The Evil Dead returns

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This article was published 22/10/2018 (2721 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The blood will be flying and the chain saws roaring as the evil dead descend on South Osborne.  

Wasteland Productions is presenting Evil Dead The Musical at The Park Theatre for a 10-night run. The musical theatre adaptation of the cult-classic film franchise stars comedian Ryan Ash as protagonist demon hunter Ash Williams (played by Bruce Campbell in the original 1980s film), and is rounded out by a cast of local performers including RobYn Slade (Annie), Elena Howard-Scott (Linda), Katie German (Cheryl), Sam Kowaluk (Scott), Teela Tomassetti (Shelly), and David Fox (Ed). The show is co-directed and produced by Dan De Jaeger and Quinn Greene.

This fall marks the second time Wasteland Productions has presented the comedic horror production in Winnipeg. In 2014, the company welcomed audiences to the Park for a nearly sold-out series of performances.   

“People just loved getting sprayed with blood,” Greene said.

“And a weird thing that you discover while doing the show is that it’s super fun and satisfying to spray people with blood.”

Not for the faint of heart, Evil Dead The Musical is billed as being bigger, badder and bloodier than its previous incarnations and those who wind up in the “splatter zone” can expect to exit the theatre coated in red slime.

It’s all part of recreating what makes the Evil Dead franchise special for fans in Winnipeg and around the world. The original Evil Dead movie released in 1981 — a creation of director Sam Raimi — follows five college students as they head to the woods of Tennessee for a vacation in an isolated cabin. When members of the group discover a book of the dead and unwittingly raise a malicious demon, a Pandora’s box of misfortune is unleashed. The movie sparked a spin-off of video games, feature-length sequels, and a TV series. Evil Dead The Musical, which combines the best of the franchise, followed in 2003 and debuted in Toronto.

Ash, who is a regular host at Rumor’s Comedy Club, said the iconic role of Ash Williams, a pompous chain saw toting anti-hero, is one he may have been born to play.

“I love the stunt end of things, and I used to do stunts quite a bit, and I love fight choreography, and just the general feeling of the character, according to people, matches up to my personality,” Ash said.  

“I like Ash’s bravado and I think sometimes I have something similar as I’m doing stand-up comedy. So the overlap will be there in terms of the slightly self-aware but still cocky attitude that Ash has.”

Ash has worked with Wasteland Productions on previous projects including their version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and said Evil Dead The Musical is rare a chance to take on this style of theatre.

“It’s hard to do a horror-comedy really well and this probably the franchise that’s had the most success at it,” he said.

The Winnipeg production features live accompaniment by The Deadite Four Live Band and band leader Renate Rossol, intricate fight scenes choreographed by Ash (who worked on the 2014 run), and a slate of squibs and interactive special effects created by Chad Giesbrecht, Greene said. Combine that with a catalogue of show tunes and dance scenes performed by the undead, and you’ve got a musical like few others.

“You can come in, tap your toes, have a nice jump scare, you can laugh your butt off and go on your way. The blood doesn’t stain, so people shouldn’t worry about that, but you go away with a little souvenir,” Greene said.

“We have some bigger, crazier gags with the show and some bigger special effects,” he added. “You can expect things to be a heck of a lot bloodier and we’re throwing in some fun nuances, and of course because the film and the series are so iconic, there are so many fun moments that really get the audience excited.”

Evil Dead The Musical runs Oct. 24 to Nov. 3 at The Park Theatre (698 Osborne St.). Regular admission is $28 and splatter zone tickets are $40. For tickets, show times, and more information go to The Park Theatre or online tinyurl.com/YADXTMA3