A Vampire Story

The story starts as two young women arrive in a nameless small town.  It is clear, as they travel on the train, that they are taking assumed names, but there is no clarity around their relationship to each other.   Claire (Rebecca Kirk) takes a job in a pub and Ella (Amelia Sorby) joins the sixth form of the town’s school where she joins the A’ level drama group.  We then meet devoted class teacher, Mint (Fred Firth) along with classmates Briggs (Edward Lenton), Moon (Bethany Wood) Debit (Izzy Cowie) and Point (Bella Miller).  The class scenes were wonderfully done with all actors convincingly recreating a class environment.

During a truth exercise in a drama lesson Ella confesses that she has been alive for over two hundred years, having survived by drinking human blood and again the reactions from those in the class were spot on.  At school Ella makes one friend, Frank (Amani Khan), a student who has been educated at home and so also doesn’t fit in with the norms.  Franks parents Tina and Geoff, played by Jess Kitchen and Ash Kitchen, gave some comic relief through what was a piece with many distressing themes.  However, their behaviour, as over protective and somewhat irrational parents, with their beliefs about why Eleanor won’t eat was very entertaining.

Humour was also found in the Food Tech lesson with some great work by Charlotte Appleyard as Fillet, the Food Tech Teacher.  During the play props and set pieces were moved at speed and this was very cleverly done by the cast.  There were moments of dancing in slow motion which added to the already sensuous movement in the play.

Throughout the play Ella and Claire are shadowed by ghost like characters from their own history, Eleanor (Elvira Mannonova) and Clara (Yen Sayer).  All four characters were very well delivered and created a sense of desire amongst the cast to learn more about their story.  There were instances of cast speaking in unison which was hugely impressive and delivered perfectly.  The story is incredibly compelling especially when Clara’s background as a prostitute in 19th Century London is played out.  Within this setting Matthew Tordoff as Lord Ruthven created a particularly heinous character, but did so sensitively.  With other parts played by Constance Butterworth as Marianne/Letty, Tristan Stweart as Darvell, Jess Kitchen as Harriet and Ash Kitchen as Bettina this play was beautifully presented.

The issues of immortality were creatively handled in the story line allowing the Ella and Claire to move through time without aging, but in a believable way.  Costumes were appropriate to the period and lighting was atmospheric.   As is a consistent feature of all YTYT productions projection and delivery were excellent.  I really didn’t want the play to end as it was a very entertaining story which was captivatingly delivered by the very talented Black Company.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.