UK Theatre Network

Photograph by Nobby Clark

Camp Horror is a cleverly funny, multi layered parody of the teen horror movie. By multi layered I refer to the use of the ‘play within a play’ concept.  This isn’t just a play within a play, it’s a play within a play within a play, all nicely tied up with easy to recognise characters, who not only provide the music on a variety of instruments, but eagerly perform a collection of stay in your head songs that weave the story along its twisted, creepy road.  

So, to the story; take the teen horror recipe, a group of teenagers including the geek, the cheerleader, the jock, the disturbed teen and the joker, put them in a scary place i.e. a deserted island, invent a killer with a deformity, in this case a stutter, and throw them all together in a situation they can’t get out of, in this case a raging storm that brings the bridges down and cuts off the telephone lines.  Led by their teacher, Mr Reynolds, played by Julian Littman (also responsible for the musical direction), the group rehearse their school musical, a teen horror, but real life begins to mirror the play. Francesca Loren and Oliver Seymour-Marsh are Chrissie and Josh, the young couple in love, usually destined to be the survivors in the horror movie, or at least the last to go. Seymour-Marsh is reminiscent of Danny Zucco complete with the cheeky side glances and the cigarette emerging precariously from the lips and Loren plays a sweet, naive rich girl. Performing her solo with guitar, she rendered the audience totally silent.  Kate Robson-Stuart was brilliant with the violin, captivating in her energy as she moved around the stage with confidence as the bimbo, Mel. Pam Jolley’s take on the disturbed Leanne was hilarious as she morphed into a possessed eccentric. I could watch Matthew Quinn all night playing the freak, he was so convincingly disturbing, his hunched frame stooping over the girls, leering at the thought of touching one of them.

All the elements were there, the clichés, “Wait here, I’ll be right back”, the characters, the situations, “Oh no, the lights have gone out, the bridge is down and we’ll have to go down to the dark cellar to find the only phone”, some pretty funny lyrics and a set that almost incorporates the audience; I wasn’t in the Queen’s, I was in a dingy, disused horror theatre. The only element that didn’t particularly work was the attempt at audience participation; maybe they were preoccupied with Oliver Seymour-Marsh’s sudden sway in character, probably one of the funniest moments, but hard to judge as there were quite a few. The Heather Brothers have thought of everything, Bob Carlton has brought the package together with some really talented actor- musicians, the audience are kept in suspense until the last scecne and the twist at the end isn’t just a twist, it’s a twist within a twist. Camp Horror is as camp as a horror can be.

See my interview with the Heather Brothers on: http://www.uktheatre.net/magazine/category/4260

21 May – 12 June

Camp Horror

by The Heather Brothers

Previews: 21 and 22 May at 8pm          First Night: Mon 24 May at 7.30pm

Performances: Tue–Sat at 8pm            Matinees: Sat 29 May and Thurs 3 & 10 June at 2.30pm

Audio Described & Signed Performance: Sat 29 May at 2.30pm

The Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1QT

Tube: Hornchurch                                Tickets: £13.50 - £22

Box Office: 01708 443333                    Website: www.queens-theatre.co.uk 

CAST

Chrissie- Francesca Loren

PJ- Matthew Quinn

Leanne- Pam Jolley

Mr Reynolds- Julian Littman

Jasmine-Sarah Scowen

Matt-Elliot Harper

Stu-Joe West

Mel-Kate Robson-Stuart

Josh-Oliver Seymour-Marsh

Eddie-Alex Marshall

Director- Bob Carlton

Set and Costume Designer-Mark Walters

Musical Director-Julian Littman

Lighting Designer- Matthew Eagland

Sound Designer-Rick Clarke

Choreographer-Emily Parker