Nerdy Prudes Must Die. Captivating title, right? It certainly piqued my interest. Created by StarKid Productions, the team also behind The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals and A Very Potter Musical, Nerdy Prudes Must Die is a relatively new addition to their catalogue, premiering in 2023.
The musical follows a group of teenage misfits who accidentally unleash an evil spirit with a particular grudge against nerds. With catchy tunes, tongue-in-cheek humour, murder and plenty of profanity (perhaps a smidge too much for my liking), it certainly keeps the audience entertained. On that front, Hanson Creative has delivered.
Under the direction of Tayla Simpson, whose decade of experience ensures the production is in capable hands, the cast does a great job bringing the material to life.
This production leans into the camp, over-the-top characters, which suits the dialogue and overall tone of the show. There are no large set pieces, but I didn’t feel their absence detracted from the storytelling.
Scene transitions are handled effectively through lighting design and the movement of the actors onstage, keeping things clear without needing elaborate staging.
The choreography is relatively simple by design, with no major dance breaks to speak of. That said, it remains engaging and entertaining. With a cast of just ten, it does become noticeable when someone misses a step or jumps the gun, but it’s hard to be too critical when the cast are clearly having an absolute ball onstage.
Taking on the role of the lead nerd is Torin Cook, who is perfectly suited to the character. His nasal, whiny delivery never quite tips into irritating and instead helps the audience sympathise with him.
Opposite him as the misfit rebel is Angelina Marchant, who delivers a strong vocal and emotional performance.
The casting in this production is spot on. Alicia Lore is perfectly cast as the headgear-wearing, deodorant-avoiding, obsessive nerd. I found myself waiting to hear what would come out of their mouth next.
Holly Komorowski plays the uptight, religious virgin, balancing the character’s prudish nature with plenty of comedy before gradually revealing the cracks beneath the surface.
Adam Goodall steps into the role of the stereotypical high school football star and resident tyrant. Having seen Goodall onstage several times over the past year, this is certainly a role that sits comfortably within his abilities. Vocally, he handles the soundtrack with ease, the songs clearly sitting well within his range.
Making his musical direction debut, Patrick Bichoff takes the reins of the six-piece band, delivering an evening of music that kept plenty of audience members tapping along.
Unfortunately, the sound is less impressive. The balance between the band and vocals was inconsistent the night I attended. Some dialogue was missed because microphones weren’t switched on in time, and there was an overall boominess to the sound. The shouts and screams throughout the show only make this more apparent.
Sound issues aside, there is clearly a lot of passion behind this production, both onstage and off, and the audience response was a testament to that.
Whether you’re a dedicated StarKid fan or coming to Nerdy Prudes Must Die without knowing a thing about it, there’s plenty here to enjoy. Hanson Creative have delivered a fun, camp and entertaining production that knows exactly what it is and embraces it.
Nerdy Prudes Must Die is presented by Hanson Creative and runs to 7 November at La Boite Theatre. 6 Musk Avenue Kelvin Grove 4059.
Tickets: https://tickets.laboite.com.au/7167
Website: https://www.hansoncreative.org/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/hansoncreative/
Photo credits: Pip from Loud Photography
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