“Death Becomes Her” began a yearlong North American tour last month. The Fabulous Fox scored a coup by bringing the show to St. Louis in the weeks leading to Halloween. What better time is there to see a musical with death in its title and a magic potion in its plot?
The show is delightful, and the production is fabulous.
The central characters are longtime friends and rivals Madeline Ashton and Helen Sharp. Madeline is a beautiful, flamboyant, self-absorbed actress; Helen is a dowdy, diffident aspiring writer. Helen’s engagement to plastic surgeon Ernest Menville brings the rivalry to a boil. After losing her fiancé to Madeline, Helen cracks up and lands in a mental institution.
When she reappears years later, Helen is a new woman—young again and now beautiful. Consumed with envy, the fading Madeline is enticed to seek out the mysterious, bewitching Viola Van Horn. She shares a magic potion with Madeline that makes her young and beautiful again.
In their next confrontation, the two women find out they both owe their rejuvenation to Viola. Until their conflict escalates to mortal combat, Madeline and Helen do not understand the full cost of taking the potion.
“Death Becomes Her” is based on the 1992 film written by Martin Donovan and David Koepp and directed by Robert Zemeckis. The stage adaptation features a campy, hilarious book by Marco Pennette and an exhilarating original score by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey. They are brought to life irresistibly by Christopher Gattelli’s energetic direction and choreography, Ben Cohn’s music direction, and the excellent band conducted by Matt Doebler. I must also compliment Cha Ramos’ comedically crisp fight direction and Gattelli’s “flight direction” of a jaw-dropping, slow-motion tumble down a flight of stairs.
The production features powerhouse performances by Jackie Burns as Madeline, Kristen Beth Williams as Helen, Nasia Thomas as Viola, and Ken Marino as Ernest. Louis A. Williams Jr. as Chagall and Michael Buchanan as Stefan provide excellent support.
The designers seem to have been in a competition to see which one could add the most pizzazz to the proceedings. The winner of this contest is the audience, which gets to enjoy all the dazzling creative contributions. They include Derek McLane’s set, Paul Tazewell’s costumes, Justin Townsend’s lighting, Peter Hylenski’s sound, Charles LaPointe’s hair and wigs, and Joe Dulude II’s makeup.
“Death Becomes Her” continues through October 25 at the Fabulous Fox, 527 North Grand Boulevard.
—Gerry Kowarsky, 2026
Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
From the left, Jackie Burns as Madeline Ashton, Ken Marino as Ernest Menville, Kristen Beth Williams as Helen Sharp, and Nasia Thomas as Viola Van Horn in the North American Tour of “Death Becomes Her.”
