Hot Toxic (Musical) Love

“The Toxic Avenger” performing a song in “The Toxic Anger Musical.”

By Bryan S. Glynn
Published: December 10, 2008

If you’re a baby of the 80’s or a B-Movie buff, you’ve more than likely heard of “The Toxic Avenger.” Offensive, disgusting, but hilarious, this movie was the cornerstone of the Troma Studios movies, and still resonates today as one of the best cult classics. If you haven’t heard of it, “The Toxic Avenger Musical,” which just wrapped up its World Premier at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, (and thanks to a scoop from the producer) will be making a NYC move in March, aims to make sure you will. With a revamped story, catchy songs by Jersey native and Bon Jovi band member, David Bryan, and the same offensive humour that made the movie the hit it is, the musical is one of the most original off-Broadway works in a long time. I got the opportunity to speak with Tom Polum, Producer, and Joe DiPietro, author of “The Toxic Avenger Musical” and ask them about the waste-irradiated phenomenon they’re a part of.

The Steaming Pipe: So, this movie has some rabid fans. Were you worried about keeping true to the original while making the musical?

Tom Palum: Oh, yes. “The Toxic Avenger” is Troma Studios’ baby. But, within 6 months, we created a new property, updated it some, but most importantly kept the spirit, you know, the feel, of “The Toxic Avenger.”

Joe DiPietro: (Joe DiPietro wrote the libretto and lyrics for “The Toxic Avenger Musical”) You can call Lloyd Kaufman (Creator of The Toxic Avenger and head of Troma Studios) a mad genius. He really captures the B-Movie low budget feel, but still makes fantastic productions. That was a real worry when we’re making a musical, but we’ve captured the same B-Movie vibe. Lloyd told me “Always remember it’s a comedy first.” And we tried to stick to that in the film to stage adaptation.

SP: Well, that’s good. I can imagine some fans getting very up in arms about changes.

JD: Oh yeah! There were two guys that drove down from Vermont just to see the premier. They came up to me after the show and they couldn’t get over how much it felt like a Troma Studios production.

SP: In that vein, what was the target audience? Did you try to appeal to the college crowd?

TP: Yeah, that was our original thoughts. People your age and a little older that were at the height of Troma’s influence. But, when the premier happened, there were three busloads of retirees from a community that showed up at George Street Playhouse. And our stomachs dropped. But, I observed a lot of the opening shows and I saw senior citizens literally roaring with laughter with someone your age sitting next to them doing the same. There are some testimonials on the site from a few 80+ people, even. The play really pleases a cross-stream audience.

JD: We knew that the Troma fans would come. And probably the college crowd. But to make your average senior citizen happy was great. They loved it. It’s really “Jersey Rock”, like Bon Jovi and Springsteen, and that kind of appeals to everyone. Also, you’re forgetting: “The Toxic Avenger” looks like a monster. Most of the seniors grew up on either the Universal Monster movies or even older sci-fi and horror stuff. They feel some kind of attachment to Toxie.

SP: What are some of the themes that you think will also appeal to the audiences?

TP: Well, there’s definitely the theme of fighting pollution. “The Toxic Avenger” is an eco-aware superhero. And, that’s something that’s becoming more and more important with younger crowds. Also, at it’s core, it’s still a boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back story. It just so happens that the boy becomes a mutated mess who wants to fight to clean New Jersey up in the middle of all that.

JD: “The Toxic Avenger,” for as much as it knocks on it, is like a skewed Valentine for New Jersey. As much as there’s problems, there’s still this love affair with it. And I think that will bring people from Jersey, as well as New York, as the sensibilities are kind of the same.

SP: And finally, if Toxie came to Kean campus and saw a random smoking pipe jutting out of the ground, what do you think his reaction would be?

TP: Well, I think he’d want to clean up whatever pollution it’s causing and figure out what the hell was going on!

JD: He’d immediately rip it apart. He’s a mutant of action. Toxie would make sure there’s no pollution and then ask questions later. Then, he’d probably help an old lady across the street.

You can find out more about “The Toxic Avenger Musical” at www.thetoxicavengermusical.com.