Date: Fri 24-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: JUDYC

Quick Words:

Vampire-Yale-Cabaret

Full Text:

(rev "The Vampire" @Yale Summer Cabaret)

Theatre Review--

`The Vampire' Makes For An Entertaining Evening

By June April

NEW HAVEN -- This campy production of The Vampire is the best of what the

Summer Cabaret has served up this season. It's the stuff of hiss the villain

and applaud the hero that makes for an entertaining evening.

There was real growth of actress Alicia Roper's skills. Her vocal talents were

nicely included, and her speaking voice was much improved, both in tonal

quality and speed of elocution. She was a fine choice to play the delicate and

lovely Lady Margaret, a truly devoted and dutiful daughter.

There's a very strong comic streak to Claudia Arenas. This dark-haired beauty

played three different roles, and her earthy personality is a strong point of

her talent.

One of the highlights of the Summer Cabaret is actor John Lenartz. He's

wonderful in the dual roles of Lady Margaret's father, Lord Ronald, and the

besotted McSwill.

Though not quite as strong as the other cast members, Graham Stevens was a

credible vampire, and certainly carried himself well as a man of breeding,

Lord Ruthven. The hero, Robert, beloved of the steadfast Effie (one of Arenas'

three characters) is a dashing figure. Eric Martin Brown seems to enjoy his

roles as Ariel and Robert.

Playing the priest and a servant, Brandon Bruce was stronger as the latter.

His soft-spoken enunciations might have been annunciations...it was difficult

to tell.

What was impressive was the fact that music, original music by S.G. McClowry,

was creative and quickly put together for this production. In only two months,

which included some sleuthing research into music of the period, Mr McClowry

presented a score that complimented the story. After only one hour of

rehearsal, he on the double bass and Swan and Yeon-Su Kim on violins gave the

audience a rousing musical experience.

A former student at Yale, now studying composition and the double bass at the

Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Mr McClowry was

recommended by his former Yale professor, Arthur Bloom, to write the music for

The Vampire .

Written by J.R. Planche, The Vampire is based on the novella by John Polidori

who wrote it the "haunted" summer of 1816 when he, Lord Byron, Mary Shelley

and others lived together in a Swiss castle. They would spend their evenings

telling one another frightening stories. (See what you can do without a

television?)

The set and costume designs were created by former Yale School of Drama

student, Jenny Fulton. A job well done! And one would be remiss in not

commending Director Lisa Channer for a thumbs-up production.

Running concurrently, but later, is the Late Night Festival which offers

Slightly Gothic , an evening of string ensemble and Gothic storytelling.

Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 10:30 pm and a special

performance scheduled for July 23 at the same time. This innovation is the

brain-child of Artistic Director David Kennedy to serve as an affordable

alternative for younger audiences.

Playing through July 25, there are group discounts available for an evening of

shared "horror." Call 203/432-1567 for reservations or further information.