Hatrix theatre is getting ready for a bloody good time for Halloween as they bring  The Toxic Avenger: The Musical to the  McNally Community Centre

just in time  for Halloween.

“The Toxic Avenger is getting a lot more attention now,” said director Brian Quinn, noting the latest instalment of Toxic Avenger  superhero comedy movie inspired by the 1984 cult film classic starring Peter Dinklage was just released in September.

Quinn started planning the production during  Hatrix Theatre’s run of the Evil Dead last Fall.

 He observed the Toxic Avenger is  in the same vein as Evil Dead: The Musical in that it is a dark, musical comedy, heavily influenced by campy B horror movies like  The Evil Dead and The Toxic Avenger.

“There’s body parts being torn off. We don’t throw blood on the audience, but we do throw bleach.”

David Bryan, keyboardist of well known ’80s hair metal band Bon Jovi composed the soundtrack for this musical.

“Though that isn’t part of the marketing,” Quinn continued.

 While it is a comedy meant for an audience over 18,  the show also has a strong environmental theme.

“It’s about Melvin Ferd the Third who is an environmentalist who discovers toxic waste is being poured into the Hudson River. While researching it he falls in love with blind librarian Sara. He discovers the mayor of Tromaville is involved and she has her goons throw him into a vat of toxic waste. He comes out  of the vat mutated with superpowers and covered in green ooze with eyeballs hanging out ,” Quinn summarized.

“He falls in love with Sarah but can’t touch her. He vows revenge on the mayor. It’s about good vs evil,” he said.

The show stars Dayton Pagliericci ( Toxie/ Melvin), Corbyn Wehlage (Bozo/Sal/Doctor/ Diane etc.),  Tanner Hansen (Sluggo, Fred, Prof Ken, Shanequa etc), Julie  Vanessa Maruno (Mayor, Ma, nurse) and Alli Price who plays Sara. Maruno and Price were part of the Evil Dead the Musical last fall.

 Price played Alice in the Evil Dead while Maruno was one of the monsters and backstage crew.

“We have five actors playing like 15 different roles. We have a really great cast,” Quinn said, noting they have been rehearsing for the production since the end of July.

New West Theatre  explores family dynamics, assisted death and First Nations issues in their presentation of Tara Beagan’s dark comedy “Honour Beat,” which runs in the Sterndale Bennett Theatre, Oct. 5-14.

Director Valarie Planche is no stranger to Tara  Beagan’s 2019 play about two very different and estranged sisters who try to mend their fences over their mother’s deathbed in Vancouver.

“ I directed it in 2019  in London, Ontario just before the pandemic. This is a completely new cast, and a completely new set design,” she said.

 When you enter the Sterndale Bennett theatre you enter the middle of a forest set designed by Julia Wasilewski

Planche noted  the mother is in a coma so the play takes place in her head.

“ Mom is in a coma, so a lot of it takes place in the magical realm. It’s been very fun because I got to go back to it,” enthused Planche, who is a Metis and did a lot of research the first time she did the play, which she  expanded in for this production.

“It takes the audience to that place. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the afterlife,” she said, adding “Honour Beat ”allows her too imagine what that’s like.

 The play explores issues of cultural identity and after life care.

“It‘s very funny. It’s relatable. There’s a lot of cry laughter because it’s got that hospital humour,” she said.

“ These  two daughters couldn’t be more different and the mom wants them to reconcile as her deathbed wish,” she summarized.

 There are a few nods to Blackfoot culture though the play takes place in B.C.

“Blackfoot culture is very different,” said Planche.

The play stars Brianne Tucker, Jeremy Proulx, Michaela Washburn and Sandra Lamouche.

Today is the last day to be “wonderstruck” by New West Theatre  latest music/ comedy revue. whichhas a 1 -.m. matinee, today, Aug. 26 a1 1p.m. and closes with the last show at 7:30 p.m.

 As always New West Theatre has a multi-talented cast guaranteed to brings smiles  to your faces.  And who couldn't use the dose of positivity the long standing  theatre company brings with their music comedy  revues.

 This show focuses on some of the happiest  pop music from the ’70s and ’80s.

 The show opens with the cast performing ELO’s   “Mr. Blue Sky,” so you know happiness will abound.

 The newer members of the cast shine.

  Ethan Bintu- Watt takes centre stage on a beautiful cover of Michael Bublé’s “ It’s a Beautiful Day.” He joins Katie Fellger on ukuleles for a really  cool, understated, folk version of A -Ha’s “ Take On Me.”

 Madisan Cowan  shows her impressive dance moves throughout as well as  sings lead vocals on a couple songs but shines in a few comedic bits like pairing with  Katie Fellger for New West News, and providing sound effects for a mimed airplane sketch featuring  Katie Fellger, Eric Hunt and Scott Carpenter as the most obnoxious   seat-mate ever.

 Fellger has some of the best comedic bits. She and Cowan perform an inspired sketch about dating, incorporating the names of a plethora of Alberta towns.

She  leads the cast in some impressive improv on the game “Click” Where  she was  showing the audience slideshows of her family trip to Antarctica, a destination provided by the audience, as the cast  acted them out.