“The Texas Chainsaw Musical” is a fun musical spoof playing in workshop at San Francisco’s Fringe Festival.
While the show still needs some work, and it promises to review the comment cards from the audience to make necessary changes, it still proves to be a fun night at the theatre.
Swearing it has nothing to do with the similarly titled movie, this musical does have a killer who uses a chainsaw to kill victims while wearing a mask made of flesh. So perhaps the plot differs enough so they don’t have to pay for “borrowing” ideas from the cult film, but it’s spoofy enough to be considered original on its own merits.
Our cast is lead by Nick Bayne as Eddy, our massacarist. Bayne has such a sweet face that he makes the perfect serial killer as his victims just wouldn’t know he was coming. Of course, when he shows up in his flesh mask and bloody shirt, they might get a clue. Bayne also is in strong voice who is able to sound menacing in the more horrific moments and tender when trying to court a love interest or singing about his mother.
Alex Frankel matches Bayne when it comes to vocal ability and is quite the physical comedian as well with his pratfalls. Frankel though is more of a Jekyll & Hyde or perhaps Gomer Pyle and Jim Nabors. His speaking voice as an innocent young man is loving and warm. But he often goes deep baritone when belting out the tunes and it’s a little off-putting as it doesn’t match his character or speaking voice – perhaps he can find a middle ground?
Other cast standouts include Carlye Pollack who plays Bayne’s partner in crime, even though they really didn’t explore why she has such a thick New York accent in Texas. And Sarah Shosana David is quite good as the mother, with great delivery of some very witty dialog. And Dale Murphy is a scene stealer in several roles.
And not trying to be critical but offering suggestions as the show is in “workshop” mode, the show could have ended one reprise early, not needing the final “Ol’ Devil Eyes” at all. And to tighten it up a bit more, the song “Lullaby to Momma” goes on a little long and could have ended before the soft shop, cabaret finale of it.
There’s a few other minor tweaks that I hope they see on my comment card but all-in-all, a fun night.
The show’s runs at the Fringe just ended but it will take all of the workshop notes, fine tune it and play at the Willows Cabaret in Martinez Oct. 9-31, 2009. And at the Willows, there will be a Splatter Zone section which will include a free upgrade to anyone who brings along their fringe festival program. (Subject to availabililty.)
For more information on the fringe festival, check out www.sffringe.org.
To get tickets and more details about the show’s run at the Willows, go to www.willowstheatre.com.
And to follow the show, go to www.texaschainsawmusical.com or seek them out on Facebook.
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