This is a show that won't tax your brain too much. Eat it, maybe. You might want to wear your best chainsaw as an accessory. Can't be too careful when it's Halloween and there's an army of darkness lurking about.
The Evil Dead is one of the great B-movie franchises. The zombie comedy was not the first of its kind, but it did a lot to kick off the zombie culture we embrace today for loads of fun, touches of entertaining terror, and even social commentary. It spawned the acclaimed directing career of Sam Raimi and made actor Bruce Campbell and his character Ash into film legends.
The Evil Dead was first released in 1981 and instantly became a campy classic. Most B-grade films of the day went straight to video, but this one was invited to screen at the Cannes Film Festival. It got a rave review from horror boss Stephen King. After that came Evil Dead II, Army Of Darkness and Evil Dead (a modern reboot) came out in 2013.
But more than all the movies, Evil Dead birthed a multimedia empire. Comic books, video games, pop-culture references, books, film festivals and much more.
Included in that list, a stage musical seemingly built for community theatre groups. The fans can't get enough, the amateur actors line up for parts, and there is even a small hardware economy that spins off of these productions because blood shows up like another character in these shows.
"Last time we did the show, we ordered 15 gallons of fake blood. This time we ordered 30 gallons," said Jon Russell, one of the main members of the production crew, for a show that hacks off main members - arms, legs, what-have-you - like machetes through the jungle.
"Usually in theatre you try to establish this invisible barrier between the show and the audience, but this time everything is splattering and spraying right out into the crowd all the time," Jon said. "For two years, we've been mulling over how to do a better job of spraying blood, having blood gush from wounds, all the hoses and mechanical devises we could figure out to make that a great audience experience."
With that comes increased planning for what happens after the blood is discharged. Where will it land? What will it do to clothing? What if someone gets it in their eyes or mouths (and they will)? The crew scoured North America, talking with theatre companies, film production companies, prop experts, to come up with the best tools for the job.
The Prince George Playhouse had to be modified to make Evil Dead: The Musical work inside that space. The front rows of seating were removed and replaced by plastic chairs (the same chairs used for two decades at Theatre North West) to help in the cleanup effort. Some fans will pay extra to sit in the Splatter Zone so they get the full bloody effect.
"We also have a new thing this year I'm really excited about. It's a multimedia element, a movie element we made," said Anna Russell, the play's director. "That's what's great about remounting a show. All the things you wanted to do last time, you now get another chance to do."
As much as this is a hilarious romp through death and dismemberment, there is serious business behind comedy. Having the right cast makes a huge difference between a mildly amusing mess and an impressive experience that sends fans to the box office time and again. Anna said the boys in the crew were having a lot of fun inventing splatter techniques, but she and the cast had to perfect numbers like Cabin In The Woods and earn the laughs with quality acting performances.
Not a problem, she added. Since their last version two years ago, almost all the roles have changed hands but no sooner had they announced the auditions than the lineup of hopeful thespians formed at their door. And, importantly, the main role of Ash was still held by Matt Russell who held it in 2013. That was one piece of consistency she appreciated.
The fact Matt is her husband has certain planning benefits as well.
"This time around is tougher and easier at the same time," Matt said. "We have two really young children now, and last time there was only one. We still have to be parents, and we are always at the theatre together, so it's a challenge. But knowing the lines is like riding a bike. It's a muscle that just kicks in and brings back the whole character."
Matt wrapped another large role, that of Capt. Von Trapp in this summer's production of The Sound of Music, so he's barely left the stage in the past six months.
"I once vowed I would never do two plays back to back, but here I am," he said. "It's different when you already know the part. It hasn't been that difficult, in that sense."
"This play really attracted a lot of different faces than we are used to seeing come out for our auditions," said Anna. "Because it is so campy, and horror-based comedy, it's a different kind of audience coming to watch and it is also a different kind of actor who wants to take part. This opportunity doesn't come up very often for that kind of actor, so we had a lot of new faces, and really excited faces."
Two of the excited new additions were not actors, they were filmmakers. Dan Stark and Jon Chuby are some of Prince George's most ambitious young auteurs, and they agreed to create the multimedia elements Anna is so pleased to unveil.
"That's what we have encountered all the way along," said Jon. "People want to help us. It's always there, that spirit of cooperation, when we do any show, but this one is so unique, and has a fresh set of challenges, so it's great to find out all these new ways people want to help. I really don't think we'd be able to pull off Evil Dead if we lived somewhere else. There is a mutual looking-out-for-each-other here. People and other groups like Theatre North West are willing to partner with us. That creates a whole set of relationships. It builds community. And everyone is going to get splattered in blood - how fun is that?"
As the frequent recurrence of the name Russell indicates, this is a family production. It is all under the umbrella of Judy Russell Presents, the theatre organization that operates Enchainement Dance Company and has brought Prince George such major theatre events as Cabaret, Chicago, Spamalot, The Producers and many more.
Evil Dead: The Musical runs Oct. 21-31 - yes, Halloween incuded - at the P.G. Playhouse. Tickets are on sale now (Splatter Zone and regular seating, which will also probably include some collateral blood spray) at Studio 2880.
