Various (director)
Network DVD (studio)
TBC (certificate)
400 min. approx. (length)
13 February 2012 (released)
14 February 2012
Dramarama – Volume 1 is a cult-drama series for children (adults, too) which first was broadcast by ITV between 1983 and 1989.
Volume 1 is a two-disc set containing 30 min. episodes that deal with fantasy and the supernatural, but also with the hard-hitting realism of its day. The program catered primarily for younger viewers and for each episode, a different director was welcomed aboard – hence the completely different look and feel of the individual stories.
‚Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest’ about a children’s home under threat of closure proved to be so popular, it gained its own spin-off the following year.
In stark contrast stands the fantasy yarn ‚Mr. Stabs’ in which Stabs (David Jason) is called into the City Of Shadows to perform heroic deeds and fight both the evil Polandi and Melchisedek. The character of the malevolent magician Stabs first appeared in the fantasy children’s series Ace Of Wands.
A baby-faced Gary Oldman is Ben – a young lad who seemingly has it all: a huge house and plenty of money thanks to a trust fund. In short, he doesn’t have to work. Yet, he’s bored with his life and wonders what it’s like to have ordinary problems like the rest of his friends. During one of his many parties, a penniless punk changes Ben’s outlook on life forever.
Unusual is the episode ‚My Friend Julie’ for it is a mini-musical about two teenage girls who sing about their experiences when they fall for the same boy – something that brings their friendship to an end. Every word in this story is sung and not one word is spoken.
In addition, Disc 2 offers some bonus material that includes some further episodes, namely two episodes of ‚School Of Clowns’ and the trippy-dippy fantasy story ‚Mr. Magus Is Waiting For You’. A group of youngsters encounter the sinister wizard Mr. Magus upon entering his remote residence. Magus plans to extract the ‚elixir of youth’ from the kids, so that he and his black cat can stay forever young. With its old-fashioned psychedelic charm, this episode should appeal to all ages.
