The Toxic Avenger ........ a musical ........... My review

Well, what would you say if I told you it had been more than 10 years since my last visit to "live" theatre?? If you know me at all, you'd be like "really? aren't you the guy always singing Les Miserable or Phantom of The Opera at all hours NO MATTER where you are?? YEP, that's me:) Even theatre based stuff like Rocky Horror Picture Show and movies like Grease have me singing up a storm ........It's just too bad that I can't sing:) You see I suffer from this common malady known as "tone deafness", but I guess it's better that than colour blindness ..... orange and pink do NOT go together:)

Now onto my review, but remember than I may be a little giddy because of the length of time since my last live event.

The Toxic Avenger ............80% ......... do not confuse with movie rating, they are different

Taken from The Toxic Avenger website(link above)

"Melvin Ferd the Third wants to clean up Tromaville, the most polluted town in New Jersey (just off Exit 13B on the Turnpike). Foiled by the on-the-take mayor’s bullies, Melvin is dumped into a vat of radioactive toxic waste, only to reemerge as THE TOXIC AVENGER, New Jersey’s first superhero.

THE TOXIC AVENGER, affectionately known as Toxie, is a seven-foot mutant freak with superhuman strength and a heart as big as Newark. He’s out to save New Jersey, end global warming and woo the prettiest blindest librarian in town, in a toxic love story with an environmental twist. He’ll leave you laughing in the aisles as he rocks the house and saves the earth for all of mankind. "

Sounds pretty silly right:) Sure, and it is, but it's also very funny, NOT politically correct in any way, and the music is pretty darn good. Basically it makes for a good night out with friends.

Now we come to to a little annoyance ........ NONE of my close friends had any interest in this musical, actually only one person even felt a need to reply to my email(even though a few people seem to like the theatre).... wonderful:(It's too bad for them). I certainly won't be afraid to go to a play/musical by myself, I've never felt the absolute need to be with somebody I know for any event that I wanted to attend.

The Musical/play was held at The Music Hall on the Danforth in Toronto. It's capacity is 1150 seats, and it has a balcony.

The cast includes;

Louise Pitre, Canada's first lady of musical theatre, will play the dual-role of Mayor Babs Belgoody, the evil Mayor of Tromaville, and Ma Ferd, mother of Melvin Ferd the Third.

Brittany Gray is ready to tear hearts out as Sarah, the sexy blind librarian. Brittany, a working professional since her debut in the film Chicago at the age of 15, can also be seen in the upcoming film Amelia starring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere.

Evan Alexander Smith will perform the role of Melvin Ferd the Third, a bullied weakling turned fast and fierce hero. A recent graduate of the George Brown Theatre School, Evan’s credits include Tony in West Side Story, Marius in Les Misérables, and Younger Brother in Ragtime.

What's funny is 2 of the guys Jamie McKnight and Daren A. Herbert play a combined 26 roles between the 2 of them ..... way too many to list, ALL very funny and very non PC, but you'd know that when you read the cast listing and they are marked as "The White Guy", and "The Black Guy":) I hope you're OK with guys wearing fishnet stockings:) How secure in your masculinity are you!

OK, I really liked this show, the songs were a little shorter than I was used to, when you come from epics like Les Miz and Phantom, you get spoiled. What's funny is both Louise Pitre and Evan Alexander Smith some from Les Miserable, one of my favourite plays.

I loved Brittany Grey as Sarah, I like funny people, and she's great in her role. She's also hot as the blind librarian. Maybe I'm a sucker for a hot chick that doesn't know it, and a blind librarian IS about as far from outwardly hot as you can get:)

Now the real showstopper was Louise Pitre in multiple roles, boy O boy is she great, and she steals the show. She does this really cool ..........hhmmm ....... nope, go see it if you want to know. I just say that by the end of this "Piece Du resistance" people were cheering loudly.

OK, so there goes, chances are I'll go again before Christmas, since it makes an inexpensive night at the theatre.

Was it perfect? NOPE! I don't know if it was me hearing, but some of the singing seemed poorly EQ'd, I had trouble understanding what they were singing on occasion, but maybe that's the difference between a $120 play VS a $50 play, and in all honestly it wasn't that bad, usually a sentence or two.

What was worse was my inability to focus clearly on the actors, I think it's because I tend to stop blinking and just stare, trying to see every little facial expression that it try my eyes out and they never recover ....maybe I'm just getting old ... maybe it's time to see an optometrist?

OK, now one thing I wished they changed, was The Toxic Avenger's "roar", it was really annoying, but I can't explain it other than to say it's a recorded bit that is played at certain moments, and it's "over the top" loud.

Anybody else interested, just show up, I'll post a date here and if you decide to come GREAT, but no more emails about this show.

OK, I'm HUGELY disappointed in one thing. Sure it's been a bunch of years since I've been to the theatre, and SURE, this would be considered an "off Broadway" production, but WHY IN THE HELL are people think wearing JEANS to the theatre?????? Now I've seen some jeans that look OK, and I've seen some nice expensive jeans, that you could argue, are "dressy" BUT.... what's worse than those jeans being worn by tons of people, were the ones that made NO ATTEMPT to dress up, I actually saw a few people wearing crappy, holey jeans, worn out high top sneakers, crappy T-shirts, and raggedy jackets TO THE THEATRE!!! .............Why oh why is this considered acceptable?? My stomach turned every time one of these MORONS decided it was OK ....UGH!

Goo

There was NO dress code, I think there should always be a dress code, it's not a movie, it's a theatre production, PUT ON SOME Khaki's at least, even I did that:)

Thank You !!!

Quote:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

I'd like to thank all those those that serve and have served in our military forces.

For protecting the freedoms of this great Country, and freedom of the people within it.

For putting their lives on the line to make the world a better place ......Thank you!

Brent

Update on Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears

Well well how things have spiraled down even more with these three:)

Firstly ...........Britney Spears

I say this all the time, but oy vey! What is happening?? OK she has a hit record and a normal boyfriend, but who believes she did that on her own? sounds like a publicity team hard at work. Her album is really bad, all dance songs with huge sexual innuendo. It's easy to make a dance song, I lived and danced to a ton of bad dance music, but most of that was fun silly dance music ... think C&c music factory:)

Just this last weekend though, things went wrong last weekend in the European stay in her "circus" tour. Supposedly people got up after a few songs because of her lip syncing. Of course her "team" shot back with a "everybody know she lip syncs during her highly technical dance numbers" ..... Hmmmm!

If I had a choice of "Circus" tours to go to, it would be Pink, she actually sings, has a great show, and is a pretty normal chick.

And NOW ....... Paris Hilton

Does she get dumber on a weekly basis? She was just on Jimmy Kimmel and was all happy about her Halloween plans, and all the money she's spending on costumes, and all the parties that she's either hosting or attending, during the biggest recession in the last 20 years.

Whatever happened to the humanitarian works she was going to perform when she got out of prison?? WAIT, WAIT, what am I thinking .... this is the same chick that wanted a family of blonde children just like her.

PLEASE FADE AWAY Paris, you have no redeeming qualities, unless you consider being a skanky idiot to be redeeming!


Last but least ..... Lindsay Lohan

It actually looks like LL is running her own affairs, has nobody helping her, and is one bad night from killing herself.

I've said it before, this girl was hot 5-6 years ago, she looked healthy and happy. Sure, she tried to expand and become a singer, I guess that's what actors do when all the fame goes to there heads. What's funny is, Lindsay can act!

So, she broke up with Samantha, got back together, broke up, ETC ETC..... Fine, lots of people have relationship problems, but it's not helping her become more focused. I haven't heard of her doing ANY acting or even getting any work in a LONG time. OK, she did get do design work with "Ungaro", and it was panned by the critics ..... whoops, PLEASE stick to acting!

What's funny is people are finally saying that LL has aged way beyond her years:) Didn't I say that a few years ago??:) YEP!

She's nearly anorexic by appearance, is as white as a ghost, with a sullen sunk in look to her face, and is still drinking .... people say she looks 40 ..... I don't think I look that bad for 40:)

Goo

Some good news!

Well I'm happy to say that something I railed against for a long while now has come to pass.

What's that you ask??

If you remember some time ago I got good and mad about a Judges right/common policy to offer as much as a 2 to 1 credit for "time served" while awaiting trial.

Well I'm happy to say that has finally changed;

Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (limiting credit for time spent in pre-sentencing custody)

Upon Bill C-25 coming into force, the amount of credit that can be granted for time served in custody prior to sentencing (remand custody) will be capped at a ratio of 1 to 1. Only where circumstances justify it can credit for time served be given at a ratio of up to 1.5 to 1, and the courts will be required to explain these circumstances.

For example, if an offender who served 9 months in remand custody is sentenced to 4 years imprisonment, the net sentence will be 3 years and 3 months (4 years minus 9 months). Credit at a ratio of up to 1.5 to 1 will only be permitted where circumstances justify it, and courts will be required to explain these circumstances.

Credit for time served by offenders who have violated bail conditions, or been denied bail because of their criminal record will be limited to a maximum 1-to-1 ratio, with no enhanced credit beyond 1 to 1 permitted under any circumstances.

So basically the 2 for 1 credit is gone, and even the 1 1/2 for one credit is only used in special circumstances!

FINALLY:)

Goo