THE TOXIC AVENGER

The proof is in the pudding (or in the green, oozing slime): In the right hands, even a Grade Z horror movie can be turned into a Grade A musical. Case in point: “The Toxic Avenger”, now concluding its run (it plays through January 3rd) at New World Stages.

Thanks to a rockin’ score by longtime Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan (performed, not incidentally, by an equally rockin’ band)… clever lyrics and a laugh-a-minute book by Joe DiPietro… and terrific direction by John Rando that kept the action moving at such a brisk pace, I was hardly aware I had been glued to my seat for almost two (intermissionless) hours, this little musical about “New Jersey’s First Superhero” turned out to be a heckuva ride (even if it did spend quite a bit of time throwing Mama – read: the Garden State itself – from the train).

And… oh, the acting! From “American Idol” alum Diana DeGarmo’s deliciously ditzy (and blind!) librarian, to Nick Cordero as the Avenger himself (starting off as dorky ecology buff Melvin Ferd the Third, he turns into the Avenger after being dunked headfirst into some primo toxic waste), the cast is hotter than a nuclear reactor and twice as combustible. Demond Green and Jonathan Root are especially fun to watch in a variety of roles (the sheer number of costume changes they had to make must have had the wardrobe crew backstage sucking oxygen), and Nancy Opel brings down the house as a villainous small town mayor AND the Avenger’s whiny, long-suffering mother, who longs for the day her son will stop oozing slime and produce – miracle of miracles- a grandchild. (Ms. Opel has a Jekyll-and-Hyde number in the second act that will make your head spin. Bring Dramamine – you’ll need it.)

Bottom line: do yourself a favor and avoid New Jersey (or move out, if you already live there), because, according to DiPietro and Co., you might sprout slime-filled sores and pop an eyeball just by breathing the air.

Or, better yet, ooze on over to New World Stages and check out “The Toxic Avenger”. Watching corrupt politicos pollute the planet has never been so entertaining.

Theater Reviews by Stuart R. Brynien