CAMP HORROR

reviewed for The Public Reviews

Cut to the Chase at the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch

25.05.10

“You're acting like those dumb kids in a horror flick ...”

One of a plethora of self-referential lines in this hugely enjoyable spoof at the Queen's. It's penned by Lea, Neil and John, the legendary Heather Brothers who have a string of successful musicals to their name, notably the libidinous Lust and the Sixties show A Slice of Saturday Night.

Designer Mark Walters has gone to town on the set – the theatre is transformed with peeling wallpaper, cobwebs and rickety balconies. A storm rumbles in the background, breaking effectively with fine lightning flashes.

The multi-layered plot has a High School drama class putting on a musical about an “anonymous summer camp”, bossed around by “ineffectual adult” Mr Reynolds [Julian Littman, the MD for this show]. Eventually even the blondest among them realises that life is mirroring art, and the derelict playhouse on an island is just as spooky, just as isolated, as Camp Horror in the story. And, inevitably, the youngsters will be picked off one by one by the blood-crazed serial killer in their midst. Who is the maniac ? What are his motives ? Who gets to sing a solo before they die ?

To reveal more would spoil the fun, but the final number is entitled Twist, and there is a dénouement worthy of Christie [Agatha, not the serial killer] as well as a comedy coda to send us out with a smile on our ashen faces. Because despite the fooling, the poking fun and the parody there were real spine-chilling moments, too, mostly involving the psychic Leanne [Pam Jolley].

Bob Carlton's punchy production makes a virtue of the lack of props and costume - I particularly liked the face-at-the-window scene, the bus and the car – and we are invited, with the help of the amusing and informative programme, to tick off the clichés of the teen scream genre. The virus, the mutants, the 'gators … and of course the kids. Rich bitch, bad boy, nerd, wheelchair user, frustrated actor … The ten players, including three newcomers to the company, were all adept at pitching the performances precisely between pastiche and dramatic realism. Alex Marshall was Eddie, the techie who is the bane of the Mr Reynolds' life, and Francesca Loren gave a superb performance as Chrissie, who has to sing “I Die A Little” to save her rebel boyfriend [Oliver Seymour-Marsh] from the mysterious Stutter Cutter.

The fourteen musical numbers catch the style nicely. Some of them could have been trimmed of a chorus or two, but the most successful were easy on the ear as well as commenting wryly on the action – Fear is an aphrodisiac, Abstinence will ensure you survive the bloodbath. The Woodboro High School Song was a lovely pastiche, and my favourite was the a cappella Chilling – very witty, very clever.

The Queen's resident company – Cut to the Chase – are noted for their versatility, and all the music was played by the actors – saxes, trumpet, guitars, keyboards, drums, a cello and Kate Robson-Stuart's sexy violin.

Camp Horror is a potent brew, blending Glee, Grease and High School Musical with Scream and Scary Movie. It deserves to be another Heather Brothers hit for the Queen's, a smashing climax to their spring season string of successes.

image: Hornchurch 2010

soundtrack: Lincoln 2006

this piece first appeared on The Public Reviews