Batboy The Musical: A Humanization of the Misunderstood

Wright’s fall musical “Bat Boy the Musical,” after opening on Nov. 6 and running six shows, closed for the final performance this past Saturday.

Batboy was a hilarious critique of society’s fear of the unknown and misunderstood, culminating in a jaw-dropping finale. In the beginning of the first act, Bat Boy (Daniel Blair) is discovered and taken in. Despite being unable to talk at first, Blair’s expressive acting effectively conveyed Bat Boy’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

The show changed so quickly, being calm and slow, then suddenly intense. If the audience was on the edge of their seat throughout, they were on the floor by the end.

Batboy was done well with the set and lighting design, but also with the music. Meredith Parker (Carson Starcevic) sings in the duet “A Home for You” with Bat Boy (Daniel Blair) and Starcevic’s voice has such great clarity throughout the song. The two use dissonance beautifully to create a foreboding sense of unease.

Mrs. Taylor (Norman Moore) sings “Mrs. Taylor’s Lullaby” so comedically, singing softly to her daughter while harshly insulting and threatening the calm Sheriff (Joel Sherwood) so seamlessly.

The talented cast truly made this performance all that it was, from the accents of Mrs. Taylor and Reverend Billy Hightower (Norman Moore) to the erratic mannerisms of Bat Boy (Daniel Blair) and down to the calm peacekeeping demeanor of the Sheriff (Joel Sherwood). The play seemed to calm as it reached its resolution, then as if someone poured gasoline onto grenades the ending escalated into something no one could have possibly seen coming, like getting hit by a bus on a calm country road.

Auditions for Wright’s next theater production will be held on Jan. 13 and 14. What show Stage Wright Productions will choose for its spring play has yet to be announced.

Meredith Parker Teaches Batboy. Photo Credit: Patrick Ham.