It has just been proved to me you do not need a stage full of scenery nor a cast of many to keep an audience totally enthralled. Well maybe you do if you are not Cornish actor David Mynne who tonight told the tale of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, adapted by Andrew McPherson and directed by Simon Harvey.
Entering the theatre it was already slightly eerie with red lighting casting shadows over everyone. The lights dimmed further and we all sat facing the stage area expectantly (there is no stage in this small intimate side of the theatre). Looking behind I see the figure of Dracula standing still in the aisle and then very slowly walking to the front, already my nerves are on edge! 
And so begins the extraordinary tale of Vampires, the living dead, bats, blood and gore. Mynne takes on the characters of no less than 8 different people and seems to effortlessly morph into each one. I loved the portrayal of the Transylvanian landlady. They all became totally believable although I must admit in the opening minutes I did wonder what the ‘hell’ (pardon the pun) I had come to see!
Within no time I was completely absorbed in the story and with all sound effects coming from Mynne too, he brought comedy, chills and an air of excitement to the audience with the 3 living dead lady vampires and their deathly screams, the bats flying eerily across the moon, crypts and coffins. I was so engrossed I actually leaned forward to see what was in one of the open imaginary coffins!
One of Bram Stokers Dracula quotes “There are darkness’s in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights.”How apt for the brilliant one man performance of this Dracula adaption expertly performed by David Mynne.
Mynne truly brought the tale to life (or death) with his amazing storytelling, I have never seen anything like this before and you have to see it to believe it, you can’t help but want to listen to the whole story... Suitable for children over 12.
For further performance dates contact http://www.mynne.com/theatre.html
Reviewed: 3rd March 2016
Reviewer: Lorna Weekes
