The Bang Gang is a whirlwind journey through the mania of three inmates of a mental institution. Meg (Helen Buchanan) fantasises about show business. Karen (Angie Cape) eats clothes but never food. Stripey (Lee Foster) sets fire to people. Tyson (Sean Wildey) comes into their worlds with some original and scary approaches to music therapy.

A sparse set of two white plastic chairs, a toilet pan and a white cabin trunk is backed by white venetian blinds. Through these blinds eyes peer, characters trapped before the action begins. There is something else hidden behind the blinds, something very shiny.

Meg in her pink tutu and Mickey Mouse T-shirt and Karen in a long nightdress and ill-fitting cardigan dance and sing to The Carpenters' Please Mr Postman. They are loud and abrasive and 'Mr Postman' becomes 'Dr Tyson'. Meg says she was in Grange Hill, ET and once sat next to Cameron Diaz on a bidet and was mistaken for Jesus Christ. Karen encourages her and they get on well. In an ear-splitting interruption Tyson hands out lollipops and tells them they are to produce a 'fun' musical. All three convey the strength of their inner demons.

From the audience Stripey gives his own clinical details as a psychiatrist's report. He fiddles with a cigarette lighter. He walks on stage, the toilet paper has gone. Stripey announces that he uses a face-flannel to wipe his arse and Meg is distraught as it was given to her by 'Dame Angela Lansbury'. Tyson hands out toilet rolls all round with a flourish. His sequined bow-tie and two-tone shoes are more entertainer than doctor.

Meg joins the audience and reads her medical notes that end with 'Do not mention Pinocchio'. Tyson tries to encourage the others with the inspiring story of Little Orphan Annie but spoils the effect with an unpleasant punch-line. Karen has taken to sitting on the toilet eating toilet paper while Meg practices her ballet moves using Karen as a support.

Each time a song from a show or from The Carpenters appears it hangs on the edge of being subverted by Stripey, Meg, Karen or all three and stops short. This is funny and unnerving. Tyson's tale about how he became qualified is a rambling version of his own clinical notes and has a mania of its own.

The inmates' mental states are examined through songs from South Pacific, The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins. These takes on reality seem as strange as those of the inmates themselves. The acting is superb. Helen Buchanan's Meg has a dangerous edgy quality that comes close to frenzied raving. Angie Cape's Karen has an introverted depth. It is hard to gauge her thoughts whether she is quietly eating socks or being force-fed sugar. Lee Fosters Stripey has an inner strength and flaming anger that directs itself at others. Sean Wildey's Tyson evolves into fantasy as he becomes as dangerously disturbed as the others.

The lighting is subtle and works well. The music is an eclectic mix that fits the action. The cast sing competently especially Lee Foster, though Angie Cape is sometimes a little out of tune. Their worlds as portrayed are not far from reality and make uncomfortable viewing. Writer Lee Mattinson has captured the essence of what it is to be mentally disturbed. Violent, funny and menacing, this powerful production tumbles headlong towards a tragic conclusion.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Helen Buchanan - Meg. Angie Cape - Karen. Lee Foster - Stripey. Sean Wildey - Tyson.

Company Credits: Writer - Lee Mattinson. Director - Katie Posner. Stage Manager - Fallon Charlton. Stage Manager/Lighting Designer - Carl Moir. Designer - Catriona Maddocks. Additional Composition & Sound - Ivan Scott. Publicity Designer - Kingsley Balang. Photographer - Ben Curry. Design Assistant - Erin Maddocks. Company - Bad Fox Theatre Company in association with NTC (www.northumberlandtheatre.co.uk).

END

(c) Peter Andrews 2008

reviewed Saturday 26 July 08 / Alnwick Playhouse, Northumberland

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2010

www.fringereport.com