Terry Morgan
Bat Boy: The Musical premiered in 1997 here in Los Angeles at the Actors’ Gang Theatre, then went on to the West End and Off-Broadway, garnering awards and making the world somewhat safer for the unholy union of Chiroptera and Primates – specifically, humanity. Twenty-eight years later it seems that his tale must be told again, as our country swiftly becomes less tolerant, and empathy is in short supply. The very welcome revival by Open Fist Theatre Company is supremely entertaining, hilarious and tuneful, with an excellent lead performance by Ben Raanan.
One day in the appropriately named Hope Falls, West Virginia, some local teens discover something unexpected in a cavern they’re exploring – a feral hybrid bat-human. They bring the creature to veterinarian Dr. Parker (Scott Mosenson) to be put down, but instead the doctor’s wife, Meredith (Robyn Roth), takes pity on the bat boy, deciding to take care of him, and calling him Edgar (Raanan). Meredith’s teen daughter Shelley (Bethany Koulias) initially is disdainful of her family’s new visitor, but as Edgar quickly learns to speak English and is revealed to be handsome, she finds herself falling for him. This can’t be said for the rest of Hope Falls, which blames all the ills of the town on Edgar and wants him dead.
Raanan is superb as Bat Boy/Edgar in a portrayal that combines expert comedic skill, moving dramatic work and a strong singing voice. His vocals in the charmingly silly duet, “A Home for You,” (in which he happily croons nonsense alongside Meredith’s singing) and his energetic rendition of “Let Me Walk Among You” (in which he tries to convince the townspeople to treat him as a person) demonstrate his impressive range. And also he sings one song while hanging upside-down from the set like a bat!
Mosenson does strong work as the troubled vet, especially in “Dance with Me, Darling,” in which his happy vocal and dance is belied by the presence of a large injection needle in his hand. Roth is very good as the sympathetic Meredith, particularly in her duet with Shelley, “Three Bedroom House,” in which she looks forward to her dream situation only to see it slipping away immediately. Koulias is charming and funny as the initially bratty, then flirty and ultimately besotted Shelley, and displays a lovely voice in the romantic duet, “Inside Your Heart.” Rebecca Larsen stands out amidst a talented cast with her bravura comedic performance as the vengeance-crazed Mrs. Taylor.
Director Pat Towne gets great work from his large ensemble, with laughs throughout, and he stages the show with playful creativity, as in a crucial flashback scene in which shadow puppets are used to amusing effect. Brad Bentz’s scenic design, a two-story wooden set, works effectively to represent multiple locations. Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming’s book is witty and smart, matched in quality by Laurence O’Keefe’s music and lyrics. Sean Paxton’s expert music direction helps bring the play to vivid life. Oh, and did I mention that there’s a woodland animal orgy in the show? There is.
Bat Boy: The Musical is a top-notch revival of a fantastic play, and yet another reminder that often the best shows in Los Angeles are produced in smaller theaters.
Bat Boy: The Musical is presented by Open Fist Theatre Company at the Atwater Village Theatre and plays through Sunday April 6, 2025. Tickets are available at www.openfist.org
Pauline Adamek
