“Every cast member brought a new energy to the stage”
Comedies and horrors are really challenging genres to do right and when you mix them together to create a horror-comedy there is a lot of space for it to go wrong. But, in saying that I felt ecstatic that Waking the Walking Dead was a brilliant performance. I thoroughly enjoyed this production from start to end.
Waking the Walking Dead grabbed you from the moment you entered the space. Stuart Vincent is evidently a very talented director. Vincent directed a wonderful cast and achieved a really enjoyable performance – a joy to experience.
With a colourful palette of characters, Vincent and the cast transported us into their wacky world. What was really enjoyable was that this production takes the zombie apocalypse story but brings us the characters you don’t normally see in this kind of tale.
I really loved that the protagonists were Martin; a gay maths teacher played by Steven Bush and his student played by Sarah Day. Together Steven and Sarah were a dynamic duo. From the moment Steven boldly burst through a door to enter on the stage I was sold. Both actors throughout the piece bounced off each other; in fact, the whole cast really worked as an ensemble with Joe Johnsey and Elizabeth Lloyd Raines adding their own dilemma and chaos as their characters.
Every cast member brought a new energy to the stage. Joe Johnsey as the dashing ‘military’ trickster added a fun chaotic energy to his scenes. His character was brilliantly written and performed. On the other hand, whilst I commend Elizabeth Lloyd Raines for committing and delivering a strong performance as the crazy survival girl; the writing of this character was a bit off for me. There were points which I couldn’t connect to her existing within this world. However, as the character began to become a bit less like she was on a serious episode, and became more human, I started to warm more to her.
Of course, the play’s success was aided by the simple but effective set by Francis White. We were ably to transported into this world by having a few pieces of newspaper spread throughout and a sofa centre stage. Minimalistic but it worked. Furthermore, the costume added little character moments that further immersed me into the action.
The only aspect of the performance that I felt let down the smoothness of the piece, was the blackouts between scenes. I think the writer and director should explore how they can get the play to flow without having to rely on them. With less blackouts I think it would have added an extra layer to this piece.
Nevertheless, silly, imaginative and fun, Waking the Walking Dead really tickled my feathers. Please keep making more horror-comedies as you all have a talent for it.
Renowned American parapsychologist Doctor Roy Earle, famous for discrediting hauntings and exposing fake mediums, is invited to attend a seance in what is said to be the most haunted building in England, a building with a horrific history, Blaine Manor. Even the locals won’t set foot there, as all who walk within those grounds will be cursed. But his arrival at the manor has awoken something, something horrific within the walls. As a raging storm closes off Blaine Manor from the outside world, Earle and the others find that what is waiting there is not nearly as horrific as what has entered with him …
The spooky sellout hit haunter is back! Written and directed by Joe O’Byrne, The Haunting of Blaine Manor returns for a three venue Halloween Tour taking in the classic dome featured Kings Arms in Salford, the haunting Hermon Chapel Arts Centre in Oswestry and finishing as part of this year’s London Horror Festival at The Old Red Lion Theatre. Eleven nights of horror spread across three wonderful venues.
In the spirit of M R James, England’s most accomplished ghost story writer (‘Casting the Runes’, ‘Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come To You My Lad’, ‘The Haunted Dolls’ House’) and with a nod to the black and white film classics, O’Byrne’s latest play leaves behind the modern world of his critically acclaimed ‘Tales from Paradise Heights’ series for this, his first period piece. This is his love letter to the works of M R James and to the classic Hollywood film era.
Featuring a firecracker cast of Peter Slater, Jo Haydock, Phil Dennison, Andrew Yates, Daniel Thackeray and Joe O’Byrne, the play features an original chilling sound design and haunting title theme by Justin Wetherill.
LISTINGS
Click on images to go to each site
23rd to 29th October – King’s Arms, Salford
31st October to 2nd November – Hermon Chapel Arts Theatre, Oswestry
