‘The Toxic Avenger’ on Stage at The University of Central Missouri

Remember way back in the stone age - back in the days before Netflix and Amazon and Hulu - when you actually had to go to the video store to rent movies? Remember how you had to have them back the next day, or face a late fee? Anybody remember having to actually rewind the movie before you returned it to the store (by the next day, so as to avoid a late fee)? If you remember those days, you might also remember The Toxic Avenger.

The Toxic Avenger is a cult movie from 1984, released by Troma, a film studio that specializes in schlock and B-movies. I not only remember The Toxic Avenger from the shelf at the video store, but also from watching it (and its sequels) on USA Up All Night. Some of you might remember USA Up All Night, too.

A musical adaptation of The Toxic Avenger is on stage this week and weekend at the James L. Highlander Theatre at the University of Central Missouri. The show opened on April 5, and will play at 7:30 p.m. through April 8. There will be a 2 p.m. show on Sunday, April 9. Tickets are  $15 for the general public, $12 for UCM faculty, staff, and senior citizens, and $7 for students. Tickets are available online. According to The Daily Star-Journal, The Toxic Avenger is for mature audiences only, and children under 5 are not permitted.

The Toxic Avenger - Winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off Broadway Musical, The Toxic Avenger is a toxic love story with an environmental twist! This laugh out loud musical has it all–an unlikely hero, his beautiful girlfriend, a corrupt New Jersey mayor and two guys who play … well, everyone else in New Jersey."