maybe ally...sees Dead Outlaw.
hey guys & dolls — ally here!
So here’s the deal: I walked into Dead Outlaw expecting something quirky and delightfully offbeat — I mean, it’s a musical centered around a dead cowboy, how serious could it possibly be? Yet, to my surprise and bemusement, by the end of the show, I found myself feeling unexpectedly low-key emotional and completely obsessed with the entire experience - but it was indeed quirky and offbeat!
"Dead Outlaw" tells the fascinating true story of Elmer McCurdy, a petty train robber who met his untimely death in 1911 and somehow ended up becoming more famous after his death than he ever was in life. We're talking about decades during which his embalmed body was passed around from one venue to another — from traveling carnivals to a peculiar California funhouse, where his remains become a macabre attraction. (Yes, really. I had to look this up as soon as I left the show!)
This show is compelling and engaging because it artfully balances the absurd with the profoundly meaningful. The music presented throughout is this gritty, ghostly blend of Americana and folk — imagine if Johnny Cash and Orville Peck collaborated to write a musical set in a saloon, weaving their unique styles together.
The lyrics are cleverly crafted and artfully constructed, yet they never veer into the territory of being too cool to resonate deeply with the listener. They manage to cut straight to the heart of the matter, evoking genuine emotions and thoughts that linger long after the music ends.
Andrew Durand, who plays Elmer, takes on the role of dead body for the second half of the show, which makes it all the more comical and offbeat. From “beyond the grave,” the actor truly nails it, embodying charm, regret, swagger, and all the nuances that come with a complex character. The ensemble moves gracefully like shadows, always watching, always woven into the fabric of the story. Most of them play multiple characters as the story spans over 60 years of this dead body’s life! The set is simple and perfect, the band is the focal point, which makes it feel more like a country jamboree than a musical. I LOVED that, and there’s just enough lighting to subtly remind you that fame—even in its posthumous form—is something that undeniably sells.
Final Thoughts
listen… I truly didn’t expect to find myself to have so much fun over the story about a lifeless body. But I did. The show masterfully transforms this peculiar slice of American history into something oddly moving and poignant. It’s about so much more than just a man who couldn’t successfully rob a train (multiple times!) — it delves deeply into the themes of what we leave behind, who gets the honor of telling our story, and why it is that we sometimes only seem to matter after we’re gone.
"Dead Outlaw" is a bold, bizarre, and surprisingly tender exploration of themes that resonate on multiple levels. If you enjoy your theater experiences to be dark, musical, and emotionally charged, this production is undoubtedly one that you should not miss.
hey guys & dolls — ally here!
So here’s the deal: I walked into Dead Outlaw expecting something quirky and delightfully offbeat — I mean, it’s a musical centered around a dead cowboy, how serious could it possibly be? Yet, to my surprise and bemusement, by the end of the show, I found myself feeling unexpectedly low-key emotional and completely obsessed with the entire experience.