A second look at BAT BOY The Musical by Amalisha HuEck (First Look follows).
A fictional creature who was originally found in a cave in West Virginia is newly rediscovered by three teenagers in a cave-like theater in Atwater Village. It is half human/half bat, super likeable from the moment we saw him. He is silly, bright and totally adorable. His sharp teeth and bat ears with his famous screams give us that part of horror.
Bat Boy: The Musical was inspired by a 1992 story in a supermarket tabloid, the Weekly World News. Open Fist Theatre Company at Atwater Village Theatre makes another home run with this rock musical that is full of life, love and acceptance. 'It's about embracing, accepting and loving the 'freak,' those who are seen as others and outside the norm. If we can come to terms with the animal inside us, maybe people would stop doing terrible things in the name of being human.'
After being captured by the town people, Bat Boy (Ben Raanan) is brought into the house of a local veterinarian Dr. Thomas Parker (Scott Mosenson) and his wife Meredith Parker (Robyn Roth). The daughter Shelley Parker (Bethany Koulias) is scared at first, but eventually falls madly in love with him, while her mother embraces him almost immediately with full maternal affection and names him Edgar. From there the events take place...
The high charged cast is telling the story with strong singing and movements, and they wonderfully use every bit of an expansive multilevel wooden set made so craft fully by scenic designer Brad Bentz. The rest of the Open Fist ensemble talented cast includes Michael Lanahan (good Sheriff Reynolds), Ethen Remez-Cott (Rick Taylor), Isaac Council (Ron Taylor), Sandra Kate Burck (Ruthie Taylor), Rebecca Larsen (Mrs. Taylor), Beth Robbins (Maggie), Chima Rok (Reverend Hightower), Amir Levi (Pan), Grace Soens (Lorraine), Hutchins Foster (Bud), Ziare Rene (Ned), Carmella Jenkins (Daisy).
The rest of the creative team features lighting designer Brandon Baruch; sound designer Christopher Moscatiello and mixer Alex Hix; costume designer Michael Mullen; makeup design by Charley Mulally, choreography by Jennifer Maples, graphic designer D. Morris, graphic design, and Tambrie Allsup, fight choreographer. Animal props by Joe Seely, master electrician is Hayden Kirschbaum, the production stage manager is John Dimitri, and Lucy Pollak is publicist.
Amanda Weier and Christian Lebano with the associate producer Jeremy Thompson produced the show. The story and a book are by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, Music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe. Music direction Sean Paxton, and the wonderful band members are Mike Flick on bass, Jim Miller on drums, keyboards is handled by Sean Paxton and guitar is played by Kevin Tiernan.
Directed by Pat Towne with the assistant director Amanda Weier, the Bat Boy: The Musical is skillfully crafted and brings out through the actors and a creative team all the goodness, the horror, the hate, the fear, the mentality of a little town and its residents. Love has a special place in this production, which shines the bright light in this story.
If you are fond of rock music and have an affinity for so-called dark themes this 'Horrifying Musical that is brought back to Horrifying life by Horrifying theatre company' with its powerful singing and dancing is highly recommended.
'Open Fist Theatre Company is a collective, self-producing artistic enterprise with all facets of its operation run by its artist members under the leadership of artistic director Martha Demson. The company's name combines the notion that an open spirit, embracing all people and all ideas, is essential, with the idea that determination, signified by a fist, is necessary if the theater is to remain a vital voice for social change and awareness.'
The Musical runs through May 18th at Atwater Village Theatre, located at 3269 Casitas Ave in Los Angeles, CA 90039. Parking is free in the ATX (Atwater Crossing) parking lot one block south of the theater. Tickets for performances range from $26 to $45; admission to previews is pay-what-you-will starting at $10.
To purchase tickets and for more information call (323) 882-6912 or go to www.openfist.org
FIRST LOOK - Review posted March 13 (run extended to May 18th)
Reviewed by Chris Cassone cc@chriscassone.com
Lil' Abner meets The Elephant Man by way of Oedipus Rex on Casitas Avenue.
The irony here is that our
Bat Boy, in his final throes of understanding himself, blurts out for all to hear, "I
am an animal." But before we get ahead of ourselves realize that this is a clever and complex story that was constantly changing as the
Bat Boy evolved in human care.
Book authors Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming along with songwriter Laurence O'Keefe have created a little gem of a fantasy based on the gullible world of tabloid journalism. Hey, I paged through Bat Boy issues while waiting on the check-out line at the A&P in the 90's. Who didn't want to catch a glimpse of a half-boy/half-bat cave dweller? The only issue with bigger circulation was Elvis coming down on a UFO.
A trio of red-necked spelunkers discover the bat boy in the depths of a West Virginia cave. It doesn't take long for the sister of the two boys to start up an attraction. And our story grew from there.
Director Pat Towne went against all odds and decided to show us the hideous boy bat in the opening scene. Right off the bat (sorry,) we are introduced to a special creature, with phenomenal athleticism and vocal chops, one who can jam acapella, and even sing better than the real people.
It's the story told over and over. Tarzan of the Ape men comes into civilized society and of course sweeps some hapless teenager off her feet with his animal hormones. It was fun to watch even if Bat Boy had an unusual British accent, not unlike John Merrick, the beloved Elephant Man.
Without treading too close to spoiler-land, understand that I did say the story was "complex" earlier. He wasn't just raised by bats...Let that sink in as our little operetta sings its way through the cornpone world of Hope Falls. So much was familiar: the classic Town Meeting to address the emergency, the townspeople hunting through the forest with pitchforks and torches (make those flashlights and rifles,) and the dénouement where our incredible story is finally revealed, one that would make Freud blush.
For a two hour-plus production, I never felt it drag for a second. The pace, in fact, increased as we learned more about our Bat Gentleman as he has evolved.
With a large cast of sixteen and a band of four behind the curtain, the musical lived up to its definition. We were treated to constant singing and wonderful choreography compliments of Jennifer Maples. From knee-slapping hoedown to "sound the alarm" hustle and bustle around the building, this theater company earned their wages in steps alone. The Atwater complex has two rear doors behind the bleachers for the actors to shake things up with different entrances and exits. When sixteen people are running in and out from a plethora of entrances, you really do have the feeling of being in the forest. Add to that the mountain echo our sound man used, and you are in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The music on the whole was engaging while several of the power ballads had a huge effect. Most notable, and I qualify that as one that I'm singing on the way out of the theater, was the Gospel track, "A Joyful Noise." Can't make fun of a state of rednecks without mocking their Baptist tent revivals and the Reverend Hightower played by Chima Rok had the audience praisin' the lawd. But of course, the Bat Boy, now in a fine southern gentleman white suit reminiscent of Tennessee Williams' Big Daddy, spoiled their testifying.
The ensemble was electrifying. Led by
Bat Boy Ben Raaman whose vocals took command of the theater. Standouts were Scott Mosenson as Dr. Parker and Robin Roth as Meredith, his wife.
The production team deserves much applause as they did a lot with a little. Mostly they brought a vision to the stage and asked the audience to believe we were in that cave, in the town of Hope Falls and we were there as
Bat Boy devoured a bunny.
When you believe, it isn't long before the magic takes over. The transformation of the Bat Boy was a singular achievement.
If you can, don't miss the
Bat Boy: The Musical. It's a sure-fire cinch for a cult classic.
Bat Boy: The Musical
runs through May 18th Tickets to performances range from
$26 to
$45.
Atwater Village Theatre is located at
3269 Casitas Ave in
Los Angeles,
CA 90039. Parking is free is in the ATX (Atwater Crossing) parking lot one block south of the theater. To purchase tickets and for more information call (
323)
882-6912 or go to
openfist.org.