Kelsey Theatre takes a swing at ‘Bat Boy.’
By: Stuart Duncan
It was H.L. Mencken who once noted: "You can never go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public." How else to explain a large opening-night crowd at Kelsey Theatre, on the campus of Mercer County Community College, for a production of Bat Boy: The Musical?
It must have been the reputation of Stars in the Park, a group founded nine years ago by Diane Wargo (who directed the current production) and Mary Liz Ivins (who keeps pretty busy as the principal of Notre Dame High School). The group started out by staging its shows in Washington Crossing Park’s Open Air Theatre and now, like many of the other park groups, has switched to Kelsey.
They do fine shows, with strong acting, powerful direction, pretty costuming and orchestral work. Having said that, there is virtually nothing to recommend about Bat Boy. It is a loud, lewd, thoroughly repulsive show, based on a cartoon character that made his mark in an underground cult newspaper the kind sold at food market checkout counters. A score of rock ‘n’ roll is supposed to make it all legitimate.
You need not be much concerned about the plot. Clearly the creators (Keythe Farley and Brian Fleming, who wrote the book, and Laurence O’Keefe, who wrote the music and lyrics) paid little attention. It has something to do with a young lad, discovered deep in a cave, who apparently has been brought up by bats. He is brought to the local veterinarian for disposal. But the wife finds him appealing (and eventually so too does the pretty daughter). That’s enough for two acts of tension. Will the townsfolk have their way and kill the boy or will the vet’s wife and daughter save him?
The wife teaches him English (with an English accent, for some reason), but he still seems hungry for live animals. Poppa goes slightly off his rocker and starts killing some of the local kids (injections are his passion), and the townspeople start really worrying about why their cattle can’t seem to get fatter.
By Act 2, we’ve met the Sheriff and the Preacher man, who is traveling through the territory dispensing barbecues, and it is time to reach a few conclusions. Needless to say, in this sort of tale, those are apt to be pretty sloppy and when, just at the right moment, Mama blurts out to the lad who at that precise moment is attempting to attack her, "I’m your mother," we get the one genuine laugh of the evening. Trouble is it’s not supposed to be funny and it’s not worth waiting a couple of hours to hear it.
Too bad actually; there’s a lot of fine talent being wasted and some good work on stage. Brian Meltzer, as Dr. Thomas Parker, the vet, alternates sinister and helpful before being completely defeated by the script. Nicole Spadafino, as his wife, steals scenes with some fine acting and singing, but ultimately has to blurt out that silly line of dialogue about being Bat Boy’s mother and thereby loses all credibility. Chelsea Wargo, as the daughter, has little to do except sigh a bit, look gorgeous and make goo-goo eyes at the lad (all of which she does very well indeed).
Eric Carsia, in the title role, has much more to do grunt like a trapped animal, speak British, eat a live rabbit and grunt some more (all of which he does very well, too). Kitty Getlik has some wonderful bits as the mother who has all her kids killed. Joe Kraher has some fine moments as the local sheriff.
We learn that the town has a total of 500 residents (give or take a few of those dead kids). Maybe next time the residents can find a site with better writers.
Bat Boy: The Musical continues at Kelsey Theatre on the campus of Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, through Aug. 5. Performances: Aug. 3-4, 8 p.m., Aug. 5, 2 p.m. Tickets cost $16, $12 seniors, $10 students/children; (609) 570-3333; www.kelseyatmccc.org