SUSAN LINDT
Record Express Correspondent
If another Halloween spent doing the same old Time Warp, haunted woods and corn mazes leaves you screaming in horror, there is a cure and that cure is “Evil Dead: The Musical,” terrifyingly billed as “the only musical with a splatter zone!!!”
This year’s freshest holiday offering is clearly a campy musical incantation of a 30-year-old, B (at best) horror film, “The Evil Dead.” And it will leave you screaming in delight.
Ephrata Performing Arts Center comes alive with death, and spills more than a little blood with this spirited spoof of horror flicks that does for dancing demons what “Pretty Woman” did for hookers.
The story follows Sam Raimi’s original 1981 film plotline, but even if you haven’t seen it, this musical version will sing to you.
“When I heard there was a musical version of ‘The Evil Dead,’ I said, ‘That’s right up my line,’” said Ed Fernandez, EPAC artistic director and director of this production. “Then I saw a DVD version of it when it was in an early workshop and I thought the music was cute and it was fun, but it wasn’t that funny. I loved the idea of doing the show, but it’s very expensive to mount and it’s a technical nightmare.”
A recent production in Reading, though, made Fernandez reconsider taking the challenge. So for the past year, “Evil Dead: The Musical” has quietly been in the works at Sharadin Bigler Theatre.
Although this show is all laughs, it took considerable technical manhandling to make it happen. Fernandez said EPAC has been experimenting for months to concoct a recipe for blood that would stick to actors’ costumes as the body count rises on stage.
A high stage was built to house a pumping system that squirts blood from under the stage onto the stage and into the infamous “Splatter Zone,” the first two rows of theater seats. A second, thinner blood recipe was concocted to pipe through the tubes.
Then there was the task of creating a moving, talking set that comes alive when possessed by those pesky demons. Fernandez said they used puppets, and actors honed their skills as puppeteers to successfully create the effect.
Even costuming was a challenge, requiring multiple versions as characters wage war against the demons and become tattered and blood spattered.
In spite of all that, “Evil Dead: The Musical” appears deceivingly simple to the eye as it comes off without a hitch at Sharadin Bigler. And this cast has so much fun, you wish you were in that haunted cabin in the woods with them.
“There are people who can do it and get it, but if they don’t, it can come off like a bad high school skit,” Fernandez said. “And you have to know the material you’re spoofing. You have to love the genre and understand it. You can have all the effects, but if the actors don’t understand how to make this world real, it just becomes silly and tiresome.”
Well, “Evil Dead: The Musical” is absolutely silly, but EPAC’s demons never become tiresome. With a snappy score nicely executed by conductor Cheryl Markle’s five-piece band and a cast suitably stupid enough to go to an abandoned cabin in the woods for a spring break of sex and booze, this is a raucous romp in the spirit of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” but so much fresher.
Fernandez’s cast popped right off a B-horror movie poster with bulging bras and muscles, and chainsaws in hand.
Square-jawed Brian Viera leads as Ash, the humble housewares stock boy turned unwitting hero/egomaniac. He swings a chainsaw with verve and becomes a little sweatier and sexier every time he loses a limb.
“At the beginning, you think anyone can do that role, but as the show goes on, (Viera) really wins the audience over,” Fernandez said. “His physical comedy is brilliant and he actually looks like Bruce Campbell, who played Ash in the movie.”
Rounding out the cast of stupid, sex-crazed teens are: Katelyn Ann Mullen wielding her powerful singing voice as Cheryl; Meg Schabdach as Shelly; Corey Buller as Scott; and Alyssa Miller as Linda. Also look for Marisa Hoover as annoying Annie; Sean Deffley as Ed; Derek Martin as the moose; and Mike Gephart as Jake.
“Evil Dead’s” funny book and lyrics came from George Reinblatt; and the catchy music was written by Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond, Melissa Morris and Reinblatt. These are not kid-friendly lyrics, but they are precious, particularly the tunes, “What the !@&#$% Was That?,” the sugary “Housewares Employee” and one I could really relate to: “All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed By Candarian Demons.”
But in this production, even better than the music is choreographer Irving Gonzalez’s snappy moves, which are a lot better than they need to be for this level of camp. It can’t be easy to herd a group of demons into step, but Gonzalez always manages to make his steps tell the story. Replacing “Rocky Horror’s” Time Warp is this show’s “Do the Necronomicon” and it’s a hoot worth seeing.
Set designer Mike Rhoads also outdid himself with a complex set featuring all kinds of bells and whistles that will surprise. Lighting designer Jeff Cusaon perfectly nailed the B-horror movie poster look, especially when the cast vogues in form with their weapons in Act Two.
“Evil Dead: The Musical” is only occasionally produced, most likely because of all the technical headaches, not to mention the mess. Fernandez has the cleanup crew mopping the floors of spilled blood and entrails before the audience has even filed out of the theater. This is a chance to see it and almost live it (splatter rain gear is included with your ticket price!) and it’s worth every drop of blood EPAC spilled to produce it. For added horror, take in the Oct. 29 midnight showing!

Todd Ruth

Ephrata Review

Sports Editor Certainly with some teams you sort of expect things to happen. Take the Phillies, for instance.

And when things don’t go as planned, it’s like, "Boy, I didn’t see that one coming."

That’s the feeling I got last night at Exeter watching the Cocalico girls field hockey team in their unexpected battle with Wilson.

After watching the Lady Eagles on their march to the State finals a year ago, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion in my eyes that Cocalico was going to enjoy some of the same successes once Districts began.

Sure, the Lady Eagles would miss several of the seniors who led them a year ago, but new ones have emerged to pick up the slack. How good is senior defender Taylor Kidwell, by the way?

Anyway, someone forgot to tell the Wilson girls, who narrowly missed putting an end to the party before it began. Wilson was very good Tuesday and at many times the better team. The only thing the Bulldogs couldn’t do is finish, which is one big reason why the Lady Eagles live to fight another day.

By: TODD RUTH Review Sports Editor truth.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

In a season of frustrating moments, Friday’s 35-21 Homecoming loss to Hempfield ranked right up there for Ephrata.

The Mounts, looking for their first win of the year, had a legitimate chance to do so after quarterback Jeremy Franck connected with tight end Kevin Sollenberger on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 7:33 to go to draw them to within seven.

All the Mounts needed was a defensive stop, and that elusive first win would have been in reach. Unfortunately, they simply didn’t get it done.

Hempfield embarked on a seven-play (all run) drive that ended with a 22-yard TD run by running back Joe Gamble with 3:40 to play to clinch the Black Knight victory. That drive summed up a frustrating night for the Mounts, who allowed 356 yards on the ground which led to their eighth-straight loss of the season.

"We needed to stop them on defense," Ephrata Coach Jim Vieland said. "That’s something we haven’t been able to do all year, really. We haven’t stopped the running game."

By: TODD RUTH Review Sports Editor truth.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Sometimes it’s all about survival.

And that’s exactly the mode Cocalico was in Tuesday night vs. Wilson in the first round of the District Three AAA Tournament held at Exeter.

From the opening whistle, Wilson had its legs and the majority of scoring chances, dominating play for most of the 60 minutes of action. Fortunately for the Lady Eagles, Cocalico made the most of its few offensive chances. And in the end, that was the determining factor.

Hanging on for dear life, Cocalico got the only goal it would need late in the first half as Amber Pinkerton tipped in a shot off one of the Lady Eagles’ two corners in the half. Carissa Witmer later added an insurance tally in the second half and Cocalico did indeed survive with a 2-0 victory over the Bulldogs.

"I think we expired one of our nine lives tonight," Cocalico Coach Krista Page said after her team’s great escape.

With the victory, the Lady Eagles (16-5) advance to face top-seeded Lower Dauphin Saturday (11 a.m.) at Penn Manor. The Falcons (20-1) cruised Tuesday in an opening round 4-0 shutout win over 16th seed Red Land.

By: Staff Report, Staff Writer

Ephrata’s first trip to Districts since 2007 proved to be a short, yet controversial one as the Lady Mounts field hockey team was ousted by Cedar Cliff, 3-2 in a preliminary game held Saturday at Lower Dauphin High School.

Despite Ephrata holding a 12-4 advantage in corners and a 9-6 edge in shots, the Colts prevailed in a physically-played game that had CC whistled for one green card, two yellow and a red.

With the game tied 2-2 and Cedar Cliff down three players (11-on-8) due to the two yellows and one red card which occurred during a three-minute span of the second half, the Colts’ Pam Brinley rushed down the right sideline before sending it into the circle. Nicole Rupnik secured it and shot. Ephrata keeper Katie Hammaker made the initial save, but Rupnik gathered her rebound and sent it into the left corner of the cage for what turned out to be the gamewinner with 11:04 to go.

Ephrata did threaten to tie the game, forcing six corners over the last five minutes of the contest. Unfortunately for the Lady Mounts, they couldn’t get the equalizer past Cedar Cliff keeper Maura Jacobs.

By: TODD RUTH Review Sports Editor truth.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Central York had several golden opportunities to score Monday night in the preliminary round of the District Three Tournament vs. Ephrata.

But it was the one that did find the net that took everyone by surprise.

Perched 35 yards out on the left side of the field, Panther sophomore Erik Rishel sent a perfectly-placed, high-bending shot to the right post. The ball came down just under the crossbar and inside the post, over the out-stretched arms of Ephrata keeper Kole DeHaven.

The goal in the game’s 25th minute turned out to be the only goal the host Panthers would need as they advanced to Thursday’s first round opposite Hempfield with the 1-0 victory over the Mounts.

"The first 15 or 20 minutes they were a little more skilled, a little more technical than we were," Ephrata Coach Rob Deininger said. "We hadn’t played on grass in a while and maybe that led to our slow start. I don’t know. They had a couple opportunities that didn’t go in so we thought we weathered a storm and we’d be OK. And then all of a sudden their guy takes a 35-yard shot and puts it right in the corner. It was a great shot, not much you could do about it, and that ended up being the game."

By: MICHELLE REIFF Review Staff mreiff.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Andrew, Sebastian and Angela Talalt stand with Rod Recay (left to right) after moving from their flood-damaged trailer to their new apartment in Denver.Andrew, Sebastian and Angela Talalt stand with Rod Recay (left to right) after moving from their flood-damaged trailer to their new apartment in Denver.

Only weeks after he decided to leave his successful sales profession to embark on a new full-time career ministering to troubled youth, Rod Redcay of Denver was called upon to lend a hand in a matter of a slightly different nature.

It was brought to the attention of Denver Borough Manager Mike Hession that a family of three was living in a water-soaked trailer in the middle of Denver during the weeks that have passed since Tropical Storm Lee ravaged the area. A visit by the code officer to the property shortly thereafter determined that because of the damage and growing of mold, the structure was unfit to live in and needed to be condemned.

An Ephrata man is facing a possible prison sentence for what he thought was a good deed.

John Hall, of Ephrata, "helped" with the arrest of Zane Robinson, a 20-year-old Denver man accused of sexually assaulting a number of boys.

However, the East Cocalico Township Police Department says Hall went too far.

The Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era stated that Hall had invited Robinson over to his home in September, questioning him about allegations a 13-year-old neighbor made about inappropriate contact involving Robinson over the summer. After he heard Robinson allegedly confess to the assaults, Hall handcuffed him and called the police.

When East Cocalico Township police officers arrived, Hall said that he was performing a citizen’s arrest.

According to a spokesman from East Cocalico Township police, an investigation began and Hall was later charged in a citation by mail with false imprisonment. The second-degree misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

Police maintain that Hall was charged because he crossed a line on multiple fronts.

Police allege that inviting Robinson to his home was a breach of the law. Another breach, according to an affidavit, was his use of handcuffs, which is classified as unlawful restraint.

By: ALICE HUMMER Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

Horses did not score the positive win associated with a racing trifecta at the Oct. 19 East Cocalico Township supervisors meeting.

Supervisors reminded people that Reamstown Park does not permit horses on the property. Several citizens reported seeing horses walking through the park.

Citizens also reported seeing young people lead horses down sidewalks in Reamstown. This is not permitted. Anyone who sees either of these activities in progress should notify the police.

Horses came up in a different matter when Zoning Officer Tony Luongo gave his report. A citizen, after cleaning up after his dog in his yard, proceeded to dump the waste down a nearby storm water grate. This is a contaminant and not permitted.

When questioned, the resident said that horse waste is deposited on the roads and ultimately washes down the storm grates. After the resident’s location was cited as an area where very few horses travel, and the odds of any horse regularly depositing waste in the same location on that street were deemed unlikely, the resident complied with proper disposition of his dog waste.

M. Charlene Musser, 80, of Seminole, Fla., formerly of Ephrata, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011 at Barrington Terrace of Largo, Fla.

She was born in New Holland to the late Charles C. and Elizabeth (Williams) Kochel and was the wife of Robert E. Musser for 58 years.

Charlene graduated from Ephrata High School in 1949. Over the years she worked for the Borough of Ephrata, Fleet-Air Shoes and Fasnacht Brokers. She was also broker-owner of Century 21 Musser-Ochs Realtor. She campaigned for Harry Gring and Noah Wenger in their re-election bids and was involved with the Women’s Republican Summer Party of Lancaster County as co-chairman and chairman. She was Lancaster County jury commissioner from 1978 to 1982. In April of 1996 Charlene, in conjunction with Soroptimist International of St. Petersburg, Fla., was instrumental in establishing a Personal Hygiene Pantry for women infected with HIV/AIDS.

In addition to her husband, Charlene is survived by a son: Robert Jr., husband of Lori, and grand-daughter: Maia, all of Davie, Fla.; sisters: Betty, wife of Claude Sweigart, of Lititz; Carolyn, wife of John Gerhart, of Yuma, Ariz.; and Beverly, wife of Lester Marsh, of Sciota; and a brother: Glenn, husband of Barbara Kochel, of Tucson, Ariz.