Released in 1981, Evil Dead was a low-budget horror film, lauded for its intense and imaginative horror. Its enthusiastic use of gore and sense of fun helped foster a passionate fandom and a cult franchise of movie and television sequels… and eventually a musical.
Evil Dead: The Musical is a gloriously fun, funny, and bloody adaptation of the first two Evil Dead films. The stage at Chapel Off Chapel is transformed to the quintessential cabin in the woods, where Ash and his friends decide to travel to, unaware it belongs to Professor Knowby who has been using the location to research the Book of the Dead – nor what supernatural dangers and carnage will be unleashed if the book is spoken aloud from.
It’s a smart show, beautifully presented. The design team – Eric Luchien (Set), Jason Bovaird (Lighting), Jacob Harwood (Sound), and Renata Beslik (Costumes) – have done excellent work setting a tone that’s polished and entertains without ever taking itself too seriously, not least of all when the audience come back from interval and the real blood-letting begins.
Book tickets to the show and you’ll see that the first rows in the audience are called, The Splatter Zone, and it does exactly what it says on the box. As Ash shoots and chainsaws his way through the demon horde, the blood flies and those first rows receive an exquisite amount of collateral coverage.
Ponchos are provided, but be brave, wear white, and enjoy the action (It’s like they always say, Napisan is available any day of the week, but Evil Dead: The Musical is only playing in Melbourne until the 12 April!)
The cast of characters is a delightful mix – from Harrison RIley’s hilarious turn as the hillbilly-ish, Jake, to Oliver Clisdell’s performance as a nerdy, mouse-ish Ed who needs to get transformed into a demon just to stop people interrupting him.
Whether disembodied or head-still-on-bodied, Elaina Bianchi was fabulous in the role of Linda, Ash’s girlfriend. Jake Ameduri embraced the foul-mouthed, horny jock with a superb performance as Scott, handling dance choreography and his intestines with equal passion.
Emma Wilby was fantastic in the role of Ash’s sister, Cheryl. It’s a demanding role both physically and vocally, which Emma performed in brilliant fashion. Shelly is Scott’s very-recent, very-ditzy girlfriend, while Annie is the academic daughter of Professor Knowby – two very different characters brought to wonderful life by Grace Alston in a stellar, comedic performance.
Harley Dasey was terrific in the lead as Ash. Like some combination of Bruce Campbell and Johnny Bravo, he struck about as many dramatic poses as there was blood flying into the audience (ie. a lot).
Harley grabbed the show with the bloody stump where his hand used to be, kept the audience engaged, the pace up, the laughs coming, and with the help of his fellow cast made a heck of an entertaining night.
This theatrical gift of hemorrhagic hilarity, this celebration of exsanguination, this Evil Dead: The Musical is a bloody masterpiece.
Evil Dead The Musical
Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
Performance: Friday 27 March 2026
Season continues to 12 April 2026
Bookings: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au
For more information, visit: www.evildeadmusical.com.au for details.
Images: The Cast of Evil Dead The Musical – photos by Peter Stoop
Review: June Collins