Bedbugs!!!

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It seems campy horror musicals are developing somewhat of a cult following in the New York theater scene. On the heels of the recent Carrie revival and The Heathers stage adaptation comes Bedbugs!!! – the kitschy, unashamedly self-aware sci-fi thriller currently playing at the ArcLight Theatre. This new musical with music by Paul Leschen and book and lyrics by Fred Sauter is part pop/rock rollick, part anti-pollution public service announcement, and all camp.

Bedbugs!!! turns the tables and asks us mere mortals to consider the inferior vermin’s perspective. Steadfast in her quest to avenge her mother’s bedbug-related death, entomologist Carly defies EPA regulations and creates a toxic “kill-all” pesticide. While her solution seems successful initially, the potent cocktail quickly creates a genetically modified strain of mammoth bloodsuckers evil and intelligent enough to eradicate the human race. As the bugs seize control, the socially and romantically inept Carly begins to question her own connections to humanity; with the help of French-Canadian pop singer Dionne Salon (an obvious parody of Celine Dion), Carly’s brother Burt struggles to bring his sister back and defeat the diabolical, mutant insect species.

Thankfully, the production’s director and choreographer Robert Bartley is acutely aware of the show’s utter ridiculousness and capitalizes on its kitschy nature. His actors don distorted expressions and traipse about the refuse of designer Adam Demerath’s abstract, post-apocalyptic New York City set. With the help of whimsical costume designer Philip Heckman and expert music director Ming Aldrich-Gan, Bartley creates an absurd alternate reality where nearly anything goes. The cast and creative team’s artistic vision seems to suggest, “we don’t take ourselves too seriously and neither should you.”

While Sauter’s book draws smartly from its B-horror film genre, the production makes a couple of fatal mistakes. First and foremost, such movies are low on thematic content and cannot sustain themselves for a full two-act stage show. As the second half marches on, the players begin to overstay their welcome. Alternatively, the creators would have done better to cap their bawdy, bloody romp at 90 minutes. Likewise, Sauter is wise to rely on common horror film stereotypes – the sassy newscaster, the obligatory gay character, the nerdy virgin, et al. However, some of his caricatures border on tasteless and the uncomfortable “traumatic insemination” sex scene is ambiguously consensual at best.

Just as the book needs a healthy trimming, so too does Leschen and Sauter’s repetitive score. While Dionne Salon’s first ballad in the style of “My Heart Will Go On” is a riot, the following two are gratuitous. Additionally, the epic, bedbug infestation production numbers are too numerous to count. Despite these flaws, Leschen and Sauter succeed in producing a refreshingly hummable and sturdily crafted score – a rarity in the contemporary pop/rock canon.

Leading the charge against the vermin is Off-Broadway veteran Grace McLean, whose quirky charm and versatility are enough to dazzle any pest into submission. Evolving from an insecure, homely scientist into a confident, sultry queen, McLean takes us on a compelling journey of self-discovery that leaves us itching for more. Likewise, Brian Charles Rooney’s subtle drag parody of Celine Dion is by turns hysterical and heartfelt, but entirely in good fun. The supporting cast proves to be equally versatile, deftly portraying a swath of Manhattan’s creatures, from bloodthirsty insects to apathetic college students to Hasidic Jews.

As the human-bedbug war reaches its ridiculous conclusion, the show wins its audience’s attention back – not because its “love thy neighbor” thesis is revolutionary and certainly not because its inevitable happy ending is surprising. Rather, it returns to its campy, kitschy roots and reminds us to have some fun. Bedbugs!!! is a lot like your favorite B-horror film; it isn’t good per se, but it sure is a great time!

Bedbugs!!! (through November 2, 2014)

ArcLight Theatre, 152 West 71^st Street, Manhattan

For tickets, call 866- 811-4111 or visit http://www.bedbugsmusical.com

Running time: two hours and 30 minutes with one intermission