[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Blood Supply, A Zombie Apocalypse Love Story, written by Holly Anne Mitchell and directed by David Dickens, and running through February 11 at Theatre 68 Arts Complex.
One of the weirder things to have come out of the pandemic is that it seems to have had no impact whatsoever on our fascination with the undead. I know the first film I watched when we shut down was World War Z, and then the hunt was on for all things catastrophic on Netflix and the like, even as the world around us fell apart. I’m not sure what that means, perhaps it was the most immersive of times or perhaps I was in complete denial. Either way, it was with the greatest of anticipation that I waited for this fabulous zombie offering, Blood Supply, A Zombie Apocalypse Love Story, to open.
I was lucky enough to see Holly Anne Mitchell in The Rage Fairy last year…a brilliant performance in a very clever funny show. But this is her own work. Written by and for herself, music and all, and directed by her friend David Dickens. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, after a zombie sickness has swept away billions, leaving behind untouched stragglers to eke out a life, avoid the blood-lusting zombies and the depraved depths to which most humans have fallen, trying to stay alive.
Blood Supply, A Zombie Apocalypse Love Story is very definitely a musical first and foremost. The many rock-inspired songs are well crafted, with brilliant and purposeful choreography and a truly gifted cast with voices to match. Holly plays a blind woman who is separated from her family when her father is bitten by a zombie and she has to shoot him. This pivotal and heartbreaking moment really sets the tone for the play. At its center is love and loss and believing in something bigger than ourselves. But it’s not gooey at all. Just a rather wonderful story of redemption populated by brilliant and hilarious characters with some very surprising twists and turns and a plot Coppola would envy.
Can we watch worldwide pandemic stories yet? I think so.
Blood Supply, A Zombie Apocalypse Love Story is extremely worth your time. After all, it’s not often that you are able to witness the birth of something new, something special. And this brand new, beautifully crafted, and utterly haunting musical is very, very special.
Full of wonderful songs, with richly drawn people in impossible situations able to work together to rise above their doom and create a new destiny. It’s hopeful and profound, stylistic and filled with inventive and hilarious characters that I guarantee you have never seen before. I absolutely loved it! And the audience around me totally agreed. Standing ovations, and very well deserved.
How lucky are we to live in NoHo and to have access to new shows and developing, world-class talent like Holly Anne Mitchell and her splendid cast and crew? NoHo Arts District has had its very own set of apocalyptic struggles these past few years, Theatre 68 itself nearly fell to the wayside and yet here it is, reborn anew and able to present shows as ridiculously good as this one! Bravo to all!!
There’s only a couple more weeks of the fabulous Blood Supply, A Zombie Apocalypse Love Story. So don’t dawdle, support our theatres and LA rock musicals. Get your tickets now!!!
The Cast
Holly Anne Mitchell (Sadie/Playwright/Composer/Producer)
Isaac Tipton Snyder (Harold)
Tyler Shilstone (Dad)
Denis S. Yudin (Dirk)
Ian Reier Michaels (General Baldwin)
Elise Walters (Crystal)
Zeke Jones (Jeff)
Gina Rizzo Bishop (Vargas/Choreographer)
Marianne Rotyliano (Mary)
Samuel Baron (William)
Alariza Nevarez (Reverend Baker/Zomsemble)
Jacob Rumer (Zomsemble)
Elizabeth Bennett (Zombie Maestro/Zomsemble)
Darian Stranix (Zomsemble)
The Team
Book and Lyrics by Holly Anne Mitchell
Music by Holly Anne Mitchell and Grady Land
With special contributions from Ian Michaels and Mike Fowler
Directed by David Dickens
Choreography by Gina Rizzo Bishop
Produced by Famsara Productions
Tickets:
https://www.onstage411.com/newsite/show/play_info.asp?show_id=6284
When:
Running through February 11
Friday and Saturday 8pm and Sunday 7pm
Where:
Theatre 68 Arts Complex
5112 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601