'Living Dead' musical: Is it good? That's a no-brainer

By Lorraine Wardle

entertainment@vindy.com

It appears that zombies are the latest popular culture ghouls-du-jour. Vampires are over and werewolves never really made it. But zombies, well, zombies are everywhere.

Seemingly everyone loves “The Walking Dead,” the AMC drama about a zombie apocalypse. Brad Pitt is starring in the upcoming “World War Z.” Zombies have become such a part of our culture that anyone can tell you what to do in a zombie attack: Don’t get bitten; destroy their brain.

We can thank George A. Romero for all of our zombie intelligence. In 1968, Romero created “Night of the Living Dead,” now considered to be the genesis of zombie culture. Romero’s movie spawned sequels and remakes, as well as a popular-culture movement of countless unrelated zombie movies, books and other art forms.

Local theater visionary Robert Dennick Joki has added his name to the list of zombie aficionados. Joki’s latest endeavor is “Living Dead: The Musical,” a hilarious parody of popular zombie films, at The Rust Belt Theater Company.

“Living Dead: The Musical” is written by Joki, with music by Josh Taylor. Anyone familiar with Joki’s past productions will know what to expect from the writer/director. Joki’s signature irreverent sense of humor is present throughout the script. With song titles such as “I Got Yo Black” and “The Slutty Girl is the One Who Gets Eaten First,” the audience is treated to a night of entertaining and satirical fun.

The plot generally follows that of the original “Night of the Living Dead”: A group of strangers takes refuge in a house while zombies try to get them.

David Cirelli is Johnny and Kelsie Moon is Barbara, siblings who go to the cemetery to visit their father’s grave. There, they are attacked, and Barbara flees to a nearby house. Ben, played by Kage Coven, arrives and barricades them against the increasing number of undead outside. Coven plays Ben as a strong, cool-headed leader who assures everyone, “I Got Yo Black” while Moon’s Barbara spends the evening dazed and pining for her lost brother.

They are joined by Harry (Tom Smith), his wife, Helen (Geri DeWitt), their daughter, Karen (Grace Offerdahl), and young couple Judy (Marisa Zamary) and Tom (Joki). The survivors are trapped inside the house and argue about what to do next while the undead amass outside.

This doesn’t seem like a particularly funny story, but Joki’s script is full of jokes and innuendoes. While Joki revels in the risque, he never crosses the line to become vulgar or crass. His songs are clever and catchy and had the audience singing along.

Joki’s cast is enormously talented. Each actor gave a flawless performance and sang perfectly. The show was fast-paced and engaging, leaving the audience wanting more. Joki’s “Living Dead: The Musical” is the perfect Halloween treat that shouldn’t be missed.