Broadway Features and Reviews
The Toxic Avenger: Wicked Green Fun
By Christopher Moore, Broadway Magazine
From the moment the show begins, as an actor implores the audience to leave their cell phones on, the new musical The Toxic Avenger audaciously stands out as the most uniquely theatrical comedy playing in New York City. With its inventive combination of subversive fun and malevolent mischief, the new musical manages to achieve a neatly and sweetly romantic sentiment. It is an astonishing achievement.
While the show is loaded with material that could seem predictable at best (jokes about New Jersey) or offensive at worst (jokes about the blind), the collective whole of the show quickly transcends the camp musical genre with its sheer exuberance and outstanding cast.
Credit John Rando's inventive direction for setting both exceptional comic pacing and imaginative staging that keeps the action moving and never lets the audience's feet touch the ground. The ingenious Chinese-box of a set by Beaufolf Borrit unfolds with surprises at every turn, and John Dods special effects more than compliment the story. There is not a flaw in the whole production.
Based on a cult hit film, The Toxic Avenger tells the story of a tormented young environmentalist who is pushed by bullies into a vat of toxic ooze. That which does not kill him, makes him stronger and transforms him into a giant, green, disfigured toxic monster. The formerly meek environmentalist commits his life to cleaning up the toxic landscape of New Jersey as well as being a Dirty Harry of the Prius-set. Limbs are torn, heads are squished, and intestines are spread across the stage, but fear not. John Rando's direction and the gifted actors at the heart of the comedy (and there is a genuine heart here) imbue the violence with such whimsy that you can’t wait to see what happens next.
The core of the story is the love between Toxie and a blind librarian Sarah. Like much of the musical, the love story has material that might offend, but like the inherent contradictions of Violent Environmentalism, the sentiment transcends much of the off-color material. The Toxic Avenger does an exquisite job of walking the line between good taste and bad…and then proceeds to rip the line up with marvelous glee. If you are easily offended, be warned. If you are not easily offended, be amused. The comic daring of this creative team pays off on all counts.
Nancy Opel is astounding in duel roles, and even gets a chance to upstage herself. It is a chance she doesn't waste. Sara Chase brings a rare comic combination of naiveté and naughtiness to her blind librarian. Nick Cordero’s Melven/Toxie is surprisingly nuanced and convincing. Rounding out one of the best quintets playing on Broadway are Demond Green and Matthew Salvidar who play just shy of one million characters…and each one stands out as a unique creation.
The musical boasts a book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music with additional lyrics by David Bryan of the band Bon Jovi. The lyrics are all clever enough, but it is the range of Bryan's score that is most compelling. Spanning musical styles, Bryan seamlessly transforms the shows landscape with his musical inventions which include among other things a raunchy tango ("Evil Is Hot"), an authentic folk song ("The Legend of The Toxic Avenger"), and perhaps most elegantly a touchingly simple love ballad.
The Toxic Avenger is inventive, daring, wild, and above all else, the most fun you'll likely have at a musical this season. Look out, Shrek. Surrender, Ariel The Mermaid. There is a new Green King playing in New York City.
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