The Toxic Avenger

The Toxic Avenger …. a Cult Comedy Musical performed by CADOS (Chorley Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society) at Chorley Theatre, Dole Lane, Chorley on Friday 13th September 2024

WELL, THIS WAS DIFFERENT! ... in a good way! ‘The Toxic Avenger’ is a musical based on Lloyd Kaufman’s cult 1984 comedy film, The Toxic Avenger the Musical. From a book and with lyrics by Joe DiPietro and with music and lyrics by David Bryan (Keyboard player/founder member of Bon Jovi) … it tells the story of the citizens of Tromaville who are crying out for a hero! Enter nerdy “Melvin Ferd the Third”, an aspiring earth scientist, determined to clean up the state’s major toxic waste problem. When a corrupt Mayor and her government goons get wind of his plans, they vow to stop this heroic deed. Melvin is attacked and tossed into a vat of toxic waste... transforming him instantly into The Toxic Avenger, New Jersey’s first superhero! Toxie is a 7-foot mutant freak with superhuman strength and a supersized heart to match. His aims are to save his heavily polluted New Jersey, end global warming, win the heart of the prettiest (blindest) librarian in town - and get home in time for dinner!

The Production Team … included Paul Carr (Director), Katy Bradley (Musical Director), Lucy McManus/Ruby Johnson (Choreographer/Assistant) and Jackie Green (Producer) … OMG, having now seen this musical, I can only imagine how much fun they must have had getting it to stage, along with the fun, I would suggest there must have a great deal of ‘graft’ and ‘hard work’!  When I first got notification about this musical, I really wasn’t sure what to expect, I’d never heard of it, let alone seen it, plus I’m going to ‘stick my neck out’ here and suggest that most if not all in the audience would have been in the exact same boat!  I’d hadn’t seen nor heard of the film from which this musical had been adapted, nor had I read or seen any of the comics, nor the video game, nor the animated television series, so it was all new to me!  But having now seen it and read the Director’s and the MD’s programme notes with words and quotes like, fun, enjoyment, catchy, ‘something different’, ‘out there’, ‘near the knuckle’, ‘catchy music’, ‘it’s been a blast’ … I can only concur and as previously said… I can only imagine the ‘fun and frolics’ that must have gone on during rehearsal!  This wasn’t a big ‘dance show’, but the choreo included was fun, appropriate and added something extra whenever and wherever it occurred, well done Lucy and Ruby!  So, with very little to go on… I, along with an almost ‘packed theatre’, sat back and just waited for things to unfurl … were we to be disappointed… I think not! 

The Cast … we had a cast of ‘five’… some playing a myriad of roles! Christopher King took on the title role ‘Melvin Ferd III’ who morphs into the ‘The Toxic Avenger’ after being thrown into the ‘vat of toxic waste’. Orna Murphy-Horton played the blind/Librarian … ‘Sarah’.  Jade Hiatt played ‘Eunice ‘Ma’ Ferd’ (Melvins Mum), plus the ‘Evil Mayor’ ‘Babs Belgoody’ and a very alluring Nun. Kieran Smith/Jack Vardy (who could be described as the ‘comedy duo’) played a whole host of crazy/weird/wakey/bizarre characters, all of whom just made me and many others laugh!  Christopher King did a fabulous job with our lead, the tweedy teen who is forced into a vat of toxic waste and emerges as ‘Toxie’ … our mutant with super-human strength who uses that strength to try and stop ‘The Good Earth Corporation’ from dumping toxic waste in his beloved New Jersey, The Garden State! Christopher, under a mound of costume, looked confident and assured in everything he did. Loved the two characters he created … the insignificant, insecure, very casual ‘Melvin Ferd III’ and the ‘polar opposite’… ‘Toxie’ the Avenger!  Worked really well with Orna as Sarah and with all the cast…. loved the rendition and scene surrounding ‘You Take My Heart Out’… be proud Christopher!  Orna Murphy-Horton, was another who looked ever so comfortable in her role. Playing a blind person, the love of Melvin’s life, can’t have been easy, especially with all the ‘wacky stuff’ going on around her. Loved her mannerisms, facial expressions, the dry wit and never once did she let her character slip!  Loved the way she used and incorporated her ‘cane’ into most of the scenes, never looked fake and just added to this believable character. Be proud Orna… great job!  Jade Hiatt just oozed confidence from the off and throughout this production.  Playing three characters, she just made them all believable, real and her own!  Stage presence aplenty, characterisation impressive… made the transitions between the changes look effortless.  Act One finale … saw Jade portraying two roles at the same time... (Eunice Ferd/Mayor Belgoody). Using a brilliantly designed costume and wig… turn to the left she was ‘Babs Belgoody’ turn to the right she was Eunice Ferd… all this whilst belting out and dancing to the song the “Bitch, Slut, Liar, Whore” … brought the house down, what a way to close Act One … be very proud Jade!   Then we had our ‘double act’ our ‘comedy duo’ … Kieran Smith and Jack Vardy … these two played so many roles I lost count, but they played them all with energy, commitment, great comedic timing whilst looking like they were having the time of their lives. My favourites characters had to be ‘Shineque’ played by Kieran and ‘Diane’ played by Jack… Sarah’s best friends … they just ‘nailed’ those roles, I laughed and laughed some more!  Jack also ‘knocked’ the wakey ‘Folk Singer’ out the park … loved the wig Jack and even a slight ‘faux-pas’ from Kieran… ‘Nothing could kill her’ - oops – ‘Nothing could help her’ …brought the house down ahahahahahahah … great job guys!

Stage/Set/Tech …  Jackie Green (Producer and Stage Manager), and her Set Building/Scene Painting Team … Alex Bond, Gillian Brotherton, Jo Hemming, Cas Jellicoe, Hollie Leonard, Tom Madill, Shaun McManus, Matt Shaw, Mauren Strand, Tony Voss and Kyle Whittle plus the cast should be ever so proud of the simple yet totally effective set and staging for this production which afforded the cast easy exit and entry points that allowed the production to flow unhindered. Loved the sort of ‘circular central point’, which was also used productively throughout for exit/entrance and scene changes. The florescent ‘smoking barrels’ added colour, depth and height with the smoking effects adding that little extra. Congrats to Stage Crew… Ruby Johnson, Lucy McManus and Sam Quinn… scenes and changes flowed smoothly and unhindered. Sound and Lighting was, as always here at Chorley Theatre first class adding something extra throughout… under the watchful eye of Paul Carr, Rachael Foster-Jacob, the ever-present Ben Holden (who must, along with Ian and Paul live in the theatre), Thomas Bramall, Ellie Brookfield (who also provided knowledge and expertise for the prosthetics used, which were crazy good) and Ella Green. Be proud each and all… great job!

The Band … under the leadership of Katy Bradley (MD and Keyboard), included Kevin Bates – Guitar; Jose Jacob – Drums; Tom Madill – Reeds and Justin Proudman – Bass.  Supported the cast so well …be proud folks… PS: the question is … who made sure the mayor was dead... cracking shot!

Costumes/Props … costumes were amazing, props... authentic and used ever so well… adding so much to the show as a whole... under the watchful eyes of Sandra Dickinson, Kath Townsend, Ben Fidler and Ro Littlejohns.  We also had an abundance of ‘wigs’ being groomed and looked after by Hollyanne McGillivary.  Can’t imagine how hard the ‘dressers’ worked during the course of this production... so many costumes on the right side in the right order... be very proud, worked a treat!

To sum up… it really was bizarre, it was wacky, it was crazy...  but that really didn’t matter … it was a unique show with great characters and some great performances. Thank you, CADOS, for inviting my wife and I, for introducing us to a new musical .... one that we won’t forget for a long time!  

Stay safe, keep well…
‘Stronger Together’

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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