Through Sun 6/26
There’s nothing toxic about the tuneful and wonderfully funny musical, The Toxic Avenger, now on stage at Cain Park’s cozy Alma Theatre. Caution might be necessary though since it’s possible that you might find yourself so full of “Toxic Love” (as expressed in a great duet between our hero and his true love) that you may feel the need to see this fun show more than once.
Set in Tromaville, New Jersey (oh thank goodness it wasn’t set in 1969 Cleveland — we are so over that river fire thing, right?), our story concerns the desperate straits the residents face due to a nearby toxic waste dump. Precious and precocious lad Melvin Ferd the Third (a nerd adorably played by Ellis C. Dawson III channelling Family Matters’ Steve Urkel) sets out to save the town and, for his efforts, gets tossed into a vat filled with toxic goo. This brings transformation rather than death and Melvin rises, morphed into “Toxie.” He’s still adorable, but now he’s wearing big green muscles and one eye on his cheek (it’s more comic book than grisly reality). He’s also got a temper, and when he tears his tormentors to shreds, body parts fly all over the stage in cartoonish gore.
There’s also a love story. Melvin falls for Sarah (a comically clueless Natalie Green), the blind librarian whose extreme bumbles evoke laughter. (I know, you think “That’s not nice to laugh at the blind,” but it works anyway.) Together they set out to save the town from the evil schemes of Mayor Babs Belgood (played by Kate Leigh Michalski, who makes us fear and laugh at her supremely confident big blonde crooked city official).
Comic doubling is the order of the day in this dystopian tale of “Toxie,” with some actors, such as Michalski, cracking us up as she plays diametrically opposed types. Most winning is her show-stopping “Bitch/Slut/Liar/Whore,” a hysterically funny frenetic “face off” between Babs Belgood and Ma Ferd, Toxie’s mother (also Michalski). Thanks to Michalski and to the inventive talent of costume designer Tesia Dugan Benson, the mom and the mayor matchup is a real winner, leaving us in breathless awe at the end of the first act.
Ensemble members Malik Akil, Mariah Burks, Trey Gilpin and Codie Higer all take outstanding turns as goons, doctors, dudes and chicks as they throw themselves into whatever crazy (often quite athletic) part assigned by the whim of writers Joe DiPietro (book and lyrics) and David Bryan (music and lyrics). This Toxic Avenger is based on the Lloyd Kaufman version of the tale (there are other Toxic Avenger tales out there).
Director/choreographer Nathan Motta’s fine interpretation of this first-class musical farce skillfully celebrates the joys and absurdities of politics, public service, love, and above all, transformation. Music Director Jordan Cooper keeps matters musical in fine shape as well.
Bottom Line: Who knew toxic disaster could be funny or that heroes could be ugly, green, and (as it turns out) achieve high public office? Let this comic-book show be part of your summer (kids will like it too).
For tickets call Cain Park at 216-371-3000 or go to cainpark.com.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118