Forget reality TV – these days, notoriety seems like the only currency you need for fame. But a pulse? Apparently optional. Enter "Dead Outlaw," the off-Broadway musical that defies expectations by making its leading man a deceased one – literally.
This brainchild of the Tony Award-winning team behind "The Band's Visit" resurrects (pun intended) the bizarre yet true story of Elmer McCurdy (Andrew Durand). Elmer, a feckless outlaw who shuffled off his mortal coil in 1911, achieved far greater fame after death – as a sideshow attraction.
The musical dissects Elmer's life in two acts. The first follows his tragic trajectory – a neglected son, a bitter drunk, and a laughably unsuccessful criminal. Durand embodies this descent from youthful disillusionment to violent alcoholism with raw conviction. Elmer's attempts at crime are hilariously inept, with his supposed expertise in explosives proving about as useful as a firecracker in a swimming pool.
Death, however, proves to be Elmer's most lucrative career move. The second act delves into the bizarre odyssey of his corpse. Unclaimed by anyone, he ends up in a mortician's care, eventually morphing into a carnival sideshow attraction, passed between hucksters for decades. In a delightful twist, Elmer is rediscovered in the 1970s by a film crew shooting "The Six Million Dollar Man" – a testament to the enduring power of the macabre.
David Yazbek, the musical chameleon behind "Tootsie" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," leads the musical charge. His eclectic score seamlessly blends rockabilly with blues and even traditional Broadway balladry. Erik Della Penna, with his background in rock and pop music, adds further authenticity with his country-rock compositions.
Director David Cromer masterfully maneuvers the production within the confines of the Minetta Lane stage. The set itself is essentially a barn-turned-honky-tonk bandstand, with scenes unfolding around and even atop it.
Durand is equally impressive as both the living and deceased Elmer. Propped in a wooden coffin, his glassy-eyed stare is both unsettling and strangely compelling as he's wheeled across the stage. (Yes, you'll probably spend a good chunk of the show trying to decide if he ever blinks.)
Jeb Brown provides laid-back, deadpan humor as the bandleader and narrator. The talented ensemble juggles a variety of roles, with Julia Knitel particularly shining as the lovestruck daughter of a sleazy moviemaker who opens her heart (and coffin lid) to the deceased outlaw.
While the core story is undeniably captivating, the postmortem portion occasionally wanders into digressions, some more entertaining than others. One particularly extraneous detour involves a song about a foot race to promote Route 66 – with Elmer as the (unwilling) mascot.
"Dead Outlaw" ultimately celebrates the universality of mortality. A standout song, bluntly titled "Dead," boasts a quirky roll call of the deceased, from Balzac and Tupac to the somewhat surprising inclusion of game show host Bert Convy. The sheer absurdity of this list underscores the show's core message: everyone, from the brilliant to the notorious, ultimately meets the same fate.
"Dead Outlaw" may not be a contender for Best Musical, but it's a wildly entertaining ride through the bizarre and surprisingly poignant afterlife of a man who finally found fame – six feet under.
