Pittsburgh in the Round: Do you remember The Toxic Avenger? A cult film from the eighties about a little nerd who gets drenched in chemicals and becomes a violent, deformed mutant hero? Bad production value but an excess of gore, camp, and ridiculousness? You probably saw it back in the day or maybe discovered it on a lazy weekend when you were in college. It’s terrific. And it’s trash. And like many trash cult movies, it inspired a musical. The Toxic Avenger (the musical) has moved into the CLO Cabaret, and it has come to party.
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Having seen The Toxic Avenger the weekend it opened, I have some vaguely strong opinions that differ form the author of this article in some specific ways. First off, the show is a very mean one towards the handicapped, with the main message being that blind girls are meant to marry ugly guys because no one else will. I know it's meant to be taken as a comedy, but there are some beats in the show that just come across as so culturally tone-deaf that I can't agree that the show is as drop-dead hilarious as the author makes it out to be. That being said, I agree that the cast was gifted in singing ability, and that each of them shined in their individual roles (I didn't see Billy Mason, as he was injured, and his understudy was white, so I wonder what that did to the role of Black Dude), with many songs rousing quite a reaction from the audience, which mostly contained older folks out for an early dinner. The anecdote about needing silly theatre is also kind of a misnomer, because this is less a silly show and more a blatantly mean-spirited one. At multiple points, the friends I saw the show with and I looked at each other, baffled at how odd the lines came across since they were so ferocious. I think we need comedies, yes, but comedies that don't ostracize a portion of society and actively bully those that are less fortunate than pretty, able-bodied people.
I, alongside Jacob, saw Toxic Avenger it's opening weekend, and share but also argue against some of the author's and Jacob's opinions. First off, technically, all was beautiful. Though the set was supposed to represent a toxic wasteland in non other than New Jersey, it was done well, and really held up to the actors stomping all around. The director and designers really used the space on and off stage in the audience. With actor's running up and down the isles the experience was truly one of 360 degrees. The lighting was done by CMU alum Keith Truax, who designs at the PCLO regularly. It was bright and colorful like the story, but lit the audience (specifically me) at times that sometimes made it uncomfortable for all involved. Though the costumes came from another production, they were well fitted, and made. Overall, technically it was a success. The script however, left a little more to be desired. Though the show was a comedy it crossed the line on multiple occasions. There were times that I audibly replied "Oh no" after something an actor said. The show focuses on two lovers, each with disabilities. The script is set up for cheap laughs, and mean jokes that are offensive to most, and truly shouldn't be repeated. Overall, it was an enjoyable couple of hours with actors who had incredible voices, but the script made it hard to truly enjoy the piece. Comedy does not need to be offensive.
I live with both Jake and Jacob who commented above, and I was home when they got back from the show and told me all about it. Over all they seemed to have enjoyed themselves, and to have had a really positive experience, but as they began to explain the plot I was a little uneasy about the content. I am all for a comedy, and completely recognize that great comedy makes fun of things, and people and that is totally okay, in good taste. I didn't even see the show and I agree with Jake that some of the content is just too risky to be successful. The goal of comedy is to further engage your audience on level that they may not have reached yet, and by laughing make them more interested. When that is successful it is really successful, but I have seen plenty of shows where a I don't like a joke, or the room doesn't like a joke and for the rest of the performance, and probably after the audience isn't thinking about the great actors or how flawless it was technically they are thinking about how uncomfortable they were when the joke was made. Comedy is a great tool and poking fun at people or a group is an often successful way to harness it, but stepping too far takes people out of a performance, and does not give the audience a reason to want to come back.
I have not seen this show, nor do I live with Jake and Jacob, so all I have heard about this show are the articles that are posted on this page, and the comments above mine. The offensiveness of the show aside, I really think this is just not a show I would want to spend my time and money on. I was intrigued with the first article about this show that I commented on, which discussed how the lead has a prosthetic leg, and I was considering seeing the show just to see how/if they adapted the choreo for his disability. Now, having read this, it definitely does not seem worth it. As much as I love seeing things set in the great state of New Jersey, I am not sure if I can deal with however many trash/slime-related jokes about New Jersey are inevitably in the script. I think it is really interesting that they have a disabled actor playing the lead in what Jake and Jacob found to be a show that is very offensive to those that are disabled. Obviously, their handicaps are very different, but they are handicaps nonetheless. Aside from all this, for the love of God, can we stop making shitty movies into shitty musicals. I can't take it anymore.
I saw Toxic Avenger at the CLO cabaret after having been invited by my peer Samantha Brown from my class, as she interned under the stage management show for the play, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. For one, I had never seen a show at the Cabaret before, and I absolutely love the venue. I think the setup of having food and drink available while watching a show provides for a very different atmosphere that can allow for some freedom artistically in terms of how the work on stage will feel to the audience. In terms of the Toxic Avenger, the venue and style of show fit together perfectly. The show doesn't take itself too seriously, even though the performers are giving their all. It feels very self aware in the sense that it knows that the jokes aren't very creative or strong, and so it thrives in an environment that feels a lot less serious than a traditional theatre. It's fantastic that this show will be running until December, so if you have the chance and are looking for a more relaxed theatrical experience, definitely go check this show out.
Samantha Brown here, peer from class of Brennan, I feel like I can comment a little on what people said above since I was there for some of the process, even though I did not have any part in the writing of the show or any actual power at all. I understand why people have found this show offensive, but that is kind of the point of the show. The writing and story are both bad, but that is what makes the show funny and good. It is very self-aware of the bad jokes and offensiveness, which is not entirely an excuse but, it is not trying to actually hurt people’s feelings. It is ridiculous on purpose and no one would actually say most of the lines in the show to an actual person, and that is why it is funny because it shocks you. The jokes and staging about Evan’s disability were clearly not in the original script because normally the person playing Toxie does not have one leg. Evan is the one with the disability and he is clearly okay with the jokes made towards him or else they would not be there at all. I understand that it could offend other people, but if you notice the people that are making these mean jokes about his disability are the bullies in the show. Bullies usually make fun of people’s insecurities, which is exactly what they did in the show. I would recommend that people see this show because it is a stupid and funny show to see, which is unlike the usual shows we see that are very serious and deal with real issues. If you want a good laugh then go see The Toxic Avenger.
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