Comedian Eddie Izzard Performs at Byham; PMT Opens ‘Evil Dead The Musical’ (Thurs., 9/28/23)

1) English comedian Eddie Izzard visits the Byham Theater on her Remix tour. Offbeat and flamboyant, Izzard feverishly muses over questions we didn’t realize we had—and comes to conclusions we didn’t realize we needed—on a slew of subjects, ranging from history to religion to popular culture. Sometimes intellectual, sometimes merely silly, Izzard is a raconteur in the truest sense of the word. Her imagination is incredibly active, brimming with absurdity, and she’s been bringing it to life before audiences (often improvised) for 35 years now. Her career is nearly as chaotic as her stand-up routine. Izzard didn’t begin appearing on this side of the Atlantic until the late ’90s, at which point she was quickly embraced by American audiences. Since then, Izzard has appeared publicly in an impressive range of capacities—stand-up comedy, theater, television, film, commercials, even political activities. Izzard is also a successful author having penned, Believe Me: a memoir of love, death and jazz chickens. 8 p.m. 101 6^th St., Cultural District. (E.C., R.H.)

EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL Book and lyrics by George Reinblatt. Music by Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond, Melissa Morris and George Reinblatt. Additional lyrics by Christopher Bond. Additional music by Rob Daleman. Pittsburgh Musical Theatre. Through October 22.

Callee Miles (Annie) and Brett Goodnack (Ash) are ready for action in PMT’s ‘Evil Dead The Musical.’ (Photo: Matt Polk)

2) So far, over 500 productions of Evil Dead: The Musical have been staged worldwide. Think of what this has required in human terms. Hundreds of talented actors, fluent at using their hands gracefully on stage, had to learn how to play a character whose right hand is replaced by a chainsaw. Yet the role is a coveted one, for Ashley “Ash” Williams is not your average bionic hero. In the Evil Dead films on which the musical is based, he duels with deadites in settings from the present-day U.S. to medieval Europe. Ash is a complexly flawed hero who bumbles through everyday life, but excels in matters such as fighting the Kandarian Demon. The British cinema magazine Empire ranked him the greatest horror movie character of all time. Pittsburgh Musical Theater—which has staged Evil Dead several times before—resurrects Evil Dead: The Musical by popular demand. Exuberant audience response is welcome but leave your chainsaws, and children, at home. Preferably not in the same room. 8:30 p.m. West End Canopy at Gargaro Theater, 327 S. Main St., West End. (M.V., R.H.)

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