Picture: Roy Tan
The Toxic Avenger continues at the Arts Theatre, London until 3 December.
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Following a sell-out run at the Southwark Playhouse last summer, The Toxic Avenger deservedly blasts its way into the Arts Theatre full of pizzazz, moxie and fabulous non PC fearlessness (and fresh from being nominated for Musical Theatre Review’s inaugural Best Musical Award at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe).
With a tremendous cast of just five (playing three times as many characters), a top-notch onstage band of five, the writers behind Memphis the Musical, a strong creative team, producer Katy Lipson (Aria Entertainment) and Flying Entertainment, The Toxic Avenger is simply unmissable this autumn.
Sometimes stage musical adaptations of films seem obvious: The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Hairspray. So a fairly violent, seedy 80s cult B-movie – about a man who falls into a vat of toxic waste to become a heroic green monster who avenges a wicked power crazed mayor – must have seemed a stretch when first mooted.
But adapted as a rock musical in 2008 by Joe DiPietro (book/lyrics) with a rock anthem score from David Bryan (music/lyrics), Toxic Avenger has more than triumphed.
The score throws up fantastic song after fantastic song, tremendous energy, highs, lows and everything in between. Lyrics are clever, edgy and very funny. A glorious high-energy romp that holds attention throughout with unexpected twists and turns.
Director Benji Sperring enables the cast to stretch caricature to its limits, yet there is tremendous attention to detail and comedic timing which keeps things tight and classy.
He is blessed with a stupendously talented cast, one that must be the hardest working of any in the West End right now as they re hardly ever off stage. They’re tremendous singers too; all the vocal demands are huge and more than met.
The original story for the film is a morality tale about a geek who unexpectedly becomes an environmental superhero fighting evil corruption, and even more unexpectedly wins the heart of the blind librarian girl he adores, although not without losing her first.
Picture: Roy Tan
Mark Anderson is a magnificent superhero. The only original cast member from Southwark, he is a thrillingly voiced Toxie who maintains our affection throughout, first as geeky Melvin and then as our heroic Toxic Avenger.
There is something disconcerting about a whole audience laughing as arms are ripped off and intestines ripped out, but he does it so charmingly, that we do! His beautiful rendition of ‘You Tore My Heart Out’ in Act II is truly heart-rending.
Emma Salvo plays blind librarian Sarah, the love of Melvin/Toxie’s life, with outstanding, dry, comedic timing and a powerful resonant voice which she never pushes over the edge. Their vocal duets together are superb.
Natalie Hope is tremendous and perfectly cast as the villainous, evil, sex and power-crazed town mayor, impressively also doubling as Melvin’s homely mom. Her hilarious and virtuosic Act I finale number ‘Bitch/Slut/Liar/Whore’, playing both roles at the same time, deservedly brings the house down.
Dazzling as these three main characters are, the show would not be complete without the exceptional performances of Ché Francis and Oscar Conlon-Morrey, cast as ‘Black Dude’ and ‘White Dude’ respectively – names to watch out for for sure.
They actually play at least 14 hilarious characters between them of both sexes and wonderful ‘indeterminate accents’. Both have natural charisma and huge stage presence, and are superb singer/actors who interact wonderfully with the audience. The stage lights up every time they appear.
The band, Tom Coppin (guitar), Jack Reddick (reeds), Sam Pegg (bass), Bob Carr (drums), under musical director and keys player Alex Beetschen, are outstanding.
Toxic Avenger is edgy and fearless and un-PC without being offensively so. Its natural audience would be youngish (define as you wish), but it is also a show you could take your older kids, teens and even your gran to see.
A universal feel-good story of good versus bad and ultimately how love will always triumph. How those are the values that really matter. It has its time and place, but ultimately be good, do good, speak up, speak out, and love.
The Toxic Avenger is an exhilarating romp. Full of heart, fun and fabulous music. A real intoxicating antidote to modern life and times and a few hours of enjoyable escapism with truth at its heart. A triumph indeed.
Catherine Françoise
Tickets for The Toxic Avenger are available HERE.
Look out for our interview with DAVID BRYAN and JOE DIPIETRO – coming soon!
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