THE HANGOVER REPORT – David Yazbek and Itamar Moses’ quirky renegade musical DEAD OUTLAW beguiles

Thom Sesma, Andrew Durand, and Dashiell Eaves in Audible Theater’s production of “Dead Outlaw” at the Minetta Lane Theatre (photo by Matthew Murphy).

One of the more beguiling entries in this busy spring theater season is the new Off-Broadway musical Dead Outlaw currently playing at the Minetta Lane Theater. Featuring a score by Erik Della Penna and David Yazbek and a book by Itamar Moses, this latest offering from the prolific Audible Theater tells the real life story of one Elmer McCurdy, a troubled bandit whose unlikely journey on this earth transcended his mortal coil (no spoilers here!).

The production brings back together the creative team — including director David Cromer — responsible for the The Band’s Visit. Just like that Tony-winning effort, Dead Outlaw is an unlikely choice for musical theater treatment. Thankfully, lightning has struck twice — this quirky renegade musical with the DNA of a Fringe show but the execution of a finely-tuned commercial musical is exactly the kind of material that cult favorites are made of. Starting with Della Penna and Yazbek’s rollicking and memorable score, Dead Outlaw knows exactly the kind of musical it wants to be and has the means and chutzpah to realize its goals. Moses’ book straddles genres — from Western to hilarious farce to absurdist theater — and it does so giddily. And the refreshing fact that the piece is a completely original musical is alone a cause for rejoicing.

Cromer’s freewheeling yet pitch-perfect staging is well attuned to the offbeat cadences of the writing. To boot, he’s assembled a cast that also understands and basks in the strangeness of the work. As Elmer, the game Andrew Durand (so good in Shucked) is nothing short of exceptional, traversing the turbulence of life and the imprint of life after death with astonishing exactitude. Other standouts include Jeb Brown as the show’s deadpan narrator and the fierce onstage band’s frontman, as well as Thom Sesma as the show’s unlikely hero.

RECOMMENDED

DEAD OUTLAW
Off-Broadway, Musical
Audible Theater at the Minetta Lane Theater
1 hour, 30 minutes (without an intermission)
Through April 7

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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