I SUPPOSE that the imminence of Halloween is the reason for the emergence of this obscure Off Broadway musical. I agree that it is certainly aimed at the teen market but I doubt whether its targets would find much to cheer about.

The show is intended as a spoof send-up of the 50’s horror movies combined with the Beach party musicals so loved in that period.

The book and lyrics are by John Dempsey who, with his musical collaborator Dana P. Rowe, went on to write The Witches of Eastwick and The Fix for both of which they got Olivier nominations.

Although some of the music pastiches the songs of that period , the score is a strong one and there is an edge to the plot which makes it more than just another Grease.

The plot involves Jonny, a student at an American High School, who when rejected by his girl, Honey, and the school authorities, commits suicide in nuclear waste.

He is brought back to life by his repentant girlfriend and then seeks, with the support of his former classmates, to carry on his education where he left off.

Not surprisingly, his schoolmistress refuses but his cause is taken up by an opportune journalist who gets him nationwide cover on TV and then reveals that he is the boy’s father and the schoolmistress his mother! The play then ends with a plea for tolerance for people different from oneself.

This farrago of nonsense is directed (I might even say mis-directed) by Ian McFarlane who fails to bring out any nuances in the script by allowing his cast to go hell for leather for the numbers (and very good they are too) and letting the dialogue go hang; the final plea for tolerance was completely obscured due to inaudibility.

I also question his wisdom in making the zombie a green faced shambling idiot, although admittedly he is not helped by the lacklustre performance of Jonathan Vickers’ Jonny who might as well be a real zombie for all the life he brings to his character.

Jonny, I feel, must be sympathetic otherwise the support he gets from his classmates and Honey’s love for him makes no sense.

Also, I have never seen, in many years theatre-going, a leading lady collecting a box from the wings to stand on to bring her up to the height of the leading man for the climcatic kiss – I feel this is degrading and unfunny and indicative of Mr Mcfarlane’s whole approach to the show.

Apart from this, the rest of the cast perform well within the parameters they are given. Sally Bankes, in particular, shines in the unsympathetic role of Miss Strict, the schoolmistress, bringing a sly wit and humour to the part which is irresistible.

Sophie Issacs does what she can with the cutout character of Honey. Some of the songs are beyond her range and she is not helped by some very unbecoming costumes; nonetheless, she gets over the wide-eyed innocence required by the part very well.

Simon Cole makes the journalist, Eddie Flagrante, suitably slimy and he makes a good foil for Sally Bankes, particularly in their humorous duet Expose.

Sadly though, he fails to give his first act solo the bite it needs, treating it more as a comic song rather than a satiric point number.

The ‘chorus’ of three boys (Ross Aldred, Ben Baker and Darren John) and three girls (Lucie May Barker, Tiffany Jones and Katie Lowe) all have well differentiated characters and they sing and dance with the required vigour and panache, successfully stepping into other minor roles as required by the plot.

When it comes to appraising the work I ought to have been able, given the material and the cast, to award it full marks. However, due to the direction and the weakness of the main character, (Jonny should have held it all together and regrettably did not) I do not feel justified in doing so.

As a result, giving due regard to all the talent involved I must give the enterprise an overall mark of beta minus with an admonition to Mr McFarlane to try harder and do better next time.

Zombie Prom
Book and Lyrics – John Dempsey.
Music – Dana P Rowe.
Director – Ian McFarlane.
Musical Direction – George Dyer.
Choreography – Grace Harrington.
Set Design – Ben Upton.
Costume Design – Seema Iqbal.
Lighting – Tim Deiling.
Produced by Christopher D Clegg.

CAST: Ross Aldred; Ben Baker; Sally Bankes; Lucy May Barker; Simon Cole; Sophie Issacs; Darren John; Tiffany Jones; Katie Lowe; Jonathan Vickers.

Landor Theatre, 70 Landor Road, London, SW9 9PH.
From October 20 – Saturday, November 14, 2009.
Evenings at 7.30pm/Saturday Matinees at 3pm
Box Office: 020 7737 7276.

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