REVIEW: Night of the Living Dead - Ghostlight Theatre

Presented by Ghostlight Theatre at Evilcorp Horror Maze and Bar, Fortitude Valley

Directed by Yasmin Elahi

Music Direction and Sound Design by William Pipe

Photography by Alan Burchill

Evilcorp Horror Maze and Bar has transformed into a hilariously horrifying playground for Night of the Living Dead! The Musical! Picture this: you're surrounded by spooky lighting, thick haze, and faint groans from zombies wandering the aisles. The space is like stepping into a '60s horror flick, complete with a fireplace that's puffing smoke, a cobwebbed chandelier overhead, and a short catwalk that gives the audience a close-up view of all the undead mayhem.

Night of the Living Dead! The Musical! follows a mismatched group of characters who take refuge in a remote cabin after zombies begin rising from the grave. What could possibly go wrong? As tensions rise and monsters close in, the group must navigate increasingly ridiculous disasters. With each character more clueless than the last, their struggle to survive turns into a wild mix of horror, parody, and musical absurdity. Whether they make it through the night is anyone’s guess, but they will absolutely sing about it along the way!

Director Yasmin Elahi clearly knows how to use the venue’s quirks to her advantage, making full use of every corner, level, and unsuspecting audience member’s personal space. Yasmin also juggles choreography, lighting, costumes, and set design, somehow making this horror maze in Fortitude Valley into a stage. She ensures that the dialogue crackles with deadpan wit, and that every actor nails the timing, even when sprinting off for lightning-fast costume swaps. And keep your ears peeled for cheeky musical theatre Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the the script!

Every performer plays multiple roles and the ensemble chemistry makes it all sing... literally. From Aimee Segal’s scream-queen moment in “Coming to Get You Barbara”, Aimee showcases her stamina, belting and comedy, making her the ultimate horror heroine. Alex Graves’ (perfect surname) portrayal of Ben oozes charisma and ego in his soulful, smooth solo “Under Control,” featuring moonwalks and breakdancing that leave Babs speechless.

Meanwhile, Erin Lowry steals every scene in her various roles, starting as the free-spirited Judy, then the adorably unsettling child Betty-Lou, and even a chaotic TV reporter declaring “You’re F***ed!” (which, frankly, might be my new life motto). She also handles those impossible costume changes that defy all backstage physics.

Molly Parker’s “The Juice” is a show-stopping solo, a salsa-inspired anthem to liquor that leaves the audience delighted. Her character Helen is brash, hilarious, and the life of the party (Seriously, is there a real drink in that flask?). Patrick 'Az' James has seriously time-traveled from the '60s with that accent, while their slapstick expressions seal the comedy. We also see Az as “Dan the Science Man,” spitting out tongue-twisting lyrics under laser beams. The delightfully disturbing duet “Doctor’s Orders” follows, with Erin and Aimee as German doctors dissecting Alex’s corpse.

Aden Lowry’s country number “Ain’t My First Rodeo” as a sleazy sheriff, with backup dancers Aimee and Erin, was definitely my favourite song. His southern accent is perfection to deliver lines like “I love the smell of chicken and bigotry!” Then there is the utterly bonkers orgy scene, complete with strobe lights, gyrating chaos, and the cast somehow keeping straight faces through it all, even though I was in tears from laughter!

The choreography throughout is playful, especially in the duet “Don’t Go in the Basement,” where Alex and Aden nail the dance-off. In my opinion, the best zombies, Az and Aden, look as if they've just walked out of the 'Thriller' music video. The title number, “Night of the Living Dead,” is the shining moment of the show, performed entirely in the dark with torches illuminating faces and harmonies polished to perfection.

The live band deserves endless applause. Adam Haks and Jasmine Buckley on keys, Nathan Cho on guitar, Corey Truss and Ben Marshall alternating on bass, and Zi Hui Chen on drums keep the energy driving all night. The sound mix is impressively clean for such a small, unconventional space. We even demanded an encore, and bless them, they delivered!

For a 90-minute fright fest that is equal parts satire, musical theatre tribute, and pure spooky fun, Night of the Living Dead! The Musical! is the perfect choice. This tiny theatre delivers a monstrously good time. There is something delightfully surreal about sipping a cocktail while zombies stumble past your knees. Shows like this are what make Brisbane’s fringe theatre scene so exciting. It is proof that you do not need a massive stage to make a big impact, just guts, wit, and a few fake body parts.

Tickets are limited, so grab them fast. This is one graveyard party you do not want to miss!