‘The Human Centipede Parody Musical’ was masterful.
Who would have thought the movie about a mad German scientist who kidnaps a trio of tourists to turn them into a human centipede would translate into a side-splitting parody musical? Synergy Production Co did, and they were right.
It may not be the most obvious choice for a musical, but with a witty script, catchy musical numbers and talented performers, ‘The Human Centipede Parody Musical’ delivered a disturbingly hilarious satirical work akin to the likes of Avenue Q, Book of Mormon and Urinetown.
Written and directed by Liam Hartley and Oliver Catton, ‘The Human Centipede Parody Musical’ is based on the 2009 film of the same name. While the plot remains, the darkness is removed and played for the ridiculousness that it is. Hartley and Catton chose to exaggerate the zany characters, lower the emotional stakes and inject satirical tropes into an otherwise disturbing drama. The result is a masterclass in parody.
Hartley and Catton should be highly commended for creating a nuanced, offbeat and quirky show. Like all good goofy comedies, the script was silly, insane and at times utterly gag-worthy, but among the many butt jokes it also combined clever wit and skilful foreshadowing which made the show feel polished, tight and complete.
As directors, Hartley and Catton corralled a united and committed ensemble cast of six. Their direction was out of the box and inspired strong acting choices from the cast who worked seamlessly together on stage.
Hartley and Catton also demonstrated their acting chops as the detectives Voller and Kranz. A shift from the original movie, the duo parodied old school film noir detectives, complete with indulgent monologuing and cigarette stomping which made for some of the show’s funniest moments.
A particular highlight was their song ‘Ain’t a Second to Spare’ as the detectives diligently endeavour to set off to save the day but get side-tracked by the song’s many verses and reprises.
Composed by Thomas Currie, the music was catchy and showcased an impressively eclectic range of styles from ballads to rap to a ‘One Day More’ style act 1 finale. A testament to Currie’s talent as a composer, every single musical number stuck in your head after the performance which is a rare achievement even in established works. As Musical Director, the harmonies were tight and created an impressively full sound from an ensemble cast of six.
A highlight of the show was the slick tap number by the human centipede with choreography by Seballa Segal. The intricate movements cohesively performed by the trio to demonstrate the centipedes’ new capability to work as a team was a stroke of genius!
Yeronga’s Paint Factory was a perfect venue to stage this production. The warehouse mirrored the locked away basement setting that the human centipede is kept in and the small stage space made for an intimate viewing experience for the audience which suited the relaxed style of the show.
The ensemble cast of six all showcased impressive comic timing honouring the clever script as they brought each of their wacky characters to life.
As the villain Dr Heiter, Beau Wharton was delightfully camp while also balancing the darker themes. Their juxtaposition between goofy exaggeration and murderous antagonist heightened the humour and made for a killer performance.
Rae Rose delivered a well-crafted portrayal of the centre of the centipede, Lindsay. With many sarcastic one liners and dry delivery they were compelling and entertaining in every scene. They also showcased some of the strongest vocals of the show. Alongside Isabel Davies as Lindsay’s ditsy best friend Jenny, the duo had a believable chemistry and bounced off each other well. Davies was wonderfully exuberant and optimistic despite the darkness they were experiencing.
Finally, Chris Nguyen brought an innocent naivety to the show as Katsuro and provided much needed lightness. Nguyen’s interactions as Katsuro with the other characters were adorable and elicited a surprising emotional investment from the audience.
Rounding out the team behind the show was producer Liam J Kirkpatrick and swing Jade Jose. Everyone involved should be highly commended for bringing to life this innovative piece of theatre.
If you’re after a disturbingly hilarious show that makes you laugh, cringe and gag in equal measures then this is one for you! Its unique mix of catchy music, goofy comedy and an unexpected level of sophistication makes this production a fit for a wide range of audiences, horror movie fans or not.
I hope this is not the last we see of ‘The Human Centipede Parody Musical’ and when it hopefully returns to the Brisbane stage, I encourage all theatre lovers to snap up tickets to this extraordinary show. It’s something special and something we don’t see often enough.
‘The Human Centipede Parody Musical’ played for just one weekend. To stay up to date with any future performances of The Human Centipede Parody Musical, follow the official Facebook.
