|
Regional Reviews: Phoenix Evil Dead The Musical Also see Gil's review of Shrek The Musical
The plot is primarily based on the first film in the series, while also incorporating several characters and story elements from its sequels. Ash and his college student friends travel to an isolated cabin in the woods for their school break. Shortly after arriving, they discover a collection of strange items hidden in the cabin's cellar, including an ancient book and a tape recorder. When they play the tape, they hear the recorded voice of an archaeologist explaining that the book is the Necronomicon, the Book of the Dead. Unknowingly, the archaeologist's recitation of passages from the book unleashes a powerful evil force. The trees surrounding the cabin come to life, trapping the students and preventing their escape, while the dead begin to rise. As his friends gradually fall victim to the demonic forces, Ash struggles to survive and fight back against the growing supernatural threat. What made the original Evil Dead film stand out was its unusual blend of genuine scares, dark humor, and over-the-top absurdity. Rather than trying to replicate the film's horror on stage, the musical embraces the franchise's campy spirit and leans heavily into comedy. However, as fun as George Reinblatt's book is, the score (music by Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla, Melissa Morris and George Reinblatt; lyrics by Reinblatt) isn't that memorable, but the songs packed with Reinblatt's witty and often bawdy lyrics are brief enough to keep the action moving at a brisk pace. Reinblatt's book does a good job with introducing characters and plot elements so even newcomers unfamiliar with the films will clearly understand what's going on, and longtime fans will recognize numerous references, inside jokes, and iconic lines from the movie. One of the musical's greatest strengths is how it skillfully weaves together characters and story elements from all three Evil Dead films, creating a quite cohesive narrative while also providing a clearer, more satisfying conclusion than the ambiguous ending of the original movie. The Fountain Hills cast is having a fantastic time bringing the familiar movie characters to life. Grant West is the epitome of a smart ass as Ash, the unlikely hero of the piece. With fantastic facial expressions and hilarious comic timing, West perfectly embodies this ordinary man who is quickly transformed into a chainsaw-wielding demon hunter. Daisha Hill does a perfect job as Annie, the daughter of the archaeologist who discovered the Necronomicon, an intellectual woman who also finds herself falling for Ash. Hill also play's another minor role in the piece and is so effective you may not realize it's the same actress playing both roles. In supporting roles, Jamie Graves is fantastic as Cheryl, Ash's sister, who is the first to be turned to the dark side and quickly becomes a menacing, trash talking, pun spewing demon that gets some of the biggest laughs in the production due to her spot-on comic timing, and Benjamin Roger is bright and funny as Scott's oversexed, bright, and cocky friend Scott. Adam Gobeski, Lauren Mauser, and Eric Mitchell round out the cast with each getting several fun moments and solos to shine. Director Elias Matthews plays up the campy nature of the piece while leaning into the sexual nature that was present in most of the 1980s horror films that featured sexy coeds (Nat Coe's intimacy choreography helps to make those moments humorous and not cringey). Choreographer Brittany Foster's fun but fairly basic dance moves add to the charm of the piece, especially when all of the demons are dancing in synch, and Cam Oakes' music direction delivers fairly solid notes from the entire cast. Jeff Blake's set is fantastic and makes you feel like you're stuck in a cabin in the woods with these characters, and the wonderful props by Allison Hacker add to the authenticity. The lighting by Ariel Anderson uses plenty of shadows and ominous red light to bring a nice, eerie tone to the piece while Aimee Avery's costumes tie right into the period. Aaron Blanco's fight choreography adds lots of humor to these moments, and the decision to use red confetti instead of stage blood adds humor throughout (while also making it much easier to cleanup). The last time I saw this show, the stage blood was so sticky when shot out into the audience that my feet practically stuck to the floor afterwards; this is a much better choice. Evil Dead The Musical is exactly what you think it will be. It's over the top, campy, and a musical that never attempts to take itself seriously while also being a love letter to the films and their fans. With a fantastic cast, rich creative aspects, and solid direction, Fountain Hills Theater's production delivers exactly what's required from this fun and witty musical satire. o Evil Dead The Musical runs through June 28, 2026, at Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.fhtaz.org or call 480-837-9661. Music by Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla, Melissa Morris and George Reinblatt Cast: (in alphabetical order): |
