FUNGUS THE BOGEYMAN. To 31 May.
North Finchley/Tour.
FUNGUS THE BOGEYMAN
based on the book by Raymond Briggs adapted by Marcus Romer.
Artsdepot Tally Ho Corner North Finchley N12 0GA To 6 January.
various dates 11am, 3pm, 7pm.
then tour to 31 May 2008.
Runs 1hr 40min One interval.
TICKETS: 020 8369 5454.
www.artsdepot.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 23 December.
Fun with Fungus in energetic show.
Fungus and his wife Mildew just want to live decent lives and bring their son Mould up properly. By Bogey people’s standards, that is. Which means, as the Narrator in Marcus Romer’s adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ book tells us somewhat obviously, doing everything the opposite from how people at ground-level would. For, if Dry Cleaners, as Bogeyfolk refer to humans, thrive on cleanness, the world one tier down lives for what’s wet and dirty.
No wonder their join-in anthem is a set of instructions on how to handle nasal mucus (something not to be tried at home or the coach back to school). There’s a lot of fun to be had from the sheer horribleness of breakfast ingredients chez Fungus, but something more develops when the two worlds meet. Unsurprisingly, Mildew and houseproud Miriam don’t get on. More surprisingly, quite a sympathy strikes up between the initially appalling Miriam and Fungus.
But that’s nothing to the Romeo and Juliet potential of mild Mould and feisty Maxine, Miriam’s daughter. The point, that the years bring routine and expectations which set up barriers between people, is broadly made, though it’s not likely many people would fancy a life bridging this particular upstairs/downstairs divide.
Still, the show looks impressive on Ali Allen’s two-tier set, with the carbuncular, slime-green Bogey family. While we are taken into the entrails of the Fungus household, the action’s more external at street level, with lights going on in various houses as the Bogeys get to their night-time work. And the interior of Miriam’s immaculate house has none of the – well, lived-in – feel of underground.
It’s a short, lively show, with some upbeat musical numbers helping things zing along. And it has a set of apt performances. Eamonn Fleming and Joanna Swain create a truly human relationship, including her niggling jealousy at his innocent friendship with Melody Brown’s Miriam, whose opening prissiness soon thaws.
Michael Lambourne’s an innocent, friendly young Mould, impressed by Ebony Feare’s young human Maxine, who nobody gets to call Max; a lively, hi-energy teen. Marcus Romer’s punchy production’s rounded off by Christian Edwards’ friendly storyteller.
Narrator: Christian Edwards.
Fungus: Eamonn Fleming.
Mildew: Joanna Swain.
Mould: Michael Lambourne.
Maxine: Ebony Feare.
Miriam: Melody Brown.
Director: Marcus Romer.
Designer: Ali Allen.
Lighting: James Farncombe.
Composer/Musical Director: Ivan Stott.
Assistant director: Katie Posner.
2008-01-01 23:03:41