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Bat Boy: The Musical
Based on a story in The Weekly World News, BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL is a musical comedy/horror show about a half boy/half bat creature who is discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia. For lack of a better solution, the local sheriff brings Bat Boy to the home of the town veterinarian, Dr. Parker, where he is eventually accepted as a member of the family and taught to act like a "normal" boy by the veterinarian's wife, Meredith, and teenage daughter, Shelley. Bat Boy is happy with his new life, but when he naively tries to fit in with the narrow-minded people of Hope Falls, they turn on him, prodded by the machinations of Dr. Parker, who secretly despises Bat Boy. Shelley and Bat Boy, who have fallen in love, run away together from the ignorant townfolk and have a blissful coupling in the woods, but their happiness is shattered when Meredith arrives and reveals a secret. Soon the entire town arrives and hears the shocking story of Bat Boy's unholy origin.
94 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
3 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 26, 2022
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
The local library had a bag sale, so I went a little wild. There was no way I was leaving that library without a bursting bag of books. If I thought I would like the book even a little bit, then I grabbed it. I grabbed everything from classics to this unique musical.
I am not really a fan of reading plays because I end up skipping the name and have no idea who is talking. It has always been a problem for me, even when I was part of a theater program (probably why I never got a role, outside of my lack of talent and courage!). This book follows the adventures of Bat Boy being discovered to his death. It was odd.
The book itself is a quick read, the case is small, and the characters are all flat. There are no fleshed out characters, there is no character development, there is no real reason this book exists except to continue with the joke that is Bat Boy from the Weekly World News. Bat Boy was never my favorite in that trash paper, but that might be because my mother only let me get one ever. I read it like gospel when I was under ten. I thought it was wonderful, I vividly remember the small article on the feminist farm where the hens were being taught how to crow. Bat Boy was not in that issue that I can remember. Even at that age, I didn’t believe the stories, but I found them fun. Maybe if I was younger then I would find this book fun. Instead I found it boring and unappealing.
The idea of this book existing was more exciting than the actual book. I am saddened by this. I was hoping for something fantastic from this very strange book. I am more stuck on the idea that the public library had at one point thought that this book was worth the time and resources to put into the collection. It was in the collection starting in 2004. Fourteen years of being in circulation before it was pulled and ended up in my hands.
If you like Bat Boy give this a shot, but if you don’t like him or have any real opinion on him then I wouldn’t recommend this book.
The local library had a bag sale, so I went a little wild. There was no way I was leaving that library without a bursting bag of books. If I thought I would like the book even a little bit, then I grabbed it. I grabbed everything from classics to this unique musical.
I am not really a fan of reading plays because I end up skipping the name and have no idea who is talking. It has always been a problem for me, even when I was part of a theater program (probably why I never got a role, outside of my lack of talent and courage!). This book follows the adventures of Bat Boy being discovered to his death. It was odd.
The book itself is a quick read, the case is small, and the characters are all flat. There are no fleshed out characters, there is no character development, there is no real reason this book exists except to continue with the joke that is Bat Boy from the Weekly World News. Bat Boy was never my favorite in that trash paper, but that might be because my mother only let me get one ever. I read it like gospel when I was under ten. I thought it was wonderful, I vividly remember the small article on the feminist farm where the hens were being taught how to crow. Bat Boy was not in that issue that I can remember. Even at that age, I didn’t believe the stories, but I found them fun. Maybe if I was younger then I would find this book fun. Instead I found it boring and unappealing.
The idea of this book existing was more exciting than the actual book. I am saddened by this. I was hoping for something fantastic from this very strange book. I am more stuck on the idea that the public library had at one point thought that this book was worth the time and resources to put into the collection. It was in the collection starting in 2004. Fourteen years of being in circulation before it was pulled and ended up in my hands.
If you like Bat Boy give this a shot, but if you don’t like him or have any real opinion on him then I wouldn’t recommend this book.
June 23, 2024
I loved this! I really didn't know the story or the music very well going in, but I'm excited to listen to the cast album and hopefully see it one day! It's wild. It's really wild, and it just gets wilder as it goes along. So fun and also so dark. Very campy.
September 1, 2024
Derivative
April 10, 2025
For design studio - I’m the stage manager 😈
March 21, 2008
ok, it's more like this is a brilliant musical--book & score--then a good read. see it, be in it, direct it.
June 4, 2010
I freakin' love this musical... but that shouldn't be too surprising, since I also love Bat Boy.
October 28, 2015
Our community theatre considered it. I liked it. We did not vote for it but I think I would enjoy this show.
Read
April 8, 20252023: NSDA Duo Finalist
October 14, 2008
Was in the show and loved every minute of it. The script was reliving a memory.
Read
December 28, 2010Performed in 2010 with APSU
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews