THE TOXIC AVENGER MUSICAL by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, directed by John Rando, with Evan Smith, Brittany Gray, Louise Pitre, Daren A. Herbert and Jamie McKnight (Dancap). At the Music Hall (147 Danforth). Previews to Friday (October 30), opens Saturday (October 31) and runs to January 3, Tuesday-Saturday 8 pm, Sunday 7 pm, matinees Saturday 4 pm and Sunday 3 pm. $20-$69, previews $15-$64. 416-644-3665. See listing.
Tall, thin actor Evan Smith never thought he’d play a superhero.[rssbreak]
But in The Toxic Avenger Musical, he’s nerdy Melvin Ferd the Third, transformed into a 7-foot, T-shirt-busting righter of ecological wrongs. Too bad the icky sludge also turns Melvin into a slimy green mutant: the Toxic Avenger.
“I know that I’m scrawny,” admits Smith with a smile, “so to have muscles for once is pretty awesome.”
Based on the 1984 cult (and stoner) film by Lloyd Kaufman – which spawned sequels, comic books and an animated TV series – the adaptation won the New York Critics Outer Circle Award for best new musical.
Set in Tromaville, New Jersey, whose evil mayor, Babs Belgoody, is on the take for burying Manhattan’s waste, the spoofy show features music and lyrics by Bon Jovi founding member and keyboardist David Bryan and book and lyrics Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change).
Melvin challenges Babs, is dumped by her goons into the goo and emerges as the green Avenger. Much ripping off of limbs and angry bellows ensue.
“But what’s great about him,” says Smith, “is that his geekiness and nerdiness don’t only come from his appearance but also his feelings. Melvin has a huge heart and always wants to do the right thing. He’s so different from the show’s goons, bullies and criminals.
“And he’s in love, too, with Sarah, the blind librarian who thinks he’s a Frenchman named Toxie who smells bad because he works out a lot. It’s their love story that drives the show.
“He’s an ordinary man stuck in an extraordinary situation.”
I first saw Smith last year at George Brown Theatre. He was a standout in the graduating class, performing in four shows that included classical and contemporary plays and musicals.
“I thought I’d be doing classical shows after school, but over the summer I worked in The Fantastics and now The Toxic Avenger Musical.
“This is so different from other musicals I’ve done, like West Side Story and Les Misérables. Here I have to be aggressive, loud and kick in people’s faces with my voice. The show is high energy all the time, with 100 minutes of wicked rock.”
But Smith also has to deal with another challenge: the Avenger costume, which alters him from supergeek to supermutant in a one-minute quick-change.
“The problem isn’t so much its weight as its layers. I start with several sections of pants and shirts and a wig. Then the muscle suit is spandex, foam and lycra, covered with warts and paint, and it’s topped off with a latex mask.
“I’ve never sweated so much in my life, and I’m glad that I was told when I got the part that I’d have to work out every day to keep it up.
“With all those layers, by the end of a performance I feel like I’ve taking a long, sweaty bath.”
jonkap@nowtoronto.com
