Weak musical lacks bite

Vampirette, Opera House, Manchester
GO to this rather unheralded new musical — another Manchester premiere — expecting a sort of musical “Twilight” and you will be disappointed.

In fact, go expecting anything resembling a fully finished, clever and funny musical comedy and you won’t be all that happy either.

Which is a shame because unlike the recent Monkees musical, which was just plain misconceived, this one at least has some idea that it wants to be a knowing, vamp-orientated funny night out with some good songs thrown in. It just doesn’t achieve it, despite the reception it receives from the audience.

“Vampirette” is yet another jukebox musical, in this case mixing a stereotypical vampire-based comedy set in the present with pop songs from the past 40 years or so — everything from “Twilight Time” to “Young Blood”; “Windmills of your Mind” to “Total Eclipse of the Heart”, the last of those the act one finale and the most amusing bite of the night, complete with flying parents.

Young Vampirette has her doubts about being a vampire, while her brother Rudy fancies a human. Meanwhile mum and dad — Zanguina and Dr Acula — are worried about both of them, about living in the city and in mum’s case, about finishing her, er, dress collection, while the evil press ferrets out their secrets.

Newly-qualified haematologist Andrew Helsing falls for young “Vampy” and dad is understandably horrified. But can young blood triumph? Well, yes, obviously.

That’s pretty much it. Everything is resolved with singing, rather a lot of dancing and occasionally funny lines, and you’re out of the theatre by 9.20pm.

The weak plot is only the beginning: every comedy needs a tone and while this one starts well with a solid, well-lit set, nice lighting touches and a few running gags, it doesn’t go anywhere and there is precious little detail or cleverness.

Writer Jonathan Choat stretches thin gags too far and underwrites like there’s an ink shortage. The script, curiously, is both thin and wordy, quite a combination, and not nearly funny enough.

The cast flaps above much of this by being both entertaining and strong of voice, particularly Lauren Samuels and Stuart Matthew Price as the unhappy couple. Jay Worthy and Caroline Deverill as the parents and Adam C Booth as the son are all given far too little to do. Matthew Rixon likewise as faithful servant Igor.

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