Review Roundup: THE TOXIC AVENGER at Houston's Alley Theatre

The Alley Theater's production of The Toxic Avenger, starring American Idol and Rock of Ages alum Constantine Maroulis alongside Nancy Opel just opened in Houston, Texas. With books & lyrics by Joe DiPietro, music & lyrics by David Bryan, based on the film The Toxic Avenger by Lloyd Kaufman, and directed by John Rando, the production will run through Sunday, February 12, 2012. 

The Toxic Avenger is a zany musical comedy featuring a chorus of an unlikely hero, his beautiful girlfriend, a corrupt New Jersey mayor, an onstage band, and two guys who play ... well, everyone else ... bullies, mobsters, old ladies, and stiletto-wearing back-up singers. 

Buzz Bellmont, Chron.com: The Toxic Avenger is pure camp and has absolutely no message to parlay or preach with its farcical fable that promises to be the “feel-goo musical of the year.” I did not walk out of the Alley Theatre feeling goo or good. I walked out of the Alley on opening night last Friday, January 20, feeling fabulously great, as if I had had a catharsis inspired by mountains of laughter.

Elaine Liner, Dallas Observer: "If a blind girl won't love ugly people, who will?" That's the central dilemma in Toxic Avenger, the eye-popping, knee-slapping, sci-fi musical comedy getting its Broadway tryout right now at Houston's Alley Theatre. If the ugly person in question is "Toxie," the avenging alter ego of mild-mannered nerd Melvin Ferd the Third, we're happy to be smitten.

Jim J. Tommaney, Houston Press: The story line in the musical follows the movie pretty faithfully, which will please its myriad of fans, but is a heads-up alert that this is pure fun entertainment, and not art-for-the-ages. Melvin, a do-gooder nerd, is portrayed by Constantine Maroulis, American Idol finalist and winner of a Tony nomination for his role in Rock of Ages. Maroulis captures both nerd-dom and the swagger of a mutant antihero as he very quickly gets dipped by goons into a drum of toxic waste, and emerges muscular, green and uglified.

Everett Evans, Chron.com: Friday's Alley opening demonstrated that, whatever The Toxic Avenger's shortcomings, it's plainly an audience show. Director John Rando, the show's guiding light from its inception, has delivered a briskly paced, craftily gag-laden, sharply performed production that makes the most of the ridiculous premise's comic opportunities.

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