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more photosFive college students sing and dance at the opening of “Evil Dead: The Musical,” unaware of the darkness about to descend upon their vacation. From left, cast members Hector Ariceaga, Amber Barnhart, Jenny MacKenzie, Erin Barbot and Todd Hanson rehearse at 2nd Street Theater.
Andy Tullis/ The Bulletin
Cheesy zombie fun
‘Evil Dead: The Musical’ takes over 2nd Street Theater ‘Evil Dead: The Musical’ takes over 2nd Street Theater
By Eleanor Pierce / The Bulletin
Published: October 02. 2009 4:00AM PSTOctober is horror time — the season of the undead, dark woods and chainsaw-induced gore.
But sometimes doesn’t it seem like the spookiness can get a little tired?
For those who are sick of the same old blood, guts and ghosts, there’s “Evil Dead: The Musical,” which will play through Halloween at 2nd Street Theater in Bend (see “If you go”). “Evil Dead” takes your standard demon possessions and headless attackers and spices things up with cheesy jokes, choreography and original songs like “All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Kandarian Demons.”
The “Evil Dead” series — “The Evil Dead,” “Evil Dead II” and “Army of Darkness” — are campy horror movies directed by Sam Raimi, now better known as the director of the blockbuster “Spider-Man” movies. The series was released between 1981 and 1993, and in the ensuing years, they’ve become cult classics. Comic books and video games have been made in honor of the flicks and their hero, Ash. In 2003, with Raimi’s blessing, the musical premiered in Toronto.
The play takes elements of the three films for its plot, though there are some variations from the original story lines. Uberfans of “Evil Dead” probably won’t mind, though, since the three movies are infamous for their own inconsistencies.
The musical is littered with inside jokes. There are recent pop-culture references and jabs at the “Spider-Man” movies, plus plenty of “Evil Dead” jokes that won’t necessarily make much sense to the uninitiated.
“People who know ‘Evil Dead’ will pick up on the nuances and references,” said co-director Sandy Klein, but don’t skip it just because you haven’t seen the films. “If you haven’t seen the movies, it’s still a wacky show.”
As the play begins, five college students are on their way to an old, abandoned cabin in the woods for their spring vacation.
Ash (Todd Hanson) is the leader of the group. He’s brought his sister, lonely Cheryl (Jenny MacKenzie), along, as well as his girlfriend, Linda (Erin Barbot). Ash’s foul-mouthed, hot-to-trot best friend Scott (funny newcomer Hector Ariceaga), has also brought along Shelly (Amber Barnhart), a girl he recently picked up.
The group is planning a rowdy time befitting college kids staying in the woods. They’ve packed liquor, but they haven’t told anyone where they’ll be. Oh, and there’s only one bridge leading to the cabin.
As one character says pointedly, “What could possibly go wrong?”
As they’re trying to settle in, Ash and Scott find a strange book and a tape recorder. A voice on the tape describes the book, saying that it’s “bound in human flesh and inked in human blood.” Unfortunately for Ash and his buddies, the voice on the tape goes on to recite incantations that wake up the evil spirits. The spirits first possess the trees surrounding the cabin, then take Ash’s friends one by one, until he’s nearly surrounded by zombies.
“They refer to them as zombies,” Hanson said, “but they’re a different type of zombie than you’re used to.” These zombies don’t just sing, they wisecrack, taunt and make really bad jokes.
In the middle of the blood-soaked madness, new arrivals show up at the cabin. Annie (Vanessa Farnsworth) is looking for her father, a professor of the occult whom she expects to find working at the cabin. She and her fiancee, Ed (Brad Knowles), get help finding their way to the cabin by overall-clad “good old reliable” Jake (Michael Coffman).
As Ash, Todd Hanson brings gusto to the protagonist’s role. In the movies, Bruce Campbell played Ash, and his portrayal of the nice guy turned cheesy action hero is nearly iconic. Hanson, a longtime local community theater vet, said it’s one of the most difficult roles he’s played.
“There are so many fans of Bruce Campbell, I’m playing Bruce Campbell playing Ash,” he said. “I’m trying to stay as true to the character as I can.”
“That role was made for him,” Klein said of Hanson. “There was no other choice. He even kind of resembles Bruce Campbell.”
Co-director Chris Kas, a film maker with Rage Productions, is coordinating the gross-out special effects. Klein said the violence isn’t scary so much as “stagey.”
Nonetheless, it’s worth noting: This isn’t a show for kids. The show is about college students — the overt sexual gags and foul language shouldn’t come as a big surprise.
In fact, the language eventually becomes a joke in itself, almost a farce. One song, a tango titled “What the F--- Was That?,” while over the top, suggests a realism most horror movies lack. Think about it: What would you say if your sister suddenly turned into a murderous zombie?
“It’s a moment of honesty in a really surreal situation,” Hanson said. Plus, “it’s really funny.”
Eleanor Pierce can be reached at 541-617-7828 or epierce@bendbulletin.com.
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