Evil Dead The Musical
Let me start off by saying I'm not really a fan of horror films. Oh, I love the monster movies that came before my time, and a good Hitchcockian thriller type of horror, but the shock and slash gore fests that have become the majority of what passes for horror these days, do nothing for me.
However, back in 1992 I was intrigued by the ads for Army of Darkness, and when I heard they were using Harryhausen-esque effects, I said I must see this film. And boy was I glad I did, it is still one of the funniest, most entertaining dark fantasy/horror films I've ever seen. After seeing it, I went back and watched Evil Dead 1 & 2, and while the original Evil Dead didn't do much for me, the sequel was outstanding.
So a few months ago when I heard that some "crazy" people had turned Evil Dead into a musical, and that it was coming to New World Stages in New York City, I had to check it out.
For those who have never seen the films, here's the set up. Ash and his friends, all college students, go to spend a weekend in an abandoned cabin, well secluded deep in the forest. They plan on a weekend of drinking, partying, and sex, but, once they get there they find the Necronomicon (book of the dead), and a tape recorder with the voice of an archaeological scientist translating the ancient text. The spoken text unleashes "the evil dead", turning Ash's friends and loved ones one by one into Candarian Demons, that he must fight to stay alive.
Pretty traditional slasher horror film concept, but the authors of the musical are well aware of that and the self-effacing jokes start from the opening song "cabin in the woods", where a line is spoken about 5 college students going to a secluded abandoned cabin in the woods, what could possibly go wrong.
The humorous songs don't stop there, once the evil is released and one of the friends becomes a demon, Ash and his best friend Scott break into song with "what the fuck was that?" Other songs that will have you in laughing fits include, "bit-part demon" (about a demon with no real dialogue lines that knowns he will be dispersed of quickly), "all the men in my life keep getting killed by Candarian demons", and the big demon dance number, "do the necronomicon". Once can only hope a cast recording will one day be available.
Evil Dead the Musical is also probably the bloodiest show to ever play on a stage in New York City (outside of a Gwar show). Be forewarned that if you sit in the first 3 rows, you are in the "splatter zone", and likely will get hit with the fake blood that starts spewing like water during the second act, when Ash uses his chainsaw and mighty "boomstick", to ward off his friends turned demons.
To put it simply, Evil Dead The Musical is absolutely brilliant! It's hilariously funny, the songs are really catchy, the acting is top notch, and the overall execution is just astounding. If you're a fan of the Evil Dead films, or just a fan of dark comedy musicals, you must see this show.
Go to www.evildeadthemusical.net for more information, and to get tickets for an upcoming performance.
And if you'd like to see a sneak peek of one of the songs early on in the show, I found a clip of "Housewares Employee" (which is not from the NYC production, but likely an earlier Canadian production, but the actor playing Ash is the same), on You Tube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCL43IHXUpA
Let me start off by saying I'm not really a fan of horror films. Oh, I love the monster movies that came before my time, and a good Hitchcockian thriller type of horror, but the shock and slash gore fests that have become the majority of what passes for horror these days, do nothing for me.
However, back in 1992 I was intrigued by the ads for Army of Darkness, and when I heard they were using Harryhausen-esque effects, I said I must see this film. And boy was I glad I did, it is still one of the funniest, most entertaining dark fantasy/horror films I've ever seen. After seeing it, I went back and watched Evil Dead 1 & 2, and while the original Evil Dead didn't do much for me, the sequel was outstanding.
So a few months ago when I heard that some "crazy" people had turned Evil Dead into a musical, and that it was coming to New World Stages in New York City, I had to check it out.
For those who have never seen the films, here's the set up. Ash and his friends, all college students, go to spend a weekend in an abandoned cabin, well secluded deep in the forest. They plan on a weekend of drinking, partying, and sex, but, once they get there they find the Necronomicon (book of the dead), and a tape recorder with the voice of an archaeological scientist translating the ancient text. The spoken text unleashes "the evil dead", turning Ash's friends and loved ones one by one into Candarian Demons, that he must fight to stay alive.
Pretty traditional slasher horror film concept, but the authors of the musical are well aware of that and the self-effacing jokes start from the opening song "cabin in the woods", where a line is spoken about 5 college students going to a secluded abandoned cabin in the woods, what could possibly go wrong.
The humorous songs don't stop there, once the evil is released and one of the friends becomes a demon, Ash and his best friend Scott break into song with "what the fuck was that?" Other songs that will have you in laughing fits include, "bit-part demon" (about a demon with no real dialogue lines that knowns he will be dispersed of quickly), "all the men in my life keep getting killed by Candarian demons", and the big demon dance number, "do the necronomicon". Once can only hope a cast recording will one day be available.
Evil Dead the Musical is also probably the bloodiest show to ever play on a stage in New York City (outside of a Gwar show). Be forewarned that if you sit in the first 3 rows, you are in the "splatter zone", and likely will get hit with the fake blood that starts spewing like water during the second act, when Ash uses his chainsaw and mighty "boomstick", to ward off his friends turned demons.
To put it simply, Evil Dead The Musical is absolutely brilliant! It's hilariously funny, the songs are really catchy, the acting is top notch, and the overall execution is just astounding. If you're a fan of the Evil Dead films, or just a fan of dark comedy musicals, you must see this show.
Go to www.evildeadthemusical.net for more information, and to get tickets for an upcoming performance.
And if you'd like to see a sneak peek of one of the songs early on in the show, I found a clip of "Housewares Employee" (which is not from the NYC production, but likely an earlier Canadian production, but the actor playing Ash is the same), on You Tube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCL43IHXUpA