Campy Neck-Biting : Physical comedy makes lesbian vampires’ rivalry hilarious.

Give author Charles Busch credit for telling all in his title “Vampire Lesbians of Sodom.” Anyone who stumbles into this show expecting G-rated fare deserves to be attacked by the cast of cross-dressing neck-biters.

The 1984 off-Broadway hit, in revival at the Aaah! Capella Theatre Cafe in North Hollywood, remains a campy good time. Director Kurt Koehler has dusted off much of the show, and somehow it manages to feel as outrageous as it must have 14 years ago--no small feat.

Debbie (a.k.a. Carl) David plays La Condesa, bitter old member of the undead. She unwittingly transforms a sacrificial virgin (Kelly Mantle) into a vampire, creating her own rival. The two antagonists battle each other in three periods: ancient Sodom, 1920s Hollywood and 1980s Las Vegas.

Plot, of course, is not the focus here. High camp is--and on that count Koehler delivers. From the dancing guards in the opening scene to the “Sodom Gold” revue at the end, the cast provides hilarious touches of physical comedy. Ethan Wilde and Shane Mathews, in particular, play raucously funny supporting roles.

From the 1920s scene on, however, Mantle owns this show. Bent on revenge, Mantle’s character is, in a word, fabulous. David provides a good contrast--older, gruff--but is simply overshadowed. La Condesa, while making an actual transformation of character, is too much Terrance Stamp, not enough Bette Davis.

The 90-minute show is performed in the Aaah! Capella’s back room/theater, crowded with sofas and a random assortment of chairs.

Choose a comfortable chair; there is no intermission.

BE THERE

“Vampire Lesbians of Sodom” at the Aaah! Capella Theatre Cafe, 5907 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Fridays-Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. through Nov. 14. $12. (323) 634-1979.