You've double take'd at enough adverts by know to know that yes, The Toxic Avenger: The Musical is both very real and very here in the city. After Evil Dead and Reefer Madness, the cult film to stage musical craze is one mad ball that will probably continue to roll. But before we see Manos: Hands of Fate, Songs of Joy or a singing impersonation of Robert Z'Dar, I'm glad that The Toxic Avenger, sort of the Citizen Kane of cult cinema, gets its treatment first. But the question is, was I glad to see it?
I think there's one thing I need to talk about first before going any further: Audience. Evil Dead The Musical sold itself to Evil Dead fans by staying true to the material (well, as true to the material as you can be when even the material didn't keep true to the material). With Toxie, after all was said and sang, I had a sinking sensation that, and I mean this, the writers of this production may have never actually seen The Toxic Avenger. But that isn't actually a bad thing. I mean, we aren't talking about the holiest of work here. You have a big green mutant dismembering people on stage and then harmonizing about it. Okay, he's missing the mop, the tutu, the janitorial duties, the mystic-never-really-elaborated-need to kill evil doers, the unruly kids that get kicks from running over kids in their car and a nearly naked, obese community leader, but to the average theatre goer that will hardly be an issue. What I'm saying is that this isn't one for purists, for any Toxic Avenger purists that actually exist out there. If you have never seen the films before, you are at no disadvantage at all to walk into this production to have a good time.
What awaits you inside the radioactive Danforth Music Hall? First I gotta say, the set floored me. Incredibly elaborate and creatively used throughout, I started to wonder if the design team had a larger budget than the original film's production. Second, and I'm continuing on my honesty streak, it starts pretty slow. The first third drags on a little bit, the cast digging their heels into playfulness as the regular showcase of "Welcome to our weary city" songs take the stage. But things begin to pick up the pace around the same time that Toxie scores his first decapitation, and a joyous thing pans out. More and more players are introduced, almost indulgently, and it's here I'll note there are only five members of the cast. While Evan Alexander Smith does a good job as the jabbing, singing, brutish hero and Brittany Gray pumps a lot of fantastic visual gags into his blind peppy girlfriend, the show is surprisingly taken by Jamie McKnight, Daren A. Herbert and Louise Pitre, who play the plethora of minor roles.
The play is at its best when it is self aware. This usually consists of not just characters, but the actors taking on the task of filling Jersey city with only five people, two of which reserved for specific characters. Eventually things hilariously melt down, as an homage to costume changes goes underway, the actors soon find themselves hilariously disheveled. Pitre has a fantastic scene where she juggles an on-stage argument between two of her roles, and near the end Herbert and McKnight seem to have lost track of what exact character they are anymore. The deeper into the production you go, the more surprisingly subtle visual gags play in, which will greatly reward the attentive.
Toss your expectations into the garbage heap, it will aid you. I say that especially to those who have previously seen the films. You will be happy you went to see this play, even if it takes time for the poison to spread through your veins. I predict a solid future for Toxie in Toronto, as both a city that caters to the stage, and shitty fucking movies.
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