 

In fact, it is the voices and comic instincts of this phenomenal cast that keep this show and this production from dissolving into just another sophomoric knock-off musical.

 

Ash, the earnest everyman hero in this tale who takes matters into his own hand (yes, hand), is played to the hilt by Beck Center regular Dan Folino.  Folino makes Ash his own and, according to the playwright, who happened to be in town and within earshot during last Friday night's performance, makes the songs better than they actually are.  

 

Folino is nicely supported by the very gifted Josh Theilan, who plays Ash's best friend, Scott, Kathleen Rooney as Ash's girlfriend, Amiee Collier as Ash's sister, and Bailey Moulse as Scott's girlfriend.  Patrick Ciamacco plays a backwoods local named Jake, and is hysterical, as are Betsy Kahl and Zac Hudak as the owner of the cabin and her boyfriend.    

 

Evil Dead: The Musical  originated in Montreal in 2003, has spawned long-running productions in Toronto, New York (off-Broadway) and Seoul, Korea, and will open next year in Japan.

 

Playwright Reinblatt admitted that the special effects in this local production, designed by P.J. Toomey and Folino, are "better, bloodier and funnier" than any production he's witnessed to date.   

 

Cleveland theater-goers may have an opportunity to witness Evil Dead: The Musical for an extended run, which is currently in negotiation (Update: The show has been extended until July 5).

 

 Come to the Beck Center in a disposable wardrobe and, because this show swallows more of your soul each time it is seen, come often.

 

Evil Dead: The Musical runs through June 14 at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood.    For tickets, which range from $17-$28, call 216-521-2540 ext. 10 or visit www.beckcenter.org.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.neohiopal.org/pipermail/neohiopal-neohiopal.org/attachments/20090522/222e22e1/attachment-0003.htm>