Firstly, let me just say I'm not talking about the Swedish or American film here. The National Theatre of Scotland in Britain have adapted the original "Let The Right One In" by John Ajvide Lindqvist (Don't ask me how to pronounce his middle and last name) into a stage performance, which in itself is no easy challenge.
Before giving my actual thoughts on the performance, I'd thought I'd give some basic information about the stage show. It was first performed in March 2014 when Jack Thorne adapted the novel and the Swedish film made in 2008 for a live theatre performance. The cast includes Rebecca Benson as Eli, Martin Quinn as Oskar and Clive Mendus as Hakan. It was directed by John Tiffany.
Let The Right One In explores the chilling love story between bullied schoolboy "Oskar" and the ageless vampire "Eli" with "Hakan" being her protector/ helper.
As I sat down in my seat ready to watch that evenings show I found myself very on edge as I didn't know what to expect fully (Seeing as I was going in blind not having read the novel or seen either of the films) The set looked fantastic. Snow covered the entire floor in a dark forest with slim, tall trees and a climbing frame you may recognise from the films. While the audience were still finding their seats every now and then a character would be walking through the woods, all with purpose. At first I couldn't quite decide what I thought of it, but after a while I thought that it didn't hinder anything so what the heck yeah I liked it, it started the show off to a nice pace.
As soon as the lights dimmed, we were thrown straight into the shows line of fire as we see "Hakan" brutally murder someone in the woods and collect his blood. This shook me up pretty well as my eyes shot open and I sat on the very edge of my seat waiting for what the next horrific turn on this roller coaster would be. As a first scene, it really sets the play up and prepares you for what the next two hours have in store for you.
The lighting plan and changes were immaculate. Using them to change scenes and moods in an instant. Most times you could never tell when they did change due to you being so immersed in the show so you really were at the performers mercy for where they take you. The majority of the lighting consisted of a blue wash with the occasional spotlight for stage focus.
Again, I feel that the use of sound throughout was phenomenal. They built tensions that just stayed through the entire performance, during one of the jump scares the tension and the beating heart didn't go away for a long time, it was almost as if they didn't let you feel in anyway comfortable during the performance. Sometimes you found yourself only realising how loud the music was until the very last moment which was too late to try and brave it.
*Spoiler* Don't read unless you've seen the show, or you couldn't give a fuck
My favourite scene was the swimming pool. The climbing frame is on a turntable and as it turns you see a portion of a swimming pool which fills with water and pool steps. When "Eli" comes and rescues "Oskar" from the bullies all of a sudden an incredible music score engulfs you as Eli bursts into action and you have no idea where to look on stage, the lights are going crazy. Arm hairs are raised as you're scared shitless but you love it nonetheless. Everything happens at once. The bullies, dead. Oskar, struggling to breathe underwater having no idea what the hell is happening. Eli, doing her thang. Its an incredible scene which was the highlight for me.
*Okay you can read from here for no spoilers*
As soon as you sat down in your seat, the cast and crew had you in their hands and threw you around this way and that until the first clap when you find yourself giving a standing ovation for such a brilliant performance. I'd give this performance a very strong rating of 10/10 (Yeah I realise 10/10 is a bit naive for my first show review but out of all the shows I've seen it was the best and I can't find anything wrong with it)
Credits to the cast and crew but most importantly Rebecca Benson or "Eli" an incredible performance from an incredible, talented, beautiful woman.
