EDINBURGH FRINGE 2017: The Toxic Avenger ★★★★★

The Toxic Avenger

Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

Saturday 26th August 2017

The Toxic Avenger, a film originally created in 1984 which has now been made into musical, first opened up at The Southwark Playhouse in London in April 2016 for 5 weeks, before recently being confirmed to open up at The Arts Theatre in the West End later this year from October 2nd 2017, but before that is having a run at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Before I knew I was coming to The Fringe this year, I instantly knew I was going to book my ticket for The Toxic Avenger when it arrived in The West End later this year, but I couldn’t resist myself watching it beforehand at The Fringe after a brilliant recommendation from a friend who saw the production within the first week of The Fringe, and I’m so glad I took up the offer to watch it as it was hands-down the funniest musical production I have seen in years!

With a setting very reminiscent of Urinetown, that includes a vulnerable male and sweet love-interest female in both, The Toxic Avenger starts out with a town in danger, and through 5 actors who multi-role throughout the whole production, we get to know the residents of Tromaville, a toxic waste dump of the New Jersey Turnpike. Our hero, Melvin (Mark Anderson) is in love with blind librarian Sarah (Emma Salvo), and within the first scene at The Library do the laughs start pouring in. The productions takes the fact that the scene is really taking place on a theatrical stage to new heights as a moment where Sarah must place a book back on a shelf after disastrously stamping it becomes a hilarity for the whole audience as it just drops to the floor. It’s this moment though that truly eases the audience in knowing what to expect from the whole production as the gags keep rolling.

Another brilliant moment later in the run involves Oscar Conlon-Morrey, who once stepping on stage as a rockstar to start singing a number gets rudely interrupted due to time of the production but allows him to plus the West End transfer at the same time with a brilliant gag. Though the production is not a fourth-wall experience, it’s a laugh-a-minute production which the performers have fun playing due to the energy given off from the audience. Natalie Hope is brilliantly evil as The Mayor with her luscious long red locks, reminiscent of Jessica Rabbit, and which a particular scene/song number later in the production which showcases her multi-rolling skills is a true highlight of the production. A final mention should go to Ché Francis, who makes up the final performer and is fittingly perfect in all of his roles.

Overall, this 5 piece ensemble feels more like an army full of citizens from Tromaville with their incredible talents; a feel good, family friendly production to be had by all, The Toxic Avenger will undoubtedly get nominated for and go on to win awards in the upcoming year with a production that is absolutely perfect and have you eager to return for more - definitely going to revisit this production again when it opens up at The Arts Centre later this year from 2nd October 2017!