Batboy Theater Review

Bat Boy: The Musical

at

Performing Artists Collective Alliance

Combine a spurious story about a freak of nature from a weekly tabloid, set it to music and you have a freakishly-good theatrical production in Erie.

Written by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe, “Bat Boy: the Musical,” is currently playing at Erie’s Performing Artists Collective Alliance.

Directed by Bob Martin, Bat Boy begins with three cave explorers (Howard Lang, Rhonda Longo, Zachery Hoffman) who discover a naked half-boy-half-bat (Ryan Dawley) lurking in a West Virginia cave. Frightened, the creature attacks one of the spelunkers. Given to the sheriff, he then deposits it with the family of the local veterinarian, Dr. Parker (Patrick Vahey, Jr.) who’s currently away.

His wife, Meredith, (Camellia Tatara) treats the silent scared creature with kindness, yet their daughter, Shelley (Brenna Thummler), is initially repulsed by the wild-eyed, bald, Spock-eared freak of nature. Trouble brews with the local townspeople as the area is losing cattle and citizens begin to believe the Bat Boy is the reason.

Meanwhile Meredith dresses Bat Boy, educates him, teaching him to speak (quite eloquently, actually) and read and names him Edgar. Shelley later even falls in love with Edgar–even as rumors and suspicions and hatred grow toward Bat Boy.

Even within the Parker home. As the love-deprived doctor grows jealous of all the attention he garners from his wife. At a local religious revival, fear, anger and hatred boils over as Edgar attacks a citizen and flees, leading to a mob situation that eventually leads to a very surprising conclusion.

The two-act musical includes memorable songs “Hold Me, Bat Boy” sung by the ensemble, the imploring plea “Let Me Walk Among You,” sung by Bat Boy/Dawley, the rousing “A Joyful Noise, performed by Reverend Hightower (Dan Bainbridge) and ensemble, and the tender “Three-Bedroom House” sung by Tatara and Thummler.

The cast of 10 often performed various roles with Kat McMahan playing “Bud,” “Daisy” and the Greek god “Pan;” Howard Lang as the jealous, angry boyfriend, “Rick,” “Lorraine” and “Doctor” with several others transforming themselves into various men or women’s roles.

Tatarra’s lovely singing voice, Vahey Jr.’s concealed rage and Thummler’s eventual devotion to Edgar display a family trio torn apart by Bat Boy’s presence. Dawley’s Bat Boy at times is a fearsome, funny and pitiful critter that’s well played by the actor.

See “Bat Boy: The Musical” before it flies away!

(P.S. He doesn’t have wings!)

See you in the balcony! XOXO!

***Thea Tah

Bat Boy: The Musical continues through April 6. PACA is located at 1505 State Street, Erie. For more information visit paca1505.org

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