The First Vampire

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!