The musical's Toxie, played by the dashing Nick Cordero, doesn't stick too close to Lloyd Kaufman's classic portrayal, but he makes this Toxie all his own. The bumbling nerd Melvin Ferd the Third is quickly bullied into a vat of toxic goo, thus turning him into the super strong Toxic Avenger. Hell bent on two things: cleaning up pollution and winning the love of Tromatown's blind librarian Sarah (Audra Blaser). Toxie sings, romances and graphically fights pollution throughout the show. And by graphic I mean he literally rips a man's spinal column out (which was excellent). Both leads are as sweet as pie, and play off each other exceedingly well — you really did want to root for it all to work out with Toxie and Sarah.

The score was created by Bon Jovi keyborist David Bryan, and while the songs aren't particularly memorable, they still carry a beat and propel the musical forward with loads of one-liner lyrics. For example while the characters complain about the pollution of New Jersey, they can't help but stick it to Manhattan Jersey trash-style, singing, "Manhattan... your bed sheets may be satin, but Jersey's not your bitch." That kind of trash-talking humor is littered throughout Toxie, and when it works, it's hilarious. At times, though, the humor does fall a tad short.

The absolute highlight of the night was the supporting cast (David Josefberg, Demond Green and Nancy Opel). These three actors played over a dozen characters with at least 30 costume changes. Their total commitment to each ridiculous old lady with floor length boobs, homoerotic drugged out bullies, and townsfolk sold every moment they appear on stage. I nearly fell out of my seat watching the gay hairdressers with "indeterminable accents" squabble, or watching the two butch boys don ugg boots and sweater dresses to play blind Sarah's besties. The show is full of one-liner self-aware humor, and who can argue when you're watching "a wonderful musical based on a movie that most people watched while they were stoned."

All in all the show is a lot of fun, and while I wouldn't recommend bringing little kids to the musical, but I also wouldn't recommend little kids watching the original Toxie. The show is fast-paced and fun. But if you don't like watching someone get thrown around by their intestines or the occasionally dropped curse word, then this may not be the musical for you.

The show is running at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, NJ until November 2. If you attend the Oct. 30th showing Lloyd Kaufman himself will be there to hang with fans and talk Toxic.

Listen to "Brand New Day In New Jersey."

Toxic Avenger: The Musical is focused around the fictional town of Tromaville, New Jersey and their local green-minded superhero, the Toxic Avenger. This version, which doesn't share any material with 2004's Toxic Avenger: The Musical (staged in Omaha, Nebraska) or the 2006 Toxic Avenger: The Musikill.

This time around, it was written by Joe DiPietro from I Love You You're Perfect Now Change, with lyrics from Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan. Tony Award-winning director John Rando (from Urinetown) has also signed on.

As with the original movie, the musical follows Melvin Ferd and his transformation into the Toxic Avenger. According to the musical's booth at New York Comic-Con, he'll be "writing wrongs, beating bullies and seducing his lady love Sarah the blind librarian." With musical titles such as "All Men Are Freaks" and "Hot Toxic Love" how could this not succeed? Take a listen to "Brand New Day In New Jersey" right here and check out the rest of the tracks on their website. The show begins September 30, 2008 in New Brunswick, NJ. Fingers crossed for a chorus line of deformed mutants doing a little soft shoe with mops in hand. [Toxic Avenger: The Musical]