Bat Boy, The Musical
Pictured: Tyler Michaels. Photo by Laurie Etchen
Through Nov. 13
Illusion Theater, 528 Hennepin Av., Mpls.
(612) 339-4944
www.aboutmmt.org
Tyler Michaels’ title role performance in Bat Boy, The Musical is a seamless example of acting that balances and blends two opposites: primal feral power and high sophistication. He shifts between the wildy raw and sensual to drawing room elegance you’d find in an Oscar Wilde play. And he’s a good singer to boot!
The musical’s creators Keythe Farley, Brian Flemming, and Laurence O’Keefe achieve something similar. Their back woods setting packed with gullible hicks weave into an incestuous tall tale reminiscent of Greek high tragedies. Moreover, the Bat Boy story is inspired by a piece from the tabloid The Weekly World News. Therefore, it’s campy fun, which director Steven Meerdink’s cast relishes – especially all the crossgender bit portrayals of townspeople throughout. Solid music direction by Kevin Hansen.
Pictured (from left to right): Tyler Michaels, Debra Berger and Kecia Rehkamp. Photo by Laurie Etchen
