Re-Animator: The Musical, Assembly George Square Theatre - review

An oh-so-bloody romp, says William Moore
William Moore26 August 2012

Anyone who’s ever been to outdoor theatre is no stranger to the plastic poncho. But I can think of no other production where I wore one indoors. The first few rows of seats at George Square Theatre were also sheathed in plastic – this was the “splash zone.” The usher asked if I knew what I was letting myself in for. I thought I did.

Re-Animator throws everything at you. Eye balls pop from sockets, bone saws burst through torsos – no effect is too gory. Sickening as it may sound, the blend of grisly frenzy and musical campness is superbly funny.

The musical started life as a 1985 cult film and now its creators Stuart Gordon, Dennis Paoli and William J. Norris have resurrected it in stage form. The plot is as basic as they come: Hebert West, mad medical student, invents a luminous green serum that can bring the dead back to life with predictably monstrous consequences.

Graham Skipper plays Herbert West with absurd intensity and Jesse Merlin as Dr. Carl Hill, the headless antagonist, devours any scene he’s in. But the real star of the show is the special effects team. Their handiwork had the audience laughing and screaming like a roller-coaster ride. It is honestly hard to say whether this is a good production from outside the splash zone - one day on and I am unable to remember any of the tunes - but for audience members in the middle of the action it is an oh-so-bloody romp.

Re-Animator: The Musical runs until August 27 (0131 623 3030 assemblyfestival.com)

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