Geekscape Visits The Theater To See ‘Re-Animator The Musical’!

You may wonder what to expect when going to see a musical play based on a horror movie. Yes, there are jaunty tunes. Yes, there are dance numbers. And oh yes, there will be blood.

Re-Animator the Musical, re-opening for a limited engagement at the Hayworth Theatre in Los Angeles today before beginning its international tour, is a perfect adaptation. It is at once a completely faithful re-imagining of the 1985 cult classic and a brilliantly original stage production.

The reason for this smooth transition is probably due to multi-talented director Stuart Gordon. Not only did he co-write and direct the original film, but he also has a strong background in theatre, having founded Chicago’s legendary Organic Theatre Company over 40 years ago.

Gordon directs a brilliant roster, including the entire original cast reprising their roles from last summer’s premiere run. Chris L. McKenna and Rachel Avery give charming and poignant performances as corrupted couple Dan and Megan; Jesse Merlin is a hilariously creepy Dr. Hill; George Wendt is, as usual, adorable; the chorus members are somehow chameleonic and notable.

But the star here is Graham Skipper as the titular re-animator himself, Dr. Herbert West. It’s an uphill battle taking on a role immortalized by the irreplaceable Jeffrey Combs, but Skipper makes the character truly his own. Whether singing or staring quietly, Skipper’s West is delightfully egomaniacal, but also cuter and more likable than the film version.

The songs are bouncy and fun, but you probably won’t hear a standout number that will survive past the production. The music is catchy but pretty much never ends, giving the impression of a 90-minute medley, and the lyrics are almost too seamlessly interwoven into the story for the audience to appreciate their cleverness the first time around.

Of course, one of the unique things about this particular musical is its horror aspect. Gordon has re-teamed with the special makeup effects crew of the original film to reproduce all the decapitation, evisceration, and exsanguination that horror buffs will expect. In fact, there is so much gore that the first three rows are designated as a “splash zone”, complete with complimentary ponchos.

It should be noted that the effects here are ingenious, but this isn’t movie magic; it’s closer to a circus act. The wonder is not in the production’s ability to hide the strings, but in their ability to walk the ropes. Being up close and personal, you will see exactly how an effect is achieved, and you will appreciate the results all the more for it.

If you’re a fan of horror or musical theatre, and you’re planning on being in Los Angeles in the next two months, you can’t pass up your chance to see Re-Animator The Musical. You can buy tickets at http://www.reanimatorthemusical.com/tickets.html, and as a special bonus to Geekscape readers- if you buy tickets for this opening weekend, use the discount code 008 for 50% off ticket prices!