Theatre review: Vampirette @ Opera House, Manchester – May 9

CAMPING IT UP? You can Count on it

By Natasha David-Hilton

Blood curdling moments, batty jokes, and fang-tastic songs all make up the new Manchester musical, Vampirette.

The show tells the story of a young vampire, named Vampi – obviously, who longs to live a normal human life and to find love, but coming from one of the oldest blood-sucking families is getting in her way.

Then there’s a pesky reporter desperate for his big break making life even harder for the pale-skinned family by trying to expose the whole Acula clan as the vampires they are.

Overall, the musical is extremely lighthearted; if you settle in your seats expecting high drama or to be clinging to the arm of the person next to you in terror – then you might be a little disappointed.

But Vampirette, doesn’t even take itself seriously and succeeds on many other levels with the loud laughter coming from nearly every seat in the theatre being testament to that.

The storyline might not be one of the strongest, with some of the dialogue feeling more than a little strained or lacking in places, but the cast's dedication to the script certainly never waivers.

The music throughout is a vampy playlist of aptly titled songs such as, Come Fly With Me, Moonlight Shadow, and Twilight Time. But at times it does feel like certain tracks were shoe-horned in for that purpose, perhaps at the detriment to the musical itself.

However, ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart couldn’t have been timed more perfectly and had the whole theatre crying with laughter.

Even when the songs feel a little unnecessary, the cast’s voices still manage to shine and in particular, Lauren Samuels  as Vampirette and Stuart Matthew Price as Andrew (but not Van) Helsing.

The direction throughout felt a little strange with many of the lines being directed at the audience rather than at other cast members but as the show went on, it did seem to fit the quirky style of the play.

The dancing was exactly what you would expect of a vampire-themed musical: ‘Thriller-like’, and fun, if a little repetitive. The little girl seated in front knew nearly every move off by heart by the end.

Overall, Vampirette was thoroughly enjoyable - if perhaps not quite what everyone expected when they first settled in their seats for the evening - but a good laugh anyway.

It’s definitely a musical with bite and one worth seeing if you like your theatre to be playful.

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