Trey Parker’s ‘Cannibal! The Musical’ showing through Halloween in Breckenridge

This theatrical witch’s brew contains a dash of “South Park,” a smidgeon of “Monty Python,” a dollop of “Oklahoma!” and a bucket-load of cheesy absurdity that’s more melodrama than musical.The result is downright hilarious.”Cannibal! The Musical” is a stage adaptation of Trey Parker’s first feature film of the same name. Parker, who rose to fame with Matt Stone as the co-creator of “South Park,” made “Cannibal!” as a student filmmaker in Boulder. Having grown up in the Evergreen area, Parker was familiar with the mostly true story of Alferd Packer, a prospector infamous for having resorted to cannibalism in 1874 after an ill-fated journey from Utah en route to Breckenridge. What better story to base a musical on, right? With a shoestring budget, Parker managed to put together a full-length feature film in 1993 that’s a classic of camp. Originally titled “Alferd Packer, The Musical,” it was later renamed and released on DVD by masters of camp and gore, Troma Entertainment.Ultimately, it was the vision of director Joseph Norton to once again make Packer’s destination Breckenridge. On the small stage of the Backstage Theatre on Ridge Street, a cast of 14 has brought Parker’s Packer to life. Just to give an idea of what to expect, there’s Packer’s flirtatious (w)horse Lianne, played with naughty aplomb by Nicole Heffner; a spliff-smoking Indian chief (Skip Wee); a trapper (Gary Dean Hathaway) portrayed as a biker (complete with “trapper bitches” in tow); and songs like “Hang the Bastard!” and “Have a Spedoinkal Day” (chorus: “The sun’s as warm as a baked potata!”).

Clocking in under 90 minutes with no intermission “Cannibal!” is a breathless bout of silliness with a bevy of exceptional performances. As Packer, Charlie Schmidt channels Parker’s original performance in the film, with an over-the-top baby-faced innocence that makes the accused cannibal the least offensive character in the show. Setting off for Breckenridge – with Packer ostensibly guiding – is a motley crew of fortune-seeking gold-diggers including a would-be preacher (Douglas Webster), a desperate virgin (Richard Moore), a malevolent butcher (Steve Collins) and Tim West and Rick Seeley as guys who just want to come out of the adventure alive.It’s a cast having a lot of fun, with Wednesday night’s preview audience more than happy to be along for the ride. Perhaps guilty of taking the most glee in his multiple roles is veteran Backstage actor Wee, who, as a skivvy-wearing weirdo warning the group of their impending doom, has what may well be the most memorable 45 seconds on stage in recent memory. Wee also revels in the role of the boner-sporting Cyclops, an oleaginous prosecuting attorney, a reality-challenged sheriff and a few others.Wee quick-changes from role to role with a maniacal grace, affording each character a new identity and fueling the audience eager to see which guise the actor will appear in next. As Denver Post reporter Polly Pry, Kristin Hathaway has the challenge of a mostly straight role in a cast of crazies, but she fits the bill – even letting her long, red hair down to belt out a love song as she realizes she’s – oops! – fallen for a convicted cannibal.Rounding out the cast as miscellaneous cast and chorus members are Sandra Willis, Shelbie Ebert, Austin Miller and Merida Teot.

Silly though “Cannibal!” may be, it takes a skilled director to pull this kind of thing together, and Norton has the hot hand. In addition to writing the adaptation and assembling a dream cast, he lassoed the material into a cohesive piece that holds together well and even improves on the original film. With its strong resemblance to classic melodrama, Norton kept the action in line while allowing the actors to find their own bits and improve their characters. The result is a tour de force of the absurd, and a must-see if you believe what the scientists say: A good belly laugh or two can extend your life expectancy.If that’s the case, “Cannibal! The Musical” could very well help audience members become nonagenarians.Alex Miller can be reached at 748-2931, or amiller@vaildaily.com.Vail Daily, Vail, Colorado