Performed by USLES
By Doug O’Kane
The University of Sheffield Light Entertainment Society performed their melodramatic take on the classic tale of Dracula on Friday and Saturday night.
The production, which was shown at the Library Theatre, followed the story and characters of Bram Stoker’s classic story fairly closely but with a self-written script and a light-hearted, pantomimic tone.
The story focuses on an estate-agent, Jonathan Harker (played, in true panto-style by a girl- Verity Ellis), who unwittingly brings a Vampire into his seemingly perfect home town. This production also had several sub-plots such as the suitors of rich-girl Lucy Westenra and the blossoming relationship between two unappreciated servants.
While it seems harsh to criticise the acting in a student production, the amount of times the performers burst out laughing on stage, talked whilst the audience were laughing and stood with their backs to the audience was extremely frustrating. Many of the main actors also failed to grab the attention of the audience and talk directly to them which is what is needed in a melodrama. Having said that the enthusiasm of the cast was impressive and their were some likable performances such as Hannah Rapaport as Dr. Jack Seward, Arkady English as Dracula and Colin Whittle as Betty the maid.
Whilst the script was peppered with occasional moments of magic like great puns, overall it was far too in-jokey and corny for my liking. Considering my friend and I had been invited to watch the play and paid money to see it I expected to be included in the humour and enjoy myself. However, most of the jokes seemed designed for the friends that the cast seemed to know would be in the audience and left us feeling rather left-out.
The lack of props and any scenery was clearly a challenge and at some points it was met very well such as when four people squirted an actor holding a cardboard cut-out of a ship’s wheel to recreate being at sea. This was an amusing and charming moment but there should have been more of those as most of production was extremely static and non-descript.
Once again I find it difficult to be overly critical of a show performed by students for charity and I must praise the enthusiasm of the cast. However, I hope that next time they perform a play they will try to be a little more professional in their approach and remember that there may be some people in the audience who aren’t just there because they know members of the cast.
April 9th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Thanks for the review (and I’m flattered to be singled out).
May I add Rachael Holden (the sex-obsessed General Quincy), Natasha Bell (the fantastic Geraldine the Pidgeon - though I confess some people didn’t get that scene) and Chess Holdrick (Lord Arthur Holmsewood) to people who did a good job.
Oh, and I’ll give the writing team for our next one (Snow White) a kick - metaphorically of course - for every in-joke that turns up in our next play.