A scene from “Evil Dead,” a musical version of the cult-classic horror film of the same name, which will go on stage at Chungmu Art Hall in Seoul from March 18 to June 15. / Courtesy of Show Fac

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

Get ready to be doused with blood. Ticket buyers to the ``splatter zone,'' where they will get splashed with fake, washable blood, are advised to dress down to enjoy the musical, ``Evil Dead.''

While it may sound horrific, fans and critics call it an uproariously funny musical comedy.

Based on Sam Raimi's '80s cult-classic horror films of the same name, ``Evil Dead'' revolves around the story of five college students who travel to a cabin in the woods and accidentally unleash an evil force.

Now actor-turned-director Im Chul-hyung has revamped this Canadian musical for the Korean stage. It will go on stage at Chungmu Art Hall in Seoul from March 18 to June 15.

The show received rave reviews and standing ovations in New York, Montreal and Toronto. Korean fans can now get the taste of its bloody humor.

Award-winning actor Ryu Jung-han and rising star Cho Jung-seok will alternate the lead role with Ash. ``I like this musical because it gives me a chance to give a comedic and slapstick performance, which is totally different from the works I have done before,'' Ryu said in a press release.

The comic horror musical, reminiscent of the ``Rocky Horror Picture Show,'' will offer horror mixed with excitement at the spectacle, which sees the front-row of the crowd sprayed with an ample amount of red dye.

The ``splatter zone'' consists of the first three rows of the theater where the audience can count on a good blood-soaking. Chungmu Arts Hall has 30 built-in seats for the splatter zone.



The Show Fac, the local musical company, advises its fans to wear white t-shirts to take home later as ``bloody souvenirs.''

The show is a combination of stage art such as make-up effects, stage designs and hilarious musical scores. Top body painting artist Chae Song-hwa will take charge of the make-up effects and fake blood.

Before the opening performance, the musical company will hold a party March 8 to celebrate the Korean rendition of ``Evil Dead.''

The party will run at Club Circle in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, from 8 p.m. on March 8 to 4 a.m. on March 9. For more information about the party, call (02) 546-5933.

``Evil Dead'' was first made into the musical rendition in Toronto, Canada in 2003. The musical premiered at the New World Stage off-Broadway in New York in 2006. The show returned to Toronto between May to September last year. The show sold out the performances in 500-seat theaters for five months.

The musical will be held at Chungmu Arts Hall in Seoul from March 18 to June 15. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 50,000 won. Splatter zone seats cost 50,000 won. For more information on the musical, call (02) 2051-3307.

chungay@koreatimes.co.kr