The First Vampire

This show was his a bit of a let down. It wasn't fully campy or fully serious, and i think that key it down for me. There were funny bits. And it kept me engaged, but feels like it could be polished

This show blew me away! It has everything you could want out of 60 minutes of raw entertainment. My face hurt from smiling and laughing, and then out of nowhere I got sincerely choked up. These two powerhouse performances deserve all the praise they can get. Bravo Rebecca Wass and Madeleine Humeny!

Acting was solid for this two-person narrative. Good production value and visuals as well. Note that this is set in the pre-Victorian era, so the script may not be to everyone's fancy or interest. I almost wonder if the program blurb could be jazzed up to set better expectations for the audience, though this play stands decently, and was well attended for a weekday afternoon performance.

I felt like the story was a little bit drawn out and repetitive. I think a solid 3rd of the dialog could be cut and nothing would be missed.

The sudden screaming was funny the first time it happened… I don’t think it needed to be repeated so many other times.

The accents sounded like they were trying to be vaguely european I found it very irritating and it made it hard for to concentrate on the story.

I enjoyed the ending at least. If it wasn’t for that I would have left an even lower review

There was lots of laughter so maybe it was just me who didn’t like it?

I absolutely loved this show. What a delightfully unhinged romp of a time! The two actors are wildly talented and the timing and pacing of the show was perfect. The show was hilarious with an oddly emotional twist, too. I'd definitely see it again!

LOOOOVED IT! I haven’t stopped talking about and encouraging everyone I know to see it. My gothic heart was so happy to see this story and the performers were absolute masters in their craft. Equally enthralling and complete characters and not a second was wasted. What a wonderful time!

I really liked this one! The actors were very engaging and I found the show funny and interesting with good pacing. I would see it again.

Telling the story of the first vampire novel(la), I found this work to be not only superbly acted and superbly written, but also remarkably intelligent and fun. Both actors deserve the highest praise for their work in this play. If I have any criticism, it’s simply that it felt a little long. However, that’s peanuts all things considered—go see this one.

I absolutely loved this show and it's my favourite of this year's fringe so far! Maybe it's because I love vampires and have read John Polidori's work, but I had a blast seeing this story being brought to life in a way that was humorous while still staying factual (no easy feat).

Both actresses were fabulous, with Polidori's "straight" act balancing Byron's over the top dramatics. Byron could've easily overpowered the show, but both actresses held their own and worked well together, using physical comedy and making full use of the stage and its simple set. They fed off of each other well (no pun intended) and I felt fully immersed in the story and laughed hard at several points. The puppetry scenes were fun, and the jokes thrown in balanced some of the darker subject matter. It was a tight 60 mins, which seemed to be the perfect amount of time for this show. I also need to shoutout the costumes, which made me want to go thrifting for a billowy-sleeved shirt. Seeing it in a church was the icing on the cake, and the use of lighting really heightened the Gothic atmosphere.

10/10 would recommend but especially to fellow vampire enthusiasts, Gothic lit fiends, and those who are so ready for Halloween.

I'll admit to not knowing as much of the background of this one as I probably should have, but I was still able to follow this just fine.

The actors here are brilliant, they played off each other so well, and were so deliciously campy, it was perfect for the story they were telling . There were a couple of slight issues with the pacing, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the show. Tonight's audience was also into it, as there were a lot of laughs all around. A solid pick of a show!

★★☆☆☆

There’s clearly considerable acting talent on stage, but the performance style didn’t quite work for me. The acting often felt deliberately exaggerated, with frequent bursts of shouting and heightened emotion that seemed disproportionate to what was happening in the story. I found myself wishing for a little more restraint and nuance.

The humour was also not particularly to my taste. Much of it relied on fairly broad or crude jokes, including the occasional F-word used for comic effect. The audience seemed to enjoy this enormously, so it clearly works for many people, but I was hoping for something a little sharper and more sophisticated.

Ultimately, my biggest disappointment was that I couldn’t find much beneath the comedy. The premise and historical material seemed to offer plenty of opportunities for deeper ideas or observations, but the show remained largely on the surface.

Clearly an entertaining production for the right audience, and performed by talented actors, but unfortunately not one that connected with me.

Unbelievably good acting, excellent pacing and great writing contribute to an incredible experience that grabs your attention and doesn't let go.

Monster Theatre delivers yet again!!! GO SEE IT

Most everyone knows the premise of this story. A storm, a group of writers, a ghost story competition - most notably, the birth of Frankenstein. But fewer know that this night was also the birth of the modern vampire, in The Vampyre by John Polidori. Many speculate that the vampire in Polidori's story was inspired by the host of that fateful evening, Lord Byron, and his relationship with Polidori. The First Vampire expands upon the mystery of Byron's life, asking just how much of The Vampyre was truly based in reality. This two-hander, created by Ryan Gladstone from Monster Theatre, is a fantastic dive into the messy reality of intimate relationships, with a gothic spin that anyone with a penchant for the macabre is sure to enjoy. It forces us to look at the fact that vampires, in some way or another, are very real - you likely know at least one. The show is driven by performances from Madeleine Humeny and Rebecca Wass as the two leading men, both of whom know how to walk the line between drama and comedy like a tightrope. The deeply grounded portrayals of Polidori and Byron will have you unsure of who you’re rooting for, or if there’s even a side to take. With beautiful costumes, standout performances, and a fascinating premise, the audience was held on the edge of their seat from lights up to lights down. If you enjoy literature, gothic tales, vaguely homoerotic relationships, and of course vampires, head down to Fringe venue 18 and catch The First Vampire.

The acting is superb. The writing is sharp. I laughed, I was enthralled, I learned something too. The cast has incredible chemistry and you’ll find yourself cheering for one character and then the other. Go see it!

This was a solid hour at the Fringe. The actors made it for me. Highly energetic, hilarious, exaggerated performances played really well with the crowd. I have been so lucky win the lottery this year with all of these extremely talented performers! I couldn’t recognize them from anything I’ve seen before because the minute someone puts on a fake moustache or heavy makeup it’s like a scooby-doo fakeout to me, but they performed like veterans.

That being said, the play felt long, despite ending on time. Some scenes were repetitive and could’ve been cut. Pacing felt slow throughout, and then too fast at the end, which is too bad because the actors were truly outstanding. I would love to see this play with a little more editing in the future.

Campy, gothic, and laugh-out-loud funny.

Polidori’s serious brooding was the perfect comedic foil for Byron’s over-the-top dandy-ism. It’s amazing how such a simple set can be brought alive and so immersive just through lighting, an engaging storyline, and sheer stage presence.

The First Vampire was a great show. Very funny, personable characters, many layers that are smoothly moved between. So much story and not at all heavy.

Cup of Hemlock Theatre Podcast reviewed The First Vampire in PART 1 of our 3-part post-festival Review Roundup.

Click link for YouTube, or search for the audio-only version wherever you get your podcasts. TIMESTAMP: 1:33:54

TL;DL: Mack enjoyed this one more than I did (which is why I'm splitting the difference with 3.5 stars). Well performed, but too often feels like a staged reading of a Wikipedia article to keep me fully gripped.

The story of how “The Vampyre” by John William Polidori was written, retold in the most absurd, unhinged way. I was living for it.

This was sooo funny, with so much heart. Surprisingly! I wasn’t expecting it to tug at the heartstrings the way it did.

The actresses were chef’s kiss**. Absolutely brilliant at bringing the characters to life. Their comedic timing was spot on, and they had excellent chemistry together on stage. The duo of the unhinged Byron and the straight man Polidori worked very well.

There were some parts early on and in the middle of the play that felt a bit muddled as it switched back and forth between the history of the two friends and the story of “The Vampyre”. That being said, the juxtaposition of the two stories worked very well, especially when the characters hilariously, or sadly, found similarities between them.

I caught The First Vampire, and I'll admit it... I completely forgot to read the show description beforehand. So I went in flying blind, and honestly? No regrets.

I really enjoyed this one. The duelling narratives kept me engaged from start to finish, gradually weaving together in a way that was both clever and satisfying. The performances were fantastic across the board, and the cast did an excellent job bringing the story to life.

The set was refreshingly simple, but it was used so effectively that it never felt sparse. It's a great reminder that you don't need elaborate scenery when you have strong storytelling and talented actors.

A thoroughly enjoyable show with great performances, smart staging, and an intriguing story. Definitely one worth sinking your teeth into.

Stellar performances and chemistry between the performers! The script was interesting, with a fresh concept, great pacing, fun character moments, and I even learned something. Excellent use of the stage and a minimalist set. I was hanging on every word and laughed a ton.

So I saw this show because I love vampires and secondly because my friend said "I don't know if it's the character or the drawn on moustache vibe but it was so hot" and it exceeded my expectations 1000%!! The memoir style writing that shifted the timeline just enough to enjoy the twists and go on that emotional ride made it hit so hard. The characters played so well together and invited you in so it felt like you were rolling your eyes and laughing along with them.

It's fun, queer, and in that period piece sweet spot that makes you long for a billowy shirt and a horse

Two great actors draw you into a fascinating story. The itself story is quite elaborate, so requires your full concentration to follow. Definitely enjoyed the show and learned something new at the same time.

wow this show has everything! the actors are so well developed in their characters! and the stage business, story and special effects are really really great . a must see!

The actors are truly charming, and it starts off very promisingly. The shadow work is fun and engaging, but the story needs work - dramatically, structurally, tension, etc.

Wasn't entirely sure what to expect at first but left a happy vampire. Fantastic play, as much storytelling as it is comedy. I loved the use of light and shadows

Monster Theatre, who've toured the Fringe circuit for 25yrs, take us 2 centuries back to the modern vampyre's origins from Lord Byron's literary circle. It's juiced (comedically) by a bickering ghostly duo—Byron (Madeleine Humey, & Dr. Polidori (Rebecca Wass).

I love a Fringe show that both entertains and educates me. This show goes into great detail on the relationship between Lord Byron and a man named Polidori, and how the first “sexy vampire” story was created—without sacrificing wit and micro drama in the process. The result is an entertaining and engaging show that will leave you with a deeper understanding of the first vampire in literature.

Well written and well acted... and funny! Very polished. My favourite so far!

My fav Fringe show! It was a blast!

This is a gem of a show. A clever and funny riff on the friendship/rivalry between Lord Byron and his friend/doctor John Polidori, it tells about the writing of the first "vampyre" ghost story. The writing is sharp and funny as heck and the two actors are totally locked in. There are moments of brilliance in the physical acting and stagecraft - yes, do go see it!