Blackeyed Theatre are masters within the adaptation of basic texts for the stage. This time it’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula that’s underneath the highlight.
It’s a hefty two and a half hours lengthy so little is missed within the telling of the story. Writer Nick Lane has caught carefully to the unique supply however with some laudable nods to trendy sensibilities with deftly written commentaries on each the privileges of Victorian society and its angle to girls, each are seamlessly woven into the script. Certain roles are gender reversed with no change to the supply materials’s which means or affect, if something, the change of Renfield to feminine is extra unsettling and the robust feminine asylum physician, a welcome change. Interesting too is the system of a number of actors enjoying the Count, on paper it might appear an unwise alternative, in actuality it permits for a number of clean scene adjustments that add to the cohesion of the storytelling.
The solid of six are sure-handed all through and cope with grace and professionalism when an incident within the auditorium disrupts the efficiency. Atmosphere is supplied by Victoria Spearing’s multi-level set and Tristan Parkes’ sweeping soundtrack and motion director Enric Ortuno’s slow-motion staking scene is especially well-handled.
One criticism is the usage of multi-narration of a single character’s story. We change from male to feminine and feminine to male throughout the ‘letter’ sequences, it does nothing to drive the story, reasonably it provides a degree of pointless confusion.
Very a lot a standard telling of the story, it’s clearly and coherently instructed and no much less entertaining for that.
Continues to tour the UK | Image: Contributed
Leave a Reply