Little Shop of Horrors. Evil Dead The Musical. Jekyll and Hyde The Musical. Re-Animator The Musical. Carrie The Musical. American Psycho The Musical.  Horror movies have quickly become a fascinating (if not always successful) subject for musical theatre. The over-the-top characters and outlandish plotlines can either be given appropriate gravitas or satiric buffoonery depending upon the song being sung at the time.

Add Maverick Theater’s The Toxic Avenger Musical to the list of big successes.

Melvin Ferd The Third is a nerdy janitor in Tromaville, New Jersey, pining away for Sarah, the blind librarian, who just can’t see herself (heh) as his girlfriend. A couple of town bullies toss him into a vat of toxic goo, and Melvin transforms into the hideously disfigured but gold-hearted Toxic Avenger, basher of bad guys and protector of good folks.  Severed limbs, rescued cats, horny mayors, folk singers, sassy baristas, and a patriotic happy ending are all thrown into the bubbly, high-energy show and it works amazingly well. This is a fun, snappy, leave-you-laughing-in-the-aisles performance that should be seen. Maybe more than once.

Enrique Munoz Jr. is Melvin, the janitor who goes from geek to freak, and he is the very capable anchor of the show. His voice is terrific (frankly, all the cast members’ voices are fabulous and strong) and he’s got some funky dance moves that made me giggle. Tara Pitt is Munoz’s worthy partner in crime, and she matches him note-for-note and move-for-move in the Who’s Got Talent? contest of our leads. Rounding out the cast is the amazing Dahna Lane as lascivious Mayor Belgoody as well as Melvin’s mom Ma Ferd, which makes it doubly hilarious when those two characters have to sing a duet with/against each other. Lane gets a well-derserved ovation and she sprints back and forth, changing characters and costumes mid-song, over and over again. Korey Gene Mitchell as White Dude and the rubber-faced, scene-stealing Steven Joseph Alcantar as Ethnically Ambiguous Dude have what I feel are the toughest jobs in the whole cast, playing multiple roles, sometimes mere seconds after their previous appearance onstage, and giving each and every character a completely different and unique look, attitude, and mannerisms. It’s a crazy juggling act and they keep all their balls in the air with nary a falter.

I had way more fun than I thought I would at this show. I wish I had the time to see it again, it was that good. The songs are catchy and fun, the venue is intimate and up-close (general seating, so get there early for the best chairs), and if you don’t enjoy this, well, you’ve got toxic waste in your heart. Uncle Mike sez check it out (soon, because it’s closing May 7th).

http://www.mavericktheater.com/html/toxic_avenger.html