Black Friday

Play (Musical), 2020

Premise - Black Friday is upon us, and hundreds of Hatchetfield's residents are in line for a new Wiggly doll. A monstrous, cute little thing that wants its belly rubbed, people will do whatever it takes to get their hands on one - cut in line, bribe... murder. The thing is, does a single kid even want the Wiggly doll? Or are they all crazed adults with a misconception of what will make their children happy?

Review - This oddly takes place in the same universe as The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals - and yet, an alternate universe. Forget the events of The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals, as they did not occur in this universe. This is not a sequel. Some of the same characters return, yes, but mostly it is similar in spirit - a horror comedy that takes place in an eerily ordinary town. The same I'm sure will be true of the third installment in this Hatchetfield series which will be out next.

I didn't find this musical as strongly written as its predecessor. There are a myriad of reasons for this - but primarily it's the fact that there isn't as strong as a central narrative with clear main characters. Who are the main characters? Tom and Becky? Lex and Hannah? The president of the United States?? The same actors kept coming up to play different characters again and again, and I was lost in who I was supposed to be centrally following. The opening to the second act was extra jarring because for a few minutes there I thought we were being introduced to a whole new set of characters again, until the reveal happens that we are watching a fake film. Santa Clause Goes to High School!! Starkid, please turn this into a real 2-hour show. And keep Robert Manion as Santa.

This musical was also far sadder and hard-hitting than past Starkid shows. Starkid always goes deep, but typically in a sappy, sentimental "making fun of the saccharine nature of musicals" way. The really deep cut topics are usually done through satire and humor. This play, however, had dark moments that remained dark and didn't use humor to cope through it. Becky and her abusive husband, who she murdered. Tom and his wife dying in the car crash, when he was driving. Not to mention the villain of this story cuts real deep - it is essentially a musical about the poison that is capitalism. I didn't find it as funny as past shows and more horrific.

We use products to fill the emptiness. I do it, too. I love shopping when I'm sad. And when your whole life is sad, when you're filled with existential despair - we fill our life with commercial products. It's like Fight Club. We also use products to fill the emptiness we think others have. Think about gift-giving. What would matter most to our children is the gift of quality time and affection. But instead we gift them with products. We condition them into thinking products are love. This is not a musical to take lightly. It's got some pretty stupid jokes though - it's Starkid. (86/100)

Quote - **the entire monologue between Becky and Tom** "You say you killed your family. I hope I killed mine."

What to watch for - Anything sung by Dylan Saunders always continues to impress

If you liked this musical, you'd have to watch the one in the same universe, The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals!

Written by Nick and Matt Lang

A Starkid Production