Warning: this is strictly for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But if you are a fan, this will be something you will want to get your teeth into!
Yes it's comedy—70 minutes in the company of writer / performer Brendan Murphy who, in a whirlwind of costume changes, sound bites and dizzy audience participation, takes us through all seven seasons of this TV phenomenon of the 1990s.
Brendan is a ball of sweaty energy filling every part of the stage and bursting into each character at lightning pace.
He narrates as Spike, vampire of many faces and personalities that changed sides and loyalties constantly throughout this cult series set in a High School in the fictitious US town of Sunnydale, which sits on a hell-mouth and has its fair share of demons, ghouls and vampires and dark alleys in which they can do their despicable deeds.
As Spike, he takes us through the chronology and tries to explain some of the more dodgy episodes while taking on the persona of the villains and heroes that are part of the (very complicated) plot.
All the main characters make an appearance—sometimes only suggested by a change of expression like Joyce, Buffy’s ‘mom’ or a coat like Angel. Sometimes it's a hat and shirt like Zander, or a pair of spectacles—Giles of course. A hat and wig represent Willow, a blond wig and waist-tied shirt for Buffy herself.
This is sometimes a little near the knuckle and not suitable for anyone under 14, and if you take the whole genre seriously—Brendon certainly doesn’t.
This is a hilarious romp through Buffy’s life and times; a fast paced gallop over the 144 episodes with deaths, resurrections, demons, slayers witches, lovers and general mayhem that the seven seasons took us through.
I loved it and would recommend it to anybody that wants to relive their youth in the '90s. It was such a different time. And great to be reminded by such a genuinely funny guy.