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Dracula Malvern Theatres *** All aboard the SS Demeter as adaptor and
director Nick Lane unravels the tale of the classic gothic horror
Dracula at Malvern Theatres this week for a Transylvanian telling as old
as time over the seas to Whitby. Jonathan Harker, (Pele Kelland-Beau), embarks on
an unforgettable journey to meet Count Dracula, first played by David
Chafer, in his lair high up in the Carpathian Mountains with just a
couple of vampire women, Maya-Nika Bewley and Marie Osman for company.
It is remarkable that Harker somehow manages to escape but his sanity
suffers as he recovers in a Budapest hospital, leaving the Count to
embark with his boxes of earth to England with a thirst for blood and a
sleepwalking Lucy Westenra, (Marie Osman), set firmly in his sights. As Lucy’s health deteriorates, I also begin to
feel befuddled as Dracula takes on a new identity and the script races
through Mina Harker’s, (Maya-Nika Bewley) letters and newspaper articles
to the fate of the Demeter, Arthur Holmwood, (Harry Rundle), asking
Doctor Seward, (Richard Keightley), for answers and help with Lucy and
Mina racing off to Budapest. Without too much cause for concern Lucy is taken
care of with a wealth of garlic on the advice of Van Helsig, (David
Chafer), and a stake through the heart and a beheading sorted that
problem out then it was swiftly onto the next conundrum in the straight
jacket at Carfax Sanatorium, Renfield, ( Osman). The second act switches timelines and with a bit
of backwards and forwards and some ruffled, well digested feathers,
Dracula is holed up at Carfax Abbey and the hunt begins, with a dash of
holy water, a crucifix, and some silver. Bram Stoker would be proud at the amount of
dialogue and how close to the book this version has replicated with lots
of school children in the audience talking of the unnerving atmosphere
with the haunting notes of Oj Borovaja, an ancient ritual spring song. An incredible opportunity for the actors to be
involved with so many characters and plot twists and turns on stage but
made for an unnecessarily complicated narration without any change to
the heart rhythm lacking in action and terror. Tickets are available
for performances until January 18 so grab your garlic and stake out the
box office on 01684 892277 or check out
the website malvern-theatres.co.uk Emma Trimble 14-01-25 |
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