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David Porter » Reviews » Dracula

Dracula

Dracula

Sewell Barn Theatre, Norwich

Review published in the Eastern Daily Press,  16 January 2010

On a grim, dark winter night with the current interest in vampires from
Twilight films and books, this is an apt and weirdly appealing new piece from
the Sewell Barn.

Surprisingly, from the pens of John Godber and Jane Thornton, it’s not a
rip-roaring belly laugh from start to finish. Those familiar with Teechers,
Bouncers and Shakers would expect social comment with ironic twists and
multi-roling.

Instead we have a serious love story – centred in the horror genre with bits
of mock philosophy and the power of evil thrown in.

The company tackle it with energy, slowly raising temperature as Dracula’s
passion for young women, the almost sexual pleasure both receive from his
deadly kiss, emerges.

Peter Daniel is the impressive, irresistible Dracula, while the aptly named
David Blood is the hapless Harker. Terry Cant,master of comic timing,
experiments with  a manic Professor van Helsing.

Anna Wakefield, Lottie Evans and Ian Shepherd are strong in supporting parts
in a cast who work the limitations of the theatre space superbly. The balcony
is put to great use and the smoke machine comes into its own..

Ayshea Christian directs with a sense of the macabre. If you want a thrill with
a sad but heart-warming afterglow, this is it..

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