ArtsBeat

Trevor Martin and Ryan Ward star in "Evil Dead: The Musical" at Toronto's Diesel Playhouse.

It's no "Rocky Horror Picture Show," but it's long been safe to say that Toronto's "Evil Dead: The Musical" is one of the most curious cult theatrical phenomenons in the last decade.

The show, which is a madcap hybrid of a Gwar concert and a Sam Raimi film, contains a healthy helping of intentionally pun-laden zombie comedy, spewing blood and cheesy effects the likes of which rarely (and unfortunately so) appear onstage.

And after watching a performance of the show in Toronto last weekend, it's clear that they're doing something right. The audience was full of people below the age of 30 -- practically no grey hairs in sight. When we asked where the best seasts were, a woman at the box office window giddily told us that she had seen the show 150 times, and she should know: The best spot was in the middle, just behind the "splatter zone."

The theater had a full bar, Molson on draught, and -- like an old fashioned cabaret updated for a hippified Gen-Whatever -- you could drink to your heart's content at your seat. Sassy waiters and all. Tickets were $30 for the cheap seats and the show itself was sophomorically delightful and very well acted.

This is a model that didn't work simply because Toronto has more people, a younger demographic or better actors. It worked because it was a great idea. It's something that has only been attempted here ocassionally and not with nearly enough oomph (take Alleyway Theatre's less than rousing production of "Hell House" last Halloween). But it could work here and, much like Studio Arena's "Bat Boy" production hinted at, draw young crowds from the suburbs and beyond to see theater downtown.

MusicalFare, with their production of "AltarBoyz," went at a similar demographic. They even tried the more macabre with "Sweeney Todd." and they deserve high praise for both.

But even more than good-natured critiques of the Boy Band aesthetic, Sondheim-stamped terror or tales of freaks pulled from the Tabloids -- all of that a very good direction for theater -- what the youth of our nation (and our city) really respond to is blood and guts. Always have.

--Colin Dabkowski

(Photo courtesy Diesel Playhouse)