Theatre - Dracula

Went to the theatre again tonight - second night in a row!!  Wanted to see this having read the book after visiting Romania a couple of years ago and reading Bram Stoker's book.

It was impressive.  But the think was, I have no idea whose production it was.  There was nothing on the one flyer that I saw about the place and couldn't find any programme to buy with cast list of anything.  But think the fact that is was £9 for an adult ticket and the fact that the cast all seemed to be under 30, I'm fairly sure it was a student production.  But really good.  The only slightly below par for me was Jonathon Harker (though he did do a very good under hypnotism relieving his time in Transylvania) and a very minor maid character.

It was at the OFS that I had never been to before.  Pleased to see.  Reminded me of a theatre at Keble that I saw a student production at.  Set was really good, quite simple, and they used the whole theatre for staging that I liked.

Renfield, a lunatic, was a really central character for this (got the last curtain call) and was on the stage the whole time until near the end just before he was killed, including before I arrived and during the whole of the interval.  And it was a mega performance by that actor.

Pleased that it was close to the book.  Though did think they were including a lot and surely they wouldn't fit it all in as they had more back story at the beginning than is actually in the book.  And admittedly the ending was very quick and slightly anticlimactic. Two of Lucy's other suitors weren't in it but that didn't seem a problem - though I seem to remember it was one the them (the american?) that actually killed Dracula, rather than Seward as tonight.  And does Seward die in the book?  And there was Florrie the maid whom I don't particularly remember.  And Mina and Lucy were sisters in this - don't recollect that being the case.

There was a very effective bit when Dracula bit Mina and vice versa and blood seemed to cover them both.  Had to stop myself gagging at that point!

Jolly good stuff.  Hope I sleep ok!

PS  I did want to say, if there is anyone ever reading this who would like to come with me to the theatre.  I would be delighted to go with you.  I know I am quite a loner, but it's because I feel it's quite a specialist thing I like and I know lots of people really don't like theatre especially musicals, so I hate to think I am getting someone to do something they don't want to do.  And it is quite expensive so I feel bad for that too.  And I just don't really know how to announce to people that I'm going.  I have flirted with putting my facebook status to, I am going to such and such, anyone want to come too.  But...  I'm just shy really.  So I'll stick to inviting people on a blog that no one reads! ;-)