This Polished New Musical Will Put You At Ease... Before Freaking You Out

It Happened In Key West, Charing Cross Theatre ★★★★☆

By Paul Ewing Last edited 68 months ago

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This Polished New Musical Will Put You At Ease... Before Freaking You Out It Happened In Key West, Charing Cross Theatre 4
Photo: Darren Bell

A creepy German radiologist unsuccessfully treats a woman, Elena, for tuberculosis. She dies. Two years later he digs her up and lives with her. Parading her about, propping her up for the following years. He’s convinced that she is the vision of the woman he would spend his life with. As she decomposes, he imagines a life of bliss. This isn’t your typical West End musical for sure. And although it’s overlong with superfluous exposition, there’s something likeable about this musical. Even if you’re not always sure if it’s meant to be a comedy or a horror.

Photo: Darren Bell

The sweet performances give the show added likability. Leading the cast is American actor Wade McCollum as the radiologist and necrophiliac Von Cosel. He’s a song and dance man with just the right amount of creepiness to put you at ease at first before freaking you out. Alyssa Martin as his love interest Elena is disinterested in him in real life and madly in love with him in death.  A simple yet funny and polished new musical based on a true story that put Key West on the map.

It Happened In Key West, Charing Cross Theatre, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NL, £17.50-£49.50, until 18 August 2018.

Last Updated 19 July 2018