Evil Dead: The Musical lacks the camp of its source material
Book and lyrics by George Reinblatt. Music by Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond, Melissa Morris, and George Reinblatt. Additional lyrics by Christopher Bond. Additional music by Rob Daleman. Presented by Ground Zero Theatre, Hit and Myth Productions, and Keystone. Directed by Kevin McKendrick. At the Vogue on Thursday, October 22. Continues until November 14
Evil Dead: the Musical takes movies that are genuinely camp and turns them into an entertainment that’s bluntly stupid.
The musical is based on Sam Raimi’s horror trilogy Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, and Army of Darkness, with most of the material drawn from the first two.
In the stage version, five college students head to an isolated cabin in the woods. They play a tape left behind by the cabin’s archaeologist owner and an incantation recorded there summons sleeping Candarian demons that stalk the students and possess their dead bodies one at a time. Ash, the leader of the group, is bitten on the hand, so that only his hand is possessed. As blood spews, he cuts it off with a chain saw, which he then attaches to his stump, becoming a kind of rustic, avenging cyborg.
In the films, the dialogue and the actors take the terror seriously, even as severed heads jabber and maggots multiply. That tension between emotional honesty and stylistic excess is what camp is all about, and that’s what makes the movies a bloody good time.
There’s no such tension in the musical. Here, the characters are one-note buffoons and nothing that happens to them really matters.
The movies address male anxieties about women: the first characters to go demonic are female, and there’s a witch in the basement. Here, that anxiety is turned into simple-minded sexism. The first Evil Dead film presents Shelly, one of the students, straightforwardly: she’s the girlfriend of Ash’s pal Scotty. In the musical, Shelly is a stupid slut. She’s always waggling her tongue at Scotty, backing her bottom into his crotch, and pushing her tits toward his hands. There’s nothing clever about this and there’s no insightful commentary. It’s just a series of obvious, demeaning jokes.
There is talent on-stage. Bruce Horak, who plays a local hillbilly named Jake, is by far the best thing in the show. He’s got a great bass voice and he sells his numbers with stylish playfulness. Jamie Tognazzini, who plays Ash’s sister, Cheryl, is a top-notch belter and sharp-as-a-knife dancer. How Tyler Rive got cast as Ash is a mystery. On opening night, the guy’s singing voice was as flat as Saskatchewan.
There was no stopping the pleasure of the hard-core fans, who call themselves Deadites, though. They chanted along with favourite lines, squealed when splattered with blood, and rose to stand on the sticky floor and deliver an ovation.
Comments
8 Comments
Bit Part Deadite
Oct 24, 2009 at 4:23am
The review compares the musical directly to the films, and making the films sound like Citizen Kane. The last time I checked what camp meant, it is the following: camp 2 (k?mp)
n.
An affectation or appreciation of manners and tastes commonly thought to be artificial, vulgar, or banal.
Banality, vulgarity, or artificiality when deliberately affected or when appreciated for its humor: "Camp is popularity plus vulgarity plus innocence" (Indra Jahalani).
adj. Having deliberately artificial, vulgar, banal, or affectedly humorous qualities or style: played up the silliness of their roles for camp effect.
The reviewer never touched base about the second part of the title, The Musical. If he knew anything about musicals, he would know that the production spoofs many of the classic musicals. "Cabin In The Woods" spoofs Grease. "Do The Necronomicon" is Chicago. "It Is Time" pokes fun at Les Miserables.
If you wanted the movies, then watch the movies. The musical isn't a shot by shot account of the movies. It complements the film trilogy in a different light.
Colin Thomas, do your homework and you won't miss the boat next time.
Scott Blackstone
Oct 24, 2009 at 8:33am
Even though this review accurately observes out that the musical isn't nearly as campy as the movies are, it fails to point out how much better it is as a result. Instead of reading "Evil Dead: The Musical lacks the camp of its source material", the title could have just as easily read "Evil Dead: The Musical drops the '80s camp, and amps up the comedy".
Do not miss this show.
Jayson Four
Oct 24, 2009 at 9:04pm
Jackass.
This is an AWESOME show!!! Shelly was HILARIOUS and built on the musical's 'over-the-top' edge...and then some! The audience loved her!!!! You also neglected to mention that she, Cailin Stadnyk, also played the role of Annie - quick witted, incredible voice........and unbelievably HOT! I could not believe how quickly she changed from Shelly to Annie. Seemed like seconds! Fantastic performance by her! Bravo! All together, a great production! Vancouver, you have to see this show! It's the funniest show you will ever be lucky enough to see! I'm going back again for the splatter zone....and Shelly/Annie!!!!!
hmmm...
Oct 25, 2009 at 10:07pm
sounds like all of you commenting on this post has something to do with the show... Cast, Production....blah blah blah
tell it like it is!!!
Cheers
R U Kidding?
Oct 26, 2009 at 1:20pm
I know the source material. I understand camp. I understand the song parodies... and I agree with Colin. I was so dissappointed with this show. There was nothing clever here and Tyler Rive hit some really bad notes (although in fairness to him some of the arrangements were challenging.) Bruce Horak was a stand out for me. And Jamie Tognazzini held her own.
No Band? What?!? $50?!?
Oct 30, 2009 at 2:28pm
The worst part of the show was that they use CANNED RECORDED MUSIC. Why bother with karaoke tracks? For $50?
I coulda stayed home, watched the movie, sung my own songs in my head and splashed myself with ketchup for free.
Curious
Oct 31, 2009 at 11:45pm
I saw the DSR Productions one at the JCC the other night and had a really good time. I paid 30$ and am tempeted to go see it again. can't wait to see the comparing review
LowSlash
Nov 5, 2009 at 1:45pm
I agree with Curious, everyone should check out the local production at the Norman Rothstein theatre (quickly! It closes on Saturday, Nov. 7). It was deliciously campy, and for the person who complained about canned music, it even features a couple of live musicians.