BWW Reviews: RE-ANIMATOR THE MUSICAL Develops a Cult Following at the Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood

Get ready all you "Rocky Horror" fans! There's a new show in town that is begging for you to join in the fun, just as long as you don't mind being splattered with blood, breaking pencils, or waving pompoms. Due to robust ticket sales and an ever-increasing dedicated fan base, RE-ANIMATOR THE MUSICAL has added nine additional performances at the Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood through November 23. The blood flows so freely during the show that the first 3 rows are designated as a "splash zone." So bring your raincoat or accept a plastic trash bag from the stage manager for protection.

Stuart Gordon, the director and co-writer of "H.P. Lovecraft's The Re-Animator," the cult film on which the musical is based, has joined his fearless producing partner Dean Schramm to prove that anything that can be done in a movie can be a hundred times more astonishing live on stage. Mark Nutter is composer and lyricist with Peter Adams as Musical Director on keyboards bringing Nutter's cheerfully disturbing songs to life.

RE-ANIMATOR THE MUSICAL tells the story of Herbert West (Graham Skipper), a brilliant young medical student who has created a glowing green serum that can bring the dead back to life. Looking for a place where he can experiment in private, West rents the basement in the home of Dan Cain (Darren Ritchie), the handsome young medical student in love with the dean's beautiful daughter Megan Halsey (Jessica Howell).

But what should be a medical breakthrough results in hideous monstrosities and ghastly consequences. Ken Hudson Campbell plays the Dean of the medical school whom West transforms into a mindless zombie. Operatic Jesse Merlin plays Dr. Carl Hill who loses his head for Meg, only to actually lose it at the hands of Herbert West. Adding to the outrageous antics are Cynthia Carle (also the show's choreographer), Brian Gillespie, Marlon Grace, and Liesel Hanson, all playing an assortment of doctors, nurses, rampaging zombies, and even Rufus, the outrageously evil cat.

Graham Skipper's animated antics as nerdy med student Herbert West enhanced each of his songs, the titles of which I wish were in the program so I could include them with my review as they were hysterical, all in rhyme. Marlon Grace brought the house down as the porn-reading morgue watchman as he sang about his life. Cynthia Carle and Liesel Hanson repeatedly joined in with rousing choruses of "She's Dead" throughout the show, each entrance greeted with howls of laughter. And young lovebirds Darren Ritchie and Jessica Howell certainly channel Brad and Janet (yes they even appear in their underwear) as they try to navigate their way through the strange goings-on around them.

It's very apparent the cast loves performing this outrageous musical, with Graham Skipper as well as others doing their best to spread as much "blood" or other liquids as possible on their eager audience. Even if you are not a fan of horror movies, put your cares aside for a few hours and enjoy the madness as it spreads through the Steve Allen Theater.

The special effects are designed by same team who did them for the "Re-Animator" movie: Tony Doublin, John Naulin and John Beuchler. They all won LA Critics' and LA Weekly Awards for their mind-boggling illusions, most notably when Jesse Merlin carries his own head around, comically singing the entire time. Laura Fine Hawkes designed the creepy sets, Joe Kucharski the moldering costumes, and Jeff Ravitz the cadaverous lighting. Stage manager Michael Lemek is the master of the mayhem.

The show has also been invited to run from January 6 through January 18, 2015 at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas NV 89106. Tues.- Fri. at 8:00, Sat. and Sun. at 2:30 and 8:00. Tickets $44, on sale starting Oct. 24. Several die-hard fans in the audience told me they already have tickets to attend the performances there. Go to http://www.thesmithcenter.com/events/venues/studio-theatre

The revival of the award-winning musical hit RE-ANIMATOR THE MUSICAL with book by Dennis Paoli, Stuart Gordon and William J. Norris; Music and lyrics by Mark Nutter is now playing until November 23rd on Fridays through Sundays at 8:00pm at Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90027. Free parking lot behind building.

Presented by The Schramm Group LLC and Red Hen Productions in association with Trepany House under the Artistic Direction of Amit Itelman.

ADMISSION: $25. RESERVATIONS: (800) 595-4849.
ONLINE TICKETING: www.trepanyhouse.org

Photos by Thomas Hargis

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