Bat Boy: The Musical

Southwark Playhouse
London SE1

2/5

THERE are moments when Morphic Graffiti’s revival of Bat Boy promises to say something insightful about the difficulties of life as an outsider in the US bible belt but unfortunately those moments are not followed through.

The musical is based on a story in the infamous US tabloid Weekly World News which in 1992 published a story headlined Bat Boy Found in West Virginia Cave. 

Despite that patent absurdity, the story captured the imagination of the US public and was eventually turned into this show a decade ago. 

The book, by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, is almost as absurd as the story and — except for a few amusing numbers in the second half — the songs by Laurence O’Keefe are almost as bad. 

Hard as it may try, Luke Fredericks’s production fails to add any gravitas to the shallow script and at points drags it further into the mire. 

His cast is probably a few actors too short and the fact they have to take on multiple roles results in some shoddy characterisations. And a pantomime-like use of drag, coupled with poor acoustics, result in some truly grating moments.

But the production is not totally without merit. Rob Compton (pictured), in the lead role, shines with a superlative, spine-bending performance while Lauren Ward, whose singing is sublime, provides an alluring portrayal of his mother. 

There’s some hilariously eye-catching projection work from Benjamin Walden which adds a spark but sometimes it feels as if it’s carrying the show, particularly as the climax approaches. 

It is never a good sign when a production leans so heavily on its technical effects and, despite some genuinely comic moments, Bat Boy never really takes flight. 

Runs until January 31, box office: southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

Mayer Wakefield