Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator: The Musical returned to the stage this year after a much too long three year hiatus. Featuring new songs and arrangements, a couple of fresh faces, and everything that made it so special and fun its first time out, the show was brought back this year for a limited Halloween engagement, but is now playing through Nov. 23 at The Steve Allen Theater in Los Angeles, CA.

Adapted from Gordon’s classic 1985 film, Re-Animator: The Musical follows med school students Herbert West and Dan Cain as they set out to test West’s reanimating serum on human corpses, triggering a chain of tragic and horrific events. Graham Skipper reprises the role of West and Darren Ritchie makes his debut as Cain.

Skipper as West is fantastic, mixing the maniacal intensity of the maddest of scientists with the bratty menace of a spoiled child. It’s impossible to take one’s eyes off him, especially during hilariously gut-busting numbers like “I Give Life,” an ode to West’s God complex, “Plagiat,” West’s attack on adversary and plagiarist Dr. Hill, and “Hooray,” a new opening song celebrating the end of death.

Ritchie’s performance is solid and brings to life Cain’s enthusiasm for West’s work and his strained relationship with fiancée Megan Halsey, played by stunner Jessica Howell. The duo shine together when arguing over wedding plans in a duet so funny and cute it could have been part of a Gene Kelly musical.

International opera singer Jesse Merlin is back as West’s nemesis Dr. Hill. Merlin’s voice is what all of us would love to hear when we sing in the shower and our automobiles. Paired with Mark Nutter’s whimsical score and twisted lyrics, it makes for some of the musical’s most memorable numbers, including the plagiarist anthem “I Will Be Famous” and Hill’s pervy, lovesick serenade for Megan.

Going into Re-Animator: The Musical one expects camp and laughs, but what one doesn’t see coming is the immensely talented group of people behind the show. Clatto can only imagine how awesome it would be to see the show adapted as a movie musical like Rocky Horror Picture Show, with Nutter’s compositions, Gordon’s direction and Skipper and Merlin in their respective roles.

Re-Animator: The Musical ends its Los Angeles run at the Steve Allen Theater on Nov. 23. It heads to Las Vegas for its Jan. 6 – Jan. 18 run at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts. For tickets and information on the L.A. run, click here or call 800-595-4849. For Vegas, click here or call 702-749-2000.

To read Clatto’s review of the show’s 2011 run, click here.