Nick Cordero: “THE TOXIC AVENGER’s score is hilarious and bold. Wickedly smart”

Melvin (Nick Cordero), a nerd in the polluted Jersey burg of Tromaville, gets dumped in a barrel of toxic waste by town bullies, mutating into a hideous but righteous superheroe: Toxie. This is the starting point of THE TOXIC AVENGER, a new musical by Joe DiPietro (I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT… NOW CHANGE) and David Bryan (Bon Jovi). The show opened at the Off-Broadway last March.

THE TOXIC AVENGER is based on the film directed by Lloyd Kaufman in 1985. The show could become THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW of this decade A surrealistic story, rock music and monstrous characters make this show -as did the film-  be a subject of worship among many people.

Nick Cordero plays the leading role of this show since its first readings. The young actor tells us more details about THE TOXIC AVENGER, the musical that has meaning his New York stage debut.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN ‘THE TOXIC AVENGER’? WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU KNEW YOU WERE TO PERFORM THE ROLE OF MELVIN/TOXIE?
Well in the spring of 2008 I auditioned for the reading of TOXIC AVENGER. After reading the script I understood the comedy and the characters and I knew I could do this role. I went into the audition fully dressed as Melvin and just gave it all I got. When I got the role I was ecstatic. It was my first job in New York and I hadn’t been here that long, so it was huge opportunity for me.

DO YOU ENJOY PLAYING THIS CHARACTER WITH TWO DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES?
I don’t think Melvin/Toxie has two personalities so much as he has 2 different sets of circumstances. I try and show as much of Melvin as I can within Toxie’s given circumstances. Essentially Melvin is Toxie and vice versa.

YOU´VE BEEN IN ‘THE TOXIC AVENGER’ SINCE ITS PREMIERE IN NEW JERSEY LAST AUTUMN. HOW THE SHOW HAS EVOLVED SINCE THEN? ARE THERE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE CURRENT OFF-BROADWAY PRODUCTION?
I think it’s a more confident show, a more focused show. It really flows. It has to because it’s an hour and fourty five minutes with no intermission so to keep the audience engaged we had to streamline and cut the fat quite a bit. Joe DiPietro is great at self editing, even when something is really funny. If we didn’t need it, it was gone. It makes for a better show.

HOW HAS BEEN THE WORK WITH JOHN RANDO?
Magic. John’s a very collaborative director and is always interested in the actors opinions about things which makes for a very creative environment.

THE SHOW HAS A CAST OF SEVEN MEMBERS. HOW IS IT TO WORK IN SUCH A SMALL COMPANY? HOW DOES CAST CHANGES AFFECT TO YOUR WORK?
It’s actually only 5 cast members. Which is great. A lot of work for everyone, but great. There’s a real camaraderie amongst the cast because we all go through so much throughout this show. We look at each other each night like we’ve been though a war. Cast changes and bitter sweet because you’re sad to see the person leave but the new one always brings out new things in their performance, and since the shows characters are so intermingled, it automatically changes what you do as well.

‘THE TOXIC AVENGER’ IS BASED ON THE CULT MOVIE DIRECTED BY LLOYD KAUFMAN IN 1985. HAD YOU SEEN THE MOVIE BEFORE BEING INVOLVED IN THIS PRODUCTION?
No I hadn’t. I was in for a surprise!

HAVE THERE BEEN MANY CHANGES BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL FILM AND ITS STAGE ADAPTATION?
Many. Totally different writers, who incorporated issues like the environment, for example, into the show. Plus Toxie doesn’t use a mop, which bothers some hard core Troma fans. But then they see the show and then it doesn’t bother them so much.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE DAVID BYAN’S SCORE AND JOE DIPIETRO’S LYRICS FOR ‘THE TOXIC AVENGER’?
Rock n Roll. Hilarious. Bold. Wickedly smart. Joe and David both wrote the lyrics actually.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCENE AND SONG FROM THE SHOW?
I have two. Evil Is Hot, and Bitch Slut Liar Whore, because I’m not in them, so I get to catch my breath for a few minutes back stage.  : )

‘THE TOXIC AVENGER’ IS YOUR NEW YORK DEBUT. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO PERFORM IN THIS CITY?
It’s a dream come true.

HOW HAS BEEN SO FAR THE REACTION OF NEW YORK AUDIENCE TO ‘THE TOXIC AVENGER’? IF YOU HAD TO CONVINCE THEATREGOERS TO COME AND SEE THE SHOW, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?
The response has been amazing to be honest. When you’re putting together a new musical it’s always a gamble trying to predict how people will respond. But the NY audiences have been great. It appeals to all demographics which surprising for all of us. I tell people who haven’t seen it that they’ve never seen a show like it. And probably never will. And I mean it!

Nick Cordero as Toxie with the rest of THE TOXIC AVENGER cast