CANNIBAL! THE MUSICAL
Dad’s Garage wacky cannibal musical just in time for Halloween
For accessAtlanta
Thursday, October 09, 2008
In the late 1800s, Alfred Packer became the first person to ever be convicted of cannibalism in America. In 1998, he helped put Dad’s Garage on the map when the then struggling theater put on the first stage adaptation of “Cannibal! The Musical,” an “Oklahoma!”-style creation of Trey Parker of “South Park” that takes a gruesomely comedic look at Packer’s legend.
A decade later, Dad’s Garage revisits the show that established it as perhaps the wackiest theater in town just in time for Halloween. And this time they’ve taken a few more liberties with it, fleshing out characters like a one-eyed Confederate soldier who parties with sexy sheep and injecting a large dose of politically incorrect humor.
LINNEA FRYE
Infamous Colorado cannibal Alfred Packer (Doug Graham) is interviewed by local reporter Polly Pry (Jessie Dougherty-Dean) in ‘Cannibal! The Musical’ at Dad’s Garage Theatre.
Adding to the haunting hilarity, a seasonal improv show called “Monster Movie” follows “Cannibal!” each Friday. Horror hosts the Fiend (Lucky Yates channeling a ghoulish version of Scott Thompson from “The Kids in the Hall”) and Gary Simmons (Chris Blair looking very Bela Lugosi) mediate improvised horror films such as “Benjamin Franklin: Serial Killer” and “TXT M 4 MRDR” that are acted out live. Always funny (though not necessarily scary), this series will culminate in a Halloween night blowout featuring a costume contest, prizes and other fun.
•THE 411: “Cannibal! The Musical.” $15-$25 (half price with student ID). 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays through Nov. 1.
“Monster Movie.” $10. 10:30 p.m. Fridays through Oct. 31. Dad’s Garage Theatre, 280 Elizabeth St., Suite C-101, Inman Park. 404-523-3141, www.dadsgarage.com.
Silver Scream Spook Show/Splatter Cinema. The Plaza Theatre’s monthly horror events both celebrate anniversaries this month. The Silver Scream Spook Show, with its lighthearted and humorous take on the late night horror shows of yesteryear, celebrates its second year with the Ed Wood classic “Bride of the Monster” Oct. 25. Championing all things slasher and gore, the Spook Show spin-off Splatter Cinema chops away its first year with the Peter Jackson zombie flick “Dead Alive.” Both events feature coffins-full of interactive fun.
•THE 411: Splatter Cinema. $9. 9 p.m. Oct. 14.$10; $6 matinee; free for children ages 12 and younger to matinee. 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. Oct. 25. The Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave., Poncey Highland. 404-873-1939, www.silverscreamspookshow.com, www.plazaatlanta.com.
“Wicked.” If a musical about consuming human flesh isn’t your thing, this Broadway hit might cast a more appealing spell. Telling the story of the Wicked Witch of the West before Dorothy’s visit to the Land of Oz, “Wicked” returns to the Fox for a month-long engagement. And before she became the tyrant who terrorizes Dorothy and her friends, this story shows us that the green-skinned beauty was just misunderstood and was even friends with Glinda the Good Witch.
•THE 411: $29-$125. Tuesdays-Sundays through Nov. 2 (times vary). Fabulous Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Midtown. 404-881-2100, www.wickedthemusical.com.
