Welcome to the splatter zone
By
Alec Clayton
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| The cast of Evil Dead. Photos courtesy Tacoma Little Theatre |
Published in The News Tribune, Nov. 1, 2019
There
are things about “Evil Dead: The Musical” that people
need to know before venturing to Tacoma Little Theatre to watch it. It is a
parody of bad horror movies, specifically of one of the cheesiest of all time,
the 1981 film of the same name written and directed by Sam Raimi. Called “Gross out collegiate
humor” by Director Niclas Olson, “Evil Dead” is quickly
becoming a cult musical. TLT Artistic Director Chris Serface said it has a “Rocky
Horror level following.”
Opening
night, the theater was filled with boisterous younger-than-usual patrons, some of
whom wore bright yellow “Evil Dead” t-shirts. There are
splash zones on either side of the stage complete with transparent plastic
poncho-type rain gear and goggles. the splatter zone seats were sold out and are
close to sold out for the run of the show.
 |
| In the splatter zone |
The play is replete with exaggerated blood
and gore on the level of the black knight fight scene in “Monty Python and the
Holy Grail.”
Typical of bad horror movies, the thin
plot involves a group of five college students on a weekend trip to a cabin in
the woods which is protected by trees and a bridge that suddenly becomes
impassable once the students cross it, and the cabin is invaded by zombies.
The students are Ash the hero (Zachary
Edson), his girlfriend Linda (Ashley Roy), a drunken, loud and obnoxious friend
named Scott (Guy Taylor Simpson III), his girlfriend Shelly (Annelise Martin,
who doubles as Annie), and Ash’s meek little sister, Cheryl (Molly Quinn). Odd
and comically frightening characters who show up later are a “bit-part demon” named
Ed (Aleks Merilo) and Jake (Eric Strachan).
For the first 10 or 15 minutes, the play
is as dumb as the movies it makes fun of; yet the opening night audience was
howling at the sophomoric comic bits. And then it began to get funnier and
funnier, beginning with Strachan, Martin and Merilo singing “Good Old Reliable
Jake,” and from that point on it is insanely hilarious.
The set by the inimitable Blake York is
terrific, from the blank off-white curtain to the interior of the cabin with its
silly mounted moose head to the projected Star Wars-style fast rush through the
woods to the many detached and animated body parts.
Most
of the seven cast members are new to South Sound stages and have never
performed at TLT. Let us hope they will soon become regulars at area theaters.
There is a huge amount of talent here. Edson’s mock heroics are great,
especially when he strikes poses with chain saws and other implements of destruction
held high. Quinn shows great acting talent as she morphs from a whimpering misfit
to an evil zombie. Simpson’s wide-ranging expressions and loose-limbed
movements are outstanding. And the rocking music throughout is infectious.
Anyone
who can take comical excesses of blood and gore and loud audience reaction
should love TLT’s performance of “Evil Dead: The Musical.”
Evil Dead: The Musical
WHEN:
7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, through Nov. 10
WHERE:
Tacoma Little Theatre, 210 North I St., Tacoma,
TICKETS:
$19-$39
INFORMATION:
(253) 272-2281
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