Review: EVIL DEAD, THE MUSICAL at Bootless Stage Works

One wonders what Director Rosanne DellAversano and Music Director James Fuerst talk about at home. Is dinner conversation taken up with zombies, flesh eaters, how to maximize blood flow on the brave guests who sit in the "Splatter Zone" of their present production of EVIL DEAD, THE MUSICAL?

Rosanne characterizes herself as one with strange and quirky thoughts. Owing to the past production history of Bootless Stageworks, this seems an understatement. James seems more the conventional one, perhaps musing how to achieve the greatest power out of his 3-person live band.

The very entertaining show concludes tomorrow night. Now is the time to purchase tickets. It is a scream in many senses of the word. The dedicated actors play it straight. It's camp alright. No profound intellectual takeaways. Just a whole lot of fun from a well-rehearsed and talented cast.

EVIL DEAD, THE MUSICAL takes all the elements of the cult classic films, EVIL DEAD and EVIL DEAD 2 and combines them for of the craziest, funniest and bloodiest theatrical experiences you will visit in Wilmington.

Five college students go to an abandoned cabin in the woods and accidentally unleash an evil force that turns them all into demons. It's up to Ash (John Jerbasi), a housewares employee turned demon-slaying hero and his trusty chainsaw to save the day. (What is a cult classic sans chainsaw?)

Blood flies (on the guests), limbs are dismembered (via chainsaw), demons tell horribly bad jokes and yes, all this is set to music. The song titles are as off the wall as the plot: "All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Canadian Demons" and "What the F^^K Was That?"

Director DellAversano makes sure the cast has fun with the horror genre. The cast are mainly Bootless veterans. All of them assumedly, have the same sense of humor as the director. Linda (Alicia Alaimo), Annie (Meg Falasco), Cheryl (Jenny Fernandez), Scott (Jared Kimberley), Shelly (Andrew Dean), Ed (Michael Sheldon and my favorite Jake (Shaun Yates).

I sat above the musicians, toiling under the smooth and energetic direction of Fuerst. Joe Eigenbrot on keyboard, James Villa on guitar an Deb Bialecki on drums.

The production ends tomorrow, Saturday. It is staged in a church at 1301 Broom St in Wilmington. 8pm curtain 302.887.9300 or just show up! Bootless.org

2018-2019 Season

(title of show) - September 21-October 6

Oedipus for Kids - November 15-17

An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein - March 29-April 6

You've Got Red on You - July 12-July 20

2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats

Best Lead Performer in a Musical - Top 3

1. LJ Benet - The Lost Boys, A New Musical

17% of votes

2. Joshua Henry - Ragtime

16.4% of votes

3. Nicholas Christopher - Chess

8.9% of votes

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