Entertainment

Opening Friday: ‘Toxic Avenger’ battles corrupt polluters

With campy rock songs like "Who Will Save New Jersey?," "Kick Your Ass," and "Hot Toxic Love," ProArts Playhouse's production of "The Toxic Avenger," opening on Friday, promises an entertaining musical romp.

"This is a must-see show for the Halloween season," said the show's director, Kiegan Otterson. "It's a lot of fun."

The musical, which won an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical, is based on the 1984 cult classic horror movie of the same name. A New York Times review of the movie noted that it "may be trash, but it has a maniacally farcical sense of humor, and Tromaville's evildoers are dispatched in ingenious ways."

"The show is not as intense, but we still go on a wild journey," said Otterson.

Like the movie, the stage adaptation is set in the fictional town of Tromaville, the toxic waste capital of New Jersey. Nerdy environmentalist Melvin Ferd the Third tries to clean up the streets, until corrupt local authorities throw him into a vat of radioactive waste, and he morphs into the superhero Toxic Avenger, a disfigured hero who fights pollution and wins the heart of Sarah, a local librarian.

"Our main character discovers that there's a corporation that is polluting their town, and he wants to bring them to justice and get rid of all of the people that are causing global warming," explained Otterson. "So it's got this fun kind of theme and message going along with it. It's a very wild show."

Because of adult themes, "The Toxic Avenger" comes with an advisory that the show contains edgy, bawdy jokes, cartoonish violence, adult-themed sexual humor, and adult language and is not appropriate for children. The production is for ages 16 and older.

"This is not a show for all ages," advised Otterson. "There's over-the-top, cartoonish violence. The goal is to make it feel like a comic book come to life."

With 32 characters in the production, the play only features five actors. Amber Rose Seelig and Brock Kahoʻohanohano-Ambrose star as librarian Sarah and hero Melvin Ferd, while three other cast members -- ProArts executive director Lin McEwan, Thalyn Nikolau and Ikaika Raines -- handle the other roles.

"Lin is playing three different characters in the show, and Thalyn Nikolau and Ikaika Raines each play about 13 characters," he said. "There's a lot of quick-change craziness. It's a great cast to work with. The voices are amazing, and it's going to have really tight harmonies."

The stage version was created by playwright Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, the keyboardist and founding member of Bon Jovi, who composed the music and contributed lyrics.

"It's a rock musical with some really fun songs," said Otterson. "You can feel the heavy rock inspiration for some of the pieces based on songs from the 80s and 90s."

The show's environmental message has a timeless appeal that should resonate with Maui audiences. "At the core of the show are the messages of don't pollute the earth, love your neighbor, and just be a good person," said Otterson. "The show is a fun vehicle for that, because you're going to be good, whether you like it or not."

ProArts Playhouse will present "The Toxic Avenger" at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Additional showtimes will be Oct. 22-25 and Oct. 29-31. The musical will close with two performances for Halloween at 4 p.m. and at 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Tickets are $26-$47 at ProArtsMaui.org.