The Toxic Avenger: Southwark Playhouse/Arts Theatre

Yep, I was seeing yesterday's Matinee.

For my final verdict, let me quote those who dance dirty: I've had the time of my life!

And I really had. I've never ever laughed that much and hard in a theatre. The show was hilariously funny and completely absurd. The score was great, and I was hugely impressed by the cast; black and white dude were switching roles and costumes that quickly, and the Mayor's/Ma Ferd's duet at the end of act 1 was brilliant. Hannah Grover was superb as blind librarian, and Mark Anderson was a really impressive Toxie.

My only regret is that I'm not back in London until this show has closed. Bummer, I'd love to see this show again.

The audience reactions were funny to watch: some sat there with a stony face not laughing at all, and others were laughing their ass off.

And after the evil Mayor put her toecap on my knee, I'm now madly in love with her

For the length of the show, I found the second act too short.

Seriously, if you can somehow manage to see this show, do it.

I firstly didn't even get that Sarah was talking about Anne Frank, as I'm used to the German pronunciation, the 'a's as in 'car' and the 'e' not silent, but I, too, loved that reference.

Seriously, how can one not find this show funny?

I laughed throughout, though for me, this is not as good as Southwark's previous zany comedy musicals.

For sheer mindless silliness, "Xanadu" was the funniest musical I've seen lately, and the one I would most like to see again, preferably with the same cast.

"The Toxic Avenger" falls into the subgenre of musicals about "Outsiders who hurt people, because they themselves have been hurt." The titans of the genre are "Sweeney Todd," and of course, the more po-faced "Phantom of the Opera." At Southwark, we recently had "Batboy" and "Carrie.".

I enjoyed all of the above more than "The Toxic Avenger," because I have a taste for pathos, and this show is pathos-free. This show is also amoral, not merely because it conjures comedy out of disabilities, but also because "The Toxic Avenger" has no excuse for the murder he commits, which is retroactively justified by a joke. Zany amorality is funny because it doesn't conform to society's expectations, and this is a very zany comedy, mostly wall to wall jokes, sight gags and camp.

Where this production really scores is in it's performances, which are so light, camp, and funny that you can forgive the show everything.

The highlight, for me, was "Evil is Hot," a number which reflects the show's amorality, but also the truth, as nothing is hotter than temptation. And Lizzii Hills is wild in this number, as her character, the Mayor, seduces Professor Ken (Ashley Samuels) to further her plans to exterminate Toxie. Samuels is an excellent foil, and has a terrific voice, which means this song, emblematic of the show, is a rocking rolling raunchy abandoned showstopper. Lizzii Hills immediately goes on to sing the notorious "Bitch/Slut/Liar/Whore," which prolongs her shining moment in the spotlight, as she gets to do her bravura quick-change routine as well as both her comedy exaggerated characterisations at the same time. Yep, I'm in love with Lizzii Hills.

Hannah Grover is hilarious as the incredibly non-pc Oprah-worshipping clumsy blind girl, so sexually frustrated she is perpetually on the verge of exploding, but who nonetheless maintains standards about ugly people. Yes, non-pc.

Marc Pickering, as "the White Dude," plays half the inhabitants of the town, and offers the standout male performance in the show. There is not one comically exaggerated caricature that he plays that he does not make significantly funnier by knowing facials expressions, or quirky bodily movements.

Overall, despite yearning for the more benign charismatic sillness of "Xanadu," and/or the eloquent pathos of "Carrie" and "Batboy," I felt the show offered enough camp and electric comic performance to be worth seeing.

3 and a half stars

God I loved Xanadu. So much. I can't believe there isn't a tour in that show. Smaller studio spaces around the country, it would go down a bloody treat in Manchester for sure. 

Im really annoyed I didn't plan to come down for Toxic now. It sounds right up my alley. Grrr. 

This is SO FRICKIN GOOD! Man I haven't just sat and enjoyed a show without picking out its flaws and derivatives in such a long time so when a show like this surprises you and makes you feel like a kid again it's awesome. It's not the most lyrically refined show but it is so confident and expertly directed, there isn't an opportunity missed in design, direction or cast. I preferred this to Mormon, if you're on the fence do yourself a favour and book!

Mallardo, You're right about the pathos, of course. It's just I have a taste for it in musicals, since music has a shortcut to the heart if it wants it.

If it's going to be laughs only, though, I'd rate this higher if it had more of them, like Mischief Theatre's (only partly musical) new show, which piles them so high, it's staggering.

Also, laughing at other people (in standup, the line typically starts "Don't you just hate. . .  " though here, it's more about the anticipation of what faux-pas a blind person will make next), is generally easier than what Mischief Theatre do, which is find a way to get comedic surprises without shooting at easy targets.

I respect an attempt to break taboos and laugh at everybody and everything, moving the audience into a bold liberated artistic space, but I'd say that, whereas writers like Trey Parker and Matt Stone actually achieve that, this show actually keeps it's targets fairly narrow.

"Urinetown" and "Shock Treatment" are examples of camp pathos-free laughs-only musicals that I rate more highly than this show, just because they so intelligently hit society, and musical lovers, hard where it hurts, with a mirror to all our foibles. This show is just dumb fun, and not quite as much fun as it could be.

Despite that, this was close to a 4 star show for me, as "Evil is Hot" and "Bitch/Slut" are great songs, the performers really were very funny, and the tone was just right for what it was.

Maybe I should just let my hair down more, and not be the sole person gasping at the Anne Frank joke lol!

Any chance of an extension? I get the feeling this hasn't had quite the sell out success as similar stuff at the SP, but I'd love to catch it again

Genuinely have never seen an audience reaction like the one last night at The Toxic Avenger. A prolonged standing ovation... eventually the band reprised the playout music, and even later the cast re-appeared (half out of costume) looking genuinely surprised to be back and bowing again. Has this been happening all along? I saw it in previews and it got nowhere near this sort of reaction. But saying that, it has tightened up massively in the month or so since I saw it. Possibly hardest working cast in London?!

Going to see it 2nd time this afternoon. In front row again so taking lens cloth so I can see 2nd half in case I get mauled again by the blind lady! Will also be interested to see how much has changed as originally saw 2nd show.

Saw the final performance of this tonight. Went because I loved the Motown music and this has the same writers.

I loved it, as did the rest of the audience. Standing ovation and several bows. It was very tight indeed and great voices. I could make out most of the words too, which is rare at this volume. Wonderful cast, great voices.

Looked a smaller budget than Grey Gardens had, but a lot more fun. 

Considering it was sold out and audience reaction, I think this deserves a life elsewhere. I could see a limited run at the Arts for example, or Trafalgar 2.

I think you mean Memphis not Mowtown!