★★★½
Bloody hell! It’s Evil Dead The Musical!
Twenty-three years after premiering in a small Toronto club, Evil Dead the Musical has found its way to Australia and to the intimate, culty confines of the Seymour Centre’s Reginald Theatre. Mashing the two 1980s films made by legendary horror auteur Sam Raimi, it emphasises their campy, comedic elements rather than outright horror. And blood – lots of blood.
The story is pretty basic and has become something of a modern horror trope. Five college kids drive to a dilapidated cabin in the woods for a weekend. In the cellar, the friends find the Necronomicon ex Mortis – a Book of the Dead – and a tape-recorded translation from a ‘Professor Knowby.’ Do they play it? Of course they play it, and very unfortunately, manage to summon the evil dead. One at a time, they’re possessed, leaving only Ash, a 12-gauge and a chainsaw.
Directed with wit and verve by Daniel Stoddart, this production sets a cracking pace. It plays up the absurdities of the splatter/horror genre – isolated cabin, supernatural events, victims walking into danger, and generally making very dumb decisions.
There are beheadings, behandings, and an awful amount of stage blood. More on that later. Book and lyrics are by George Reinblatt, who also composed the music in collaboration with friends Frank Cipolla, Melissa Morris and Christopher Bond.
The show is much in the style of Rocky Horror and Little Shop of Horrors, and has a rough and ready appeal about it. But the choices look deliberate, leaning into the cheap campiness of the films. Production values are nevertheless very solid. Jason Bovaird’s lighting is thrillingly effective, as is sound design from Jacob Harwood. The live band under Mark Bradley is tight.
Eric Luchen’s set, a, well…cabin in the woods, provides ample space for the big, choreographed numbers. Luchen has plenty of fun with the props, which at one point have a joyous excursion into The Sorcerer’s Apprentice territory. In fact, there are tongue-in-cheek film and stage references everywhere, including a literal Chekhov’s (shot)gun that doesn’t remain wall-mounted for long.
Pivotal to the success of the films was Bruce Campbell’s portrayal of Ash, and here Harley Dasey does likewise, bringing great timing, physicality, a lovely tenor voice and Campbell’s signature facial expressions to the party. He’s simply terrific.
As Linda, Ash’s girlfriend, Elaina Bianchi has great chemistry with Dasey, and their vocal harmonising is a highlight.
Jake Ameduri plays Scott with a Californian stoner accent that wavered occasionally, but it’s all part of the fun. (Less fun is the script’s insistence on having him repeat variations of “dumb bitch,” which came close to being the most genuinely violent thing in the production.) However, Ameduri’s dancing, especially in the number What the F*@k Was That? with Dasey, is killer – in a good way.
Grace Alston has the somewhat thankless task of playing Scott’s one-dimensional ditz pick-up Shelly, but really shines in the second half as archaeologist Annie, Knowby’s daughter.
Emma Wilby is a force of (un)nature as Cheryl. Oliver Clisdell, as the dominated Ed, finds the spotlight and shows us his grooves and moves. The song Good Old Reliable Jake gives Harrison Riley (as Jake) a chance to display his beautiful tenor.
Renata Beslik’s costumes pay homage to the films, and her prosthetics garner plenty of laughs. The choreography from Lochlan Erard is sharp and witty. The cast gives it everything in ensemble numbers like the thrilling Do the Necronomicon.
If you’re not already familiar with Evil Dead lore, definitely watch the first two films because appreciating this musical’s cleverness is predicated on some background knowledge.
Now…the first two rows are designated the “splatter zone” – for good reason, I can attest. Plastic ponchos are supplied at interval, though they won’t stop everything, as the traumatised look on one couple’s blood-soaked faces clearly suggested.
Evil Dead The Musical brings some strong musical numbers, a talented cast of young actors, and a whole lot of blood. It isn’t deep, but it is gloriously outrageous fun.
Evil Dead The Musical is presented by Stoddart Entertainment and runs to 21 March at the Reginald Theatre, Seymour Centre. Corner City Road and Cleveland Street Chippendale NSW 2008.
It then runs in Melbourne from 26 March – 12 April at Chapel off Chapel.
Tickets are available here.
Website: https://evildeadmusical.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/evildeadmusicalau/
Photo credits: Peter Stoop
