Buffy Revamped – Harrogate Theatre

Creator: Brendan Murphy

Director: Hamish MacDougall

Into every generation a slayer is born, one girl in all the world, a Chosen One… and also one man to take the mick out of the whole thing.

Adopting the mantle of much loved anti-hero character Spike, Brendon Murphy presents a whistle stop retelling of seven seasons of TV phenomenon Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in a show both sardonic and celebratory. Combining character impersonations (and assassinations), thematic rewrites of 90s songs, silly voices, projections, a cavalcade of props and a whole lot of running around and throwing on wigs, Buffy Revamped is a must see for any fan of the original.

The characterisations play into stereotypes and yet are so accurate to each character that the audience are in stitches. The breakneck speed of each season summary pulls them along with little time for Murphy to breathe (good job Spike is a Vampire and doesn’t need to). The sheer force of his energy is joyous to behold, and this is clearly a mega fan who just wants to share his love of the TV show in an often very silly way. Murphy might be made of rubber, contorting his face and limbs and throwing himself about in a way that surely no mortal could manage? He expertly warms and winds up the audience too, casting multiple front row members as stooges and bouncing off their responses, only corpsing once (and to be fair audience member Lee was hilarious).

The script is a little chaotic, and of course not every episode gets a look in. Some seasons are hand waved more quickly than others, and that does leave a slight feeling of whiplash even for knowledgeable audience members, so anyone who hasn’t seen the source material is probably going to be lost (although it’s hard to understand why they’d be there anyway). The introduction could do with a slight update too. Buffy Revamped started in 2020, and clearly acknowledges that it’s first performances were post Covid lockdown. But it’s been five years since then, and the audience are meant to believe Spike has risen tonight, not that they have been sent back in time to meet him. Also, sorry Spike, the ticket prices are no longer quite as reasonable as they once were! It is however very nice to see Murphy break character after the bows to acknowledge the tragic passing of Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Dawn on the show, a death that has had a massive impact on fans due to it’s untimely nature.

Overall, watching Buffy Revamped is quite like talking to a passionate friend who is giving you an intensely detailed and slightly biased run down after hearing you ask “So what’s it about then?” which leads to a very enjoyable 75 minute ramble. Highly recommend for anyone who has heard about the proposed Buffy reboot and felt the bite of nostalgia.

Reviewed on 12 March 2024