Reviews: Evil Dead the Musical at Potomac Senior High School
Written by Magdalena King of South County High School
Five college kids decide to stay overnight in an abandoned cabin in the woods; How bad can it be?!
Evil Dead the Musical, written by George Reinblatt and based on Sam Raimi's comedic horror films (The Evil Dead and Evil Dead ll), first premiered in 2003 in Toronto, Ontario. Famously known for its blood splatter zones, fake gore, and "campy" script, the high school version came out in July of 2017. The humorous story follows Ash, his sister, and his college friends as they decide to sneak into a cabin in the woods for their spring break. However, when Ash's friends and family slowly turn into demons after summoning spirits through an old tape recorder found in the cellar, it quickly becomes clear that their fate is doomed. However, Ash does whatever possible to save himself and those he can, resulting in theatrical blood, fake severed body parts, and lots of laughs.
Evan Barret Heider's over-the-top physicality and intentionality as Ash helped to make each bit memorable. Through his "hammy" line delivery and dance moves, Heider contributed to the humor of the show by truly making the Evil Dead the cheesy, yet excellent, musical that it is. In addition, his strong stage presence filled each scene with energy and made him enjoyable to watch. Sharing the stage with Evan, Aubrey Terault, playing the role of Annie, stole the spotlight through her powerful vocals and belt as well as her sassy attitude. Aubrey sang impressive riffs, even while being suspended in the air by her scene partners, and hit every dance move, showing the amount of rehearsal and effort that went into making her character. Zion Crenshaw did an astonishing job playing reliable Jake. His comedic timing and commitment were apparent and left the audience roaring. While Crenshaw's vocals and physicality were superb during his own songs, such as "Ode to an Accidental Stabbing," he truly lit up the stage even when he was not the main subject of the scene, showing his attention, dedication, and humor that he brought to each moment.
However, this humorous musical could not have been done without the talented technical aspects. The props crew, led by Iman Mahmood, Paul Wesley, and Albert Tobar-Del Cid created impressive fake weapons, such as guns, knives, and axes out of styrofoam that not only looked realistic, but helped to execute the fighting scenes. In addition, their use of red confetti as blood was a shocking and creative surprise. The hair and makeup crew, led by Edyanah Salecedo, Victoria Dorren, Ethan Hernandez, and Iman Mahmood, created detailed masks to represent the transitions between the characters and their demonic form. This helped to characterize the roles and make the dramatic switch-up more understandable to the audience.
Potomac Senior High School created a musical that was a perfect mix of thrilling and funny, showcasing all of the classic horror movie cliches. From decapitated heads to dancing demons, Evil Dead the Musical was a fantastic performance that kept audiences excited to see what comes next.
Written by Erin Allen of Bishop Ireton High School
Deep in the woods lies a centuries-old force of evil, a night of pure terror for five vacationing college students, and a terrifyingly fun night at the theatre. Chainsaws roar and red confetti flies in Potomac Senior High School's production of Evil Dead the Musical (High School Version), where sheer horror meets slapstick comedy.
Evil Dead the Musical is based on Sam Raimi's horror franchise of the same name. The musical first premiered in 2003 at the Tranzac Club in Ontario, Canada, then moved to off-Broadway's New World Stages in 2006 for a limited run. The show developed a massive cult following during its original performances, leading to subsequent productions in American regional theatres and across the globe.
Combining the films Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2 into one show, Evil Dead the Musical follows five college students who, upon finding an abandoned cabin in the woods, awaken a horde of Kandarian Demons by playing a taped translation of a Sumerian Book of the Dead aloud in the cabin. The Kandarian Demons (called the "Evil Dead") possess and kill each of the students until it's up to Ash, the last one standing, to destroy the Evil Dead once and for all.
Evan Barret Heider entertained the audience from start to finish as Ash, the story's houseware -- employee -- turned -- unlikely -- hero. Heider employed sharp comedic timing and hilariously overexaggerated gestures to perfectly play into the show's self -- aware, overdramatic humor at all times. Heider also adorned Ash's songs with smooth riffs and belts, making many thrilling musical moments throughout the show. At Heider's side, Edyanah Salcedo displayed impressive versatility as Cheryl, Ash's timid sister who is the first to fall to the Kandarian Demons. Salcedo used nervous mannerisms and a quaking tone of voice to convey Cheryl's initial fearfulness, later unleashing hysterical sass and dry humor as Cheryl becomes a demon. This contrast was skillfully navigated in singing as well, as seen in Salcedo's use of a warm, sweet voice in early ballads like "It Won't Let Us Leave", later transitioning to energetic, pop-style vocals as a demon in "Join Us".
Arriving midway through the story to help Ash save the day was Aubrey Terault as Annie. Terault wonderfully embodied Annie's eagerness and intelligence, infusing every scene with high levels of energy. As the demons continued their takeover during the second act, Terault displayed both Annie's fear and comic frustration at the destruction, hilariously conveyed with gorgeous vocals in "All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Kandarian Demons".
Adding horror elements to the show were Edyanah Salcedo, Victoria Dorren, Ethan Hernandez, and Iman Mahmood, who worked on the show's costumes, hair, and makeup, including masks worn by each character when they became a demon. These pieces were perfectly frightening and emphasized each actor's transformation with their ghoulish features. The use of masks also made it very clear which characters had fallen to the Kandarian Demons, allowing the audience to keep track of each person's status as chaos unfolded throughout the story. Also of note were the props, constructed by Iman Mahmood, Paul Wesley, and Albert Tobar-Del Cid. This team built papier mache animals for the sides of the stage, as well as a chainsaw and rifle used by several characters throughout the show. The detail of the props added to the frightful forest setting, helping immerse the audience in the characters' world.
Even as the cabin lights fade and the demons retreat, the audience is certain to remember Potomac Senior High School's Evil Dead the Musical, a wickedly entertaining evening.