Lethbridge is going to have more gory, bloody fun than a bloody chainsaw when Hatrix Theatre brings the Evil Dead the Musical to life at the Moose Hall, Oct. 30-Nov. 8.

 It will be so much bloody fun, that the first three rows have been designated a splatter zone.
“It’s pretty much a horror-comedy,” said Justin Black, who plays Ash in the production — the role which was originally played by Bruce Campbell.

“It’s a musical based on three movies created in the ’80s and early ’90s— Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness,” he summarized. He was really familiar with the movies, though not as familiar with the musical.

Most of the characters in the musical come from the second movie, most of the dialogue comes from the first movie and it is set in a cabin in the woods, where the first and second movies were set.

The plot surrounds Ash and his friends who go on vacation to a cabin in the woods where the undead have been accidentally released. Kandarian demons and zombies invade and infect pretty much all of them as mayhem / hilarity ensues. There is a punning zombie in the cellar and Ash loses his hand, which comes back to life and causes a kerfuffle.

“ I’m very familiar with the movies. They are a lot of fun,” said Black, who found out about auditions in a nick of time through the Lethbridge theatre community.
“ I almost missed my chance to audition,” he said.

“ Who wouldn’t want to get a chance to be a Bruce Campbell character and kill zombies,” he enthused during a break from rehearsal where he was wielding a chainsaw in one stump of a hand and his ‘boom stick’ in the other during the productions.

 He is enjoying working with the cast.
“Everyone is so excited to to be involved,” he enthused.
Carrie -Ann Worden was in a production of the Evil Dead the Musical in Medicine Hat, but is back as Annie Knowby, the daughter of archaeologist Dr. Knowby, who found the missing pages of the book of the dead.
“She’s the daughter of professor Knowby (who owns the cabin the kids vacation in and who has unleashed the evil dead).”

“ She’s completely self-absorbed.  She’s a self-absorbed, stone cold bitch,” she described her character.

“ I’ve been a big Bruce Campbell fan for a long time,” she continued.
 She is enjoying working with director Brian Quinn.
“Brian is a very talented director. He has added quite a bit more context,” she said.

“ I’m excited to see the audience. The movies have a cult following and it will be interesting to see them come out to it,” she said.
“ I’m looking forward to seeing them come and see the show,” she continued.
“ It’s a lot of fun,” said director Brian Quinn.

“When I saw it, I just wanted to do it. There is just so much you can do with it,” Quinn continued. He is passionate about the material and was looking for people who shared his passion for the Evil Dead.

 In addition to rehearsing , learning dialogue, songs and choreography, they have built props, death masks, invaded local radio stations in costume, gave a sneak preview at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, and of course, were a big part of this year’s zombie walk.
“ We held open auditions and we wanted people who had passion to do this regardless of experience, not just people who wanted to be on stage. I don’t think anyone here didn’t know about the show,” he said.

“And it’s fun deciding how to use a fake heart in the show.” he laughed. Fake hearts and other body parts and blood, lots of blood will be thrown into the audience each night.

 He has been working on bringing the Evil Dead to Lethbridge for at least a year. Quinn definitely has the passion for the material.
“ I spent yesterday making four gallons of  fake blood, he said following a rehearsal at Westminster School, where the cast and crew are busy moving set and boxes of props off the stage for a rehearsal at the Moose Hall the next night, then back to the school again.
“They do this every night,” he said.
He is looking forward to passing the show onto the cast for opening night.
“This is my show right now, but as of opening night it will be their show, so I’m looking forward to seeing it,” he said.
 It is not for the faint of heart or faint of ear as there is some coarse language and mature themes
 The show runs at the Moose Hall, Oct. 30-Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m.  each night except Sunday, Nov. 4 Tickets  cost  $20 non -splatter zone, $25 splatter zone. They can be purchased from the Allied Arts Council office 318 7th Street south, 320-0555.