Fungus the Bogeyman

Infobox Book
name = Fungus the Bogeyman


image_caption = "Fungus the Bogeyman" book cover
author = Raymond Briggs
illustrator = Raymond Briggs
cover_artist =
country = England
language =
series =
subject =
genre =
publisher = Hamish Hamilton
pub_date = 1977
media_type =
pages = 42
isbn = ISBN 0241895537
oclc =
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"Fungus the Bogeyman" (1977) is a critically acclaimed children's graphic novel by British artist Raymond Briggs. It follows one day in the life of the titular character, a working class Bogeyman with the mundane job of scaring human beings.

Plot

Fungus is an ordinary working bogeyman, one of whose working days the book portrays, starting when he wakes up and ending just before he falls asleep. He is a member of the Bogey society, which is very similar to British society, but Bogeymen enjoy the inverse of that which humans (called "Drycleaners" because of their perverse environmental preferences) appreciate: Dirt instead of cleanliness, stink instead of perfume, slimy and spoiled food etc. The book depicts the mundane details of Bogey life in loving detail, with almost every panel equipped with peripheral notes about such things as Bogey habits, myths, pets, hobbies, literature, clothing and, perhaps least appetising of all, food. Much of the humour derives from wordplay; for instance, Bogeymen enjoy eating flies much as human beings enjoy cigarettes, and one brand of fly is the "strong French Gallwasp", a pun on "Gauloises". Similarly, what Bogeymen call a bugbear is a sort of teddy bear with rancid, bug-ridden fur.

Adaptations

Over a period of decades, a number of attempts were contemplated to make a film from the book. In 2002 the BBC began work on a three-part TV series, which ultimately aired in November 2004 and is available as a DVD, starring Clare Thomas as Jessica White and Mak Wilson as Fungus. This Gala Films production with screenplay by author Mark Haddon, featuring live-action humans and animated Bogeys, was nominated for five awards.

A stage production, based on "Fungus the Bogeyman" was be performed at artsdepot in North London between November 2007 to January 2008. A co-production between artsdepot and Pilot Theatre, the show was directed and adapted by Marcus Romer and designed by Ali Allen. [ [http://www.londontown.com/LondonEvents/FungustheBogeyman/02e65 LondonTown.com | London Events | Fungus the Bogeyman London] ] [ [http://www.pilot-theatre.com/redesign/?idno=1905 Pilot Theatre : Fungus the Bogeyman] ]

Paul McCartney wrote the song "Bogey Music" in 1980.

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/11_november/04/fungus.shtml BBC - Press Office - Fungus the Bogeyman]
*imdb title|0361642
*Toonhound: [http://www.toonhound.com/briggsftb.htm book (1977)] , [http://www.toonhound.com/briggsftbpu.htm 3D book (1982)] , [http://www.toonhound.com/briggsfungus.htm TV/DVD (2004)]