"Love is Dead" at The Annoyance Theater
Just how good can a rock musical be that was written in a week with a necromantic main character? Infinitely better than it sounds.
"Love is Dead" centers around a small-town mortician, Orin (played by writer James Asmus), who thinks the jig is up when a forensic analyst comes to town to investigate a string of murders. Things get interesting when a real live woman, Julie (Brooke Bagnall) shows interest in Orin.
The two dead characters Jane Doe and TK Nichols (Lyndsay Hailey and Mort Burke), who only Orin can talk to of course, both have great comedic timing and singing ability; and Megan Johns does well as the kooky forensic analyst Dana Strand. The favorite duo in the play, however, would have to be the Sheriff (Daniel Jessup) and Deputy Don (Nick Vatterott) - complete with Vatterott's version of the bumbling police officer, reminiscent of the classic Bernard P. Fife.
The musical numbers were written by Second City veteran Julie Nichols, with Asmus writing the lyrics. The songs are witty and catchy, "Dead Girls Make Better Lovers" in particular. Director Andrew Hobgood utilizes the small stage well, and despite seeing a "preview", the show looked ready for opening night.
So even if you hate musicals (as I do - "Little Shop of Horrors" being the exception) or didn't like "Six Feet Under" (this is funny! Not gory!), go see "Love is Dead." Never has "I'm sorry for your loss" been funnier.
"Love is Dead" officially opens at the Annoyance theater TONIGHT at 8pm, and runs every Friday through October 26th - late enough to see it one last time before Halloween.
