The 1985 film Reanimator, based on H.P. Lovecraft’s story Herbert West-Reanimator, has spawned an musical. A WeHo News review says of the musical:

All the conventions/cliches of horror films are present and subverted here.

The mad scientist, the lovely ingenue in jeopardy, the dedicated hero, the sinister laboratory hidden deep in the basement of the science building, the selfish, jealous, ambitious villain willing to stomp all over others and steal the formula and the girl — they’re all convened here, to their detriment and the audience’s delight.

Many thanks to the special effects wizards who could actually put together a scene in which the bad guy’s head is lopped off, so his body picks it up and holds it as it continues to sing.

The show manages to invoke simultaneously humor, horror, and helplessness in the audience. It might be called Grand Guignol, subspecies Giggles, Guffaws and Gagging….

At present the show’s booked until June 26; there have been times it’s been sold out for two weeks ahead. It ought to be booked open-ended, even perhaps becoming a Hollywood fixture, lasting decades with descendants of the original cast eventually joining. Or, a fine senior high school play.

Be sure to see this before everyone involved is taken away to an asylum. Tickets will be even harder to obtain if that happens, and anyway, the asylum’s directors may not let you leave.

The Steve Allen Theatre, 4773 Hollywood Blvd. (between N. Berendo and N. New Hampshire, one block west of Vermont Ave.), with free parking.

Reservations suggested: (323) 666-4268, or www.steveallentheatre.com

First serialized the amateur publication Home Brew, February through July 1922, Lovecraft’s story was republished in March, July, September, November 1942 and September and November 1943 issues of Weird Tales.

[Photo: Chris L. McKenna, Rachel Avery in Re-Animator: The Musical at Steve Allen Theater. Credit: Thomas Hargis.]