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Review: Fangs - The Musical Comedy

Author: Moira de Swardt, 2 October 2006

"Fangs", the story of a Johannesburg vampire who loses his fangs has a history. This is outlined in the programme for those of us who missed it in 1977 and again in 1981/82.

One arrives in one's seat in the theatre to see a "beautiful" (if one can use this particular adjective in this way) bat with glowing red eyes forming the firecurtain. One gets the immediate impression that the sets (by Stan Knight) are magnificent, and the lighting (by Denis Hutchinson) is wonderful. Indeed they are.

The musical opens in the Graveyard Garden where one gets to meet Dr Arthur D'arth, psychiatrist to the truly batty (Tobie Cronje) who serves as the narrator, and Nurse Lucy (Catherine Daymond). Inside the "Deep Throat" nightclub a fabulous number "The King of Swing" is sung by Suckula (Michael Richard), a neurotic vampire, the owner of the club. The action moves through various sets accompanied by clever and often hilarious rhyming couplet dialogue. My absolute favourite set is that of Sergeant van Helsinger's (Bill Flynn) mobile charge office.

Wilhemina (Jo Galloway) and Jona, a biker "dog" (David James) who play the unhappy lovers are quite delightful. Jugular Vain, the sexy vamp, (Vanessa Harris) is gorgeous. The outrageous undertakers, Micky Mortis (Stephan Marick) and Ronnie Rigor (Zane Gillion) are screamingly camp. The "S.A.P.S" number will have the gay community in stitches.

The technical aspects of the show seemed to need some work in places. The sound was sometimes uneven and the ebb and flow sometimes had visible hiccoughs on opening night. The music is by Bobby Louw, and the musical director is Janine Neethling. The choreography by Claire Greig and Laura Setzkorn of "The Work Zone" shows off the skills and talents of the cast, and some of the numbers are glorious.

The costumes by Sarah Roberts are camp, sexy and always work well, regardless of the red and blue lighting they're constantly being exposed to.

Over all this production directed by Tim Plewman of Defending the Cave Man fame is undemanding fun, musically pleasant, and generally pleasing. It is showing at the Drama, State Theatre, until 23 July and then it moves to the Montecasino Theatre before heading down to the Baxter Theatre, Cape Town. I'd recommend buying tickets before it sells out completely. It is the kind of show one can see more than once.