Bat Boy: The Musical
Workhouse Performing Arts
Teen Reviewer: K. Plumber
(Left to Right): Kyle Donovan, Olivia Levin, Matthew Monaghan, Mel Gumina
Photo by Zoophoria Photography
Workhouse Performing Arts’s production of Bat Boy: The Musical was truly a feast for the senses, with immersive sound effects, eerie lighting, and superb performances left audiences screeching with delight.
History
This musical has quite the interesting premise, and it requires a fair bit of explanation. In 1992, Weekly World News, a supermarket tabloid, released a front page story about a half bat, half boy creature that was found in the caves of West Virginia. The story entitled “Bat Child Found in Cave!” displayed a photo of said Bat Child that ended up terrifying in its attempt to be cute. Throughout the 90s, Bat Boy became an American culture icon, and stories documented his finding, entrapment in medical labs, and other important events (like his audition for American Idol). His image became so famous that companies featured him on t-shirts, hoodies, and even bobbleheads! Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming (book) picked up the story, working with Heathers and Legally Blonde lyricist Laurence O’Keefe (music and lyrics) to create the rock-horror musical Bat Boy, premiering in 1997. Since then, this cult classic has historically run off-Broadway at the Union Square Theatre, on London’s West End, and recently at New York City Center.
So. What is a musical featuring a bat child even about? I’m so glad you asked.
Synopsis
The show opens to three teenagers, Ron, Rick, and Ruthie, exploring the creepy caves of Hope Falls, West Virginia. All of a sudden, Bat Boy swings from out of the shadows and confronts the three, who argue over whether or not Bat Boy is a fan of Fritos, before he attacks! Minor clarification: he scrapes one of Ruthie’s fingers. While Ruthie is rushed to the hospital, Bat Boy is taken to the home of local veterinarian, Dr. Parker. His wife, Meredith Parker, and his daughter, Shelley Parker, take Bat Boy in, educate him, and assign him the name of Edgar. He grows to be smart, well-mannered, and even speaks in a British accent. Regardless of his efforts, the town distrusts Edgar, supported by Dr. Parker's secret malintentions towards him. Like any camp musical worth its salt, love, secrets, and death ensue.
Technical elements
I was consistently impressed by Sequoia Grace’s set. Grace made use of Workhouse Arts Center’s limited space by creating multiple backgrounds to suggest new locations and aid quick transitions. In one particularly neat set element, sections of a wall made from stretchy fabric allowed actors to create an eerie effect… I won’t spoil it! As soon as I entered the theatre, I was taken aback by Christina Giles’ light design. Giles utilized a spooky color palette, relying heavily on low green lights for cave scenes, as well as blood-red tones while characters’ malicious intentions were revealed. Overall, Workhouse’s production was made all the more immersive by their stellar technical elements.
Performances
As the titular character, Matthew Monaghan tackled this beast of a role (please laugh) with grace. Right from the start of the show, Monaghan’s physicality was a standout, creating a distinct difference between the animalistic Bat Boy and the charming Edgar as he crawled around the stage and stood with an intimidating presence, then shifting to a poised figure who spoke with a British accent. Monaghan’s performance also featured incredibly versatile vocals, hitting both soaring rock notes in “Apology to a Cow” and floating melodies in “A Home For You.” As Meredith Parker, Melanie Kurstin brought an incredibly grounded sense to her character. Her operatic notes in “A Home For You” felt almost comforting, and her mix belt in “Three Bedroom House” was always on point. Kurstin resonated with audiences as she demonstrated bursts of anger, dry sarcasm, and motherly comfort. As Shelley Parker, Sasha Rosenbaum was truly the epitome of the stereotypical teenage girl, complete with flirty giggles and fits of rage. Her initial distaste for Bat Boy was proven in her rendition of “Ugly Boy” with sneers and jabs at Bat Boy, but Shelley’s genuine selflessness was evident in “Inside Your Heart.” Through connection and impeccable harmonies, Rosenbaum and Monaghan created a tender moment before the final (and frankly horrifying) revelation. As Dr. Parker, Adian Chapman’s performance was both physically and vocally intimidating with intense stares and a powerful range.
This show also made excellent use of their small-but-mighty ensemble. Each member doubled as multiple roles, creating differentiating physicalities and specialized voices for each of their characters. Numbers like “Hold Me, Bat Boy” showcased their crisp harmonies, and “A Joyful Noise” had even the stiffest of audience members tapping their toes.
Who is it for?
Bat Boy is the perfect show for anyone who loves a campy, outrageous show filled with larger-than-life characters and killer performances. Even with a hysterical script, director Stephen Emery presents questions about how an outcast can fit into society, and what can happen if one is blamed without questioning.
Workhouse suggests this show for audience members 16+, but I would recommend this show to a very mature 14 year old and up. Bat Boy contains adult language, a heavy amount of innuendos, depictions of violence and sexual assault, smoking, and prop weaponry. If gore in this show is a concern of yours, it need not be. While a fair amount of fake blood is used, most gore is in an exaggerated, almost comical manner. Trust me, as someone who is not the horror genre’s biggest fan, I experienced not one bout of queasiness.
Bat Boy runs at Workhouse Performing Arts until October 25th, so be sure to check out this production at https://insidenovatix.com/events/bat-boy-the-musical, just in time for spooky season!
If you can’t catch this show, keep a look out for the rest of Workhouse’s season, including Camelot, Clue, and Ruthless! The Musical.