Actors with Medicine Hat Musical Theatre rehearse for their upcoming performances of Evil Dead the Musical running from Oct. 14-29.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Terror and (fake) blood is set to rain down on Medicine Hat Musical Theatre audiences with the return of Evil Dead the Musical, running Oct. 14-29.
Based off the 1981 satirical-horror film of the same name, Evil Dead the Musical follows five college students as they venture into the woods for what they believe will be a weekend of fun. Their trip turns into a nightmare however, when they break-into an abandoned cabin and discover ancient relics, including an ominous book called the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis (or Book of the Dead).
When a passage from the book is accidentally read out loud, a legion of demonic entities are set loose and descend upon the group. A series of equally ridiculous and hilarious antics follow as the group fights to survive.
“Evil Dead really has a cult following,” director Amber Stark told the News. “And whether you know the movies or whether you’ve never seen the movies, you can still enjoy it and be part of this little group (as) it’s just a really good, fun night.”
While the musical is thematic of the horror genre, Stark assures audiences it is a comedy based in satire.
“You would think it’s a horror show,” Stark said. “But it’s not. Instead what it does is takes the horror genre and really makes fun of it. So, it is pure comedy from beginning to end.”
Actor Roy Devore – who plays Ash Williams – guarantees that between the show’s fast-paced, witty dialogue and over-the-top, parodic antics, there will never be a dull moment for audiences.
“It’s got a little bit of everything, all rolled into one package,” Devore said. “It’s just in-your-face one-liners, gross-out humour, (but also) musical elements, that just bring that other part of the story to the stage. It all just flows together.”
Devore, who has been with MHMT for over two decades, is particularly excited to be involved in the upcoming production as he filled the same role when the musical first came to Medicine Hat.
Though more than 10 years have passed since then, hype is already building for the gut-busting (literally) shenanigans about to ensure with tickets already running low for some shows. Especially, tickets for the splatter zone.
“A splatter zone is a special area of seating (where) during some of the scenes, you will actually be splattered with (fake) blood,” Stark said. “It’s incredibly unique to this show and people love it. Some people come dressed in white because they want to show-off the fact that they’ve sat in the splatter zone.”
Stark encourages anyone considering attending to purchase tickets before they sell out. Tickets can be purchased on MHMT’s website.
Shows run Oct. 14, 15, 20-22 and 26-29 with all shows beginning at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.
