“I wanna play a game,” sings Billy the Puppet, dressed in a glittery suit coat, as SAW The Musical opens. The lights come up on a small stage transformed into a grimy bathroom, complete with blood stains and grime. SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw has officially arrived in St. Louis as part of its national tour.
As a theatre lover and horror movie fan, I’ve been keeping an eye on this musical since it opened Off-Broadway in 2023. SAW The Musical is a comedic parody that follows the plot of the original Saw (2004) film. The production describes itself as a “gay cult classic” and promises a mix of “Saw’s intense horror with raunchy comedy and fluid love stories.” After attending this production, I can confirm: these claims are accurate—and the show is absolutely worth seeing in person just to experience how cleverly it delivers its twisted story.
This musical is carried by a powerhouse cast of three actors, who manage to keep the audience laughing from start to finish. The show opens with Morgan Traud, who plays Jigsaw/Billy the Puppet/Amanda/Ali. She often appears as both the puppeteer for Billy and as Jigsaw himself in the first act. During “Amanda’s Song”, Traud demonstrates a strong mezzo-soprano voice that particularly shines in her portrayal of Amanda, reflecting on her experience in the iconic “bear trap” test. She also delivers a memorable performance as Ali, Dr. Gordon’s wife, in a standout scene where she fends off a pig-masked captor.
Dr. Gordon is played by Adam Forward, who sports an appropriately comedic blond wig. While humorous, Forward’s portrayal of Dr. Gordon remains surprisingly believable. In SAW The Musical, Dr. Gordon grapples with his sexuality and falls in love with Adam. Forward showcases great physical comedy and proves he’s quite the dancer during the song “You Make It Hard for Me,” featuring a hilarious extended routine with a blow-up doll/nursing student named Carla.
James Lynch plays Adam, the vibrant and excitable twink chained up in the bathroom trap. Lynch’s comedic timing is razor-sharp—he leaves little time to catch your breath between laughs. He masterfully transitions between emotions, ranging from charming flirtation to frantic screams. His voice is sweet and earnest in “Out of the Picture” and shifts to a powerful rock tenor in the duet “Saw Right Through” with Dr. Gordon.
SAW The Musical was created by Cooper Jordan, with a book by Zoe Ann Jordan. The script is tight and fast-paced, full of clever jabs at Saw (2004) and the broader franchise. While following the movie’s basic chronology, the show frequently uses flashbacks for comedic and musical effect. The music and lyrics, by Anthony De Angelis and Patrick Spencer, are entirely original—not parodies of existing songs. This was a welcome surprise, as parody musicals often rely on familiar melodies. Many of the show’s tunes were catchy enough to get stuck in my head long after the curtain call, and I even caught audience members dancing in their seats.
A common question about Saw-related content: Is the musical filled with blood and gore? There are certainly moments of simulated gore, but it’s all wrapped in comedy. The bloodiest moment comes at the end of the show, but even then, it’s far tamer than anything in the actual Saw films. If you’re worried about excessive gore, don’t be—this is a comedic theatrical experience, not a horror film. The technical and creative teams deserve credit for crafting a believable, minimal set that captures the grimy tone of the movie. Lighting plays a key role, with dramatic strobe effects and stark transitions between darkness and bright, fluorescent bathroom lighting.
By writing this review, I’m encouraging the greater St. Louis area to secure tickets to SAW The Musical. This might be the only time this production comes to our city. If you love Saw, musical theatre, or both, this is the perfect blend of the two. It’s definitely an adult production, filled with raunchy sexual humor—so it’s not recommended for children.
When I attended, I brought my friend Paul, who only had a vague knowledge of Saw (2004)—and he loved the show too. It’s a proudly queer production, with a touching gay love story that ends in a surprisingly heartfelt moment I didn’t see coming from a parody musical of Saw.
Grab those tickets while you can! Jigsaw wants to play a game.
SAW The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw
Dates: Running Sept. 5–28
Location: The Gaslight Theater, 358 N. Boyle Ave, St. Louis, MO
Tickets: Prices from $37–$135
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours, with one intermission
