Are you concerned about the end of the world? Do visions of the undead haunt your darkest dreams? Then fear not! Eldritch Theatre’s Zombocalypse! will walk you through the four steps to surviving a hostile zombie takeover….though survival is not guaranteed for all. Created by Eric Woolfe and directed by Rick Waugh, Zombocalypse! takes your favourite 80’s films, gives them a sprinkle of gore, and creates a necro-rom-com in a way that only Eldritch Theatre can.

A jock, a brain, a rebel, a preppie and a basket-case are the only students left alive at their high school in New Bosford. They don’t know how it started, or where, they only know that before the first bell rang on that fated day in 1985, most of their classmates had become “the infected”, and they were going to have to work together if they wanted to survive. As they make their way through the school, alliances are formed, secrets are revealed, and their ingenuity is put to the test. But can their sporks save them from “the shamblers”?

Zombocalypse! is Eldritch Theatre at its absolute best. This show has one of their largest casts to date, with five cast members and countless horrifying puppets bringing this show to life (or death, however you want to look at it). But what’s more, it was the perfect blend of magic and mayhem – it kept the traditional Eldritch feel while being an entity all on its own. The only thing missing is a reference to “The Dread Necronomicon of the Mad Arab Abdul Alhazred”, which readers will know is one of my favourite running Eldritch gags, and yet it sets Zombocalypse! apart as something totally unique. There’s a level of absurdity that these shows get taken to which make them undeniably hilarious; sporks barely do the job they’re supposed to do, and yet they’re the weapon of choice for these characters. You simply have to laugh at how blatantly ludicrous it is. I was also blown away by the magic which is included in Zombocalypse!, particularly the escape illlusion; my first thought was “wow! that’s new!” To me, the fact that the team at Eldritch, and in particular Eric Woolfe, are always expanding their repertoire to make each play a new and exciting experience is thrilling. You never know what you’re going to see when you walk through the doors of Red Sandcastle Theatre.

Zombocalypse! also features 80’s slang, and all of the stereotypes we’ve come to expect from classic 80’s films, all rolled into this story of zombies vs teens. Melanie McNeill’s designs for the show supported this perfectly with a neon colour scheme for the school itself and the most stock costumes for the stock characters which have been created for this show. I loved Woolfe’s ridiculous blonde wig and popped collar on his “Lacoste” shirt, and Jeanie Calleja’s striped rugby shirt (had to have been Old Navy, I had one just like it in high school). Everyone fit their archetypes perfectly, and the visual elements enhance that aesthetic. Aidan Ware’s lighting design is also instrumental in the storytelling of Zombocalypse! I particularly enjoyed the fireworks in one of the opening scenes.

The hilarious cast of Zombocalypse! is comprised of Craig Lauzon, Jeanie Calleja, Lisa Norton, Kimwun Perehinec, and Eric Woolfe. All of these performers played multiple roles, as well as being puppeteers and magicians – it’s truly a joy to witness such artistry within a production. I couldn’t help but relate to Lisa Norton’s character: my dad was on his high school Reach for the Top team, and he met my mom when they were both in band where she played the oboe. It was like my parents had morphed together into the ultimate nerd character and Norton was exceptional at embodying that nerd. Craig Lauzon played the hard-shelled but soft-centred “basket-case”, and he really leaned into the duality of this role. Calleja and Woolfe are a perfect duo, both as their jock teen characters and as the scientist and zombie. Kimwun Perehinec’s rebellious self-proclaimed “criminal” is the most logical character of the lot, despite being the stoner. Perehinec’s swagger and stage presence give her that in-charge, final girl vibe.

Zombocalypse! is easily in my top five favourite Eldritch Theatre shows to date. Told through a delightfully meta-theatrical lens and featuring more fake guts and red yarn than I’ve ever seen, this is a show you won’t want to miss.

Zombocalypse! runs at the Red Sandcastle Theatre until May 10. For more information and tickets, visit: https://eldritchtheatre.ca/zombocalypse/

---

Cover Photo: Lisa Norton, Jeanie Calleja, Craig Lauzon, Eric Woolfe, Kimwun Perehinec. Photo by Aiden Ware.

---

Thank you to my Patrons:
Natalia, Steve, Brendan, Deborah, and Phil

And to my supporters who’ve bought me a coffee:
Angelica and Paul, Anonymous, Adrianna, Caitlin, Jonathan, Jada, and Courtney

Would you like to become a Patron? Check out my Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/AViewfromtheBox

Or, you can buy me a coffee at: buymeacoffee.com/aviewfromthebox