Take a bite out of something slightly spooky and considerably silly at Theatre@41 this week – as Neon Crypt present Dracula: The Bloody Truth.
The story-within-a-story is an adaptation from comedy troupe La Navet Bete, and is the debut show for new York theatre company New Crypt – and what a bloody brilliant beginning for them it was.
Dracula: The Bloody Truth is at Theatre@41, Monkgate, from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 May.
Neon Crypt was founded by Jamie and Laura McKeller of Deathly Dark Tours, and though this may be their first production as a company, it’s certainly not lacking in ambition.
Most of us are already familiar with the legend of Dracula, though it becomes clear that this will be no straightforward telling of Bram Stoker’s classic tale – as shenanigans soon ensue from mistimed sound effects, falling props, and line mishaps. The audience knew immediately that we were in for a chaotic ride with silliness around every corner.
The show begins with a dramatic hush as Professor Abraham Van Helsing steps onto the stage to recount the true story of Dracula and what really happened, along with the help of ‘three versatile actors’.
And versatile is right, as the four-strong cast multi-role their way through a variety of accents, costume changes and role reversals, to a highly impressive degree. Each cast member cycles through an array of characters – from doctors, to maidens, to ghosts. But who were this quartet of talent?
Director Jamie McKeller leads the charge as our Van Helsing, the long-suffering Professor who desperately shepherds his actors around the stage in his attempt to tell the truth of his experiences with Dracula. McKeller brings a fantastic world-weary gravitas to the role, and his slips of control over the show’s proceedings are increasingly funny.
He’s joined by his on-and-off stage partner Laura McKeller as Mina Harker (and others), who is simply wonderful to watch. She transforms herself with each role with brilliant facial expressions and accents, and it’s hard to take your eyes of her when she’s on stage. Michael Cornell as Jonathan Harker (and others) is a man driven mad by Dracula’s meddling, and he imbues each of his roles with a similar high energy that is extremely engaging.
And not forgetting our titular Dracula of course, Laura Castle, who is a master of comic timing and physical comedy. She cavorts around the stage as our calculating Count, creating mischief and mayhem for the rest of the characters on stage. Castle’s other main role, Doctor Seward, is equally as entertaining. She is a magnetic talent to witness.
The fifth character though in all this, has to be the set, lighting and sound design. The deceivingly simple looking set disguises a complicated set up of moving furniture and carefully set props – which are utilised to great comedic effect, with the help of stage manager Rebecca Payne.
Leo McCall (lighting designer) and Jess Whitehead (sound tech) mistime the necessary light and sound cues to perfection. The use of audience participation is also fun to watch – if you’re sat on the front row, you may be involved more than you might have expected!
The show moves at a frenetic pace but never once drops in energy, as we romp from Dracula’s castle in Transylvania to the docks of Whitby and back again. As a new company, it’s exciting to see their first production knowing that it will only grow in its confidence and aplomb from here. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.
This version of Dracula is anything but draining – don’t miss out and book your tickets now.
Dracula: The Bloody Truth is at Theatre@41 until Saturday 10 May. Tickets start from £13 and are available via the theatre’s website.