Mothman: A Romance Musical review – Goofy, unpredictable surrealism
Baffling and bold, this pseudo-romcom is packed with absurd plot twists and punchy gags
When you fuse musical theatre with the DNA of 2010s Tumblr, you get Mothman: A Romance Musical. Years ago, deep in the woods of West Virginia, America sought to create a supersoldier that would be able to defeat the Nazis, but everything went wrong when a moth found its way into the machinery. Thus, Mothman was born. Now a group of three young people are on the hunt for this legendary creature.
Mothman: A Romance Musical has everything: sexyman cryptids, psychotic killer clowns, and (most terrifying of all) Armie Hammer. It packs an insane number of twists and turns into its runtime and is unmistakably rough around the edges, from costume hiccups to less than fantastic vocals. It is, however, absolutely hilarious in its absurdity. Raunchy gags and bizarre scenarios make for a side-splitting combo, and the show’s steady stream of jokes quickly drowns out its imperfections. The only area in which the show truly falters is the music. With the exception of the brilliant ‘Moth Meat’, its songs are forgettable and much sparser on the comedy, leaving the less polished elements at the forefront. Nevertheless, Mothman: A Romance Musical earned a standing ovation for a reason.
Underbelly Cowgate, until 30 August, 6.50pm.