Civic Theatre, Darlington – 26 February 2015
Vampires Rock finally made it to Darlington Civic after lead singer, Steve Steinman, had to postpone due to ill health in January.
And it was worth the wait, playing to an Army of fans in a packed house, the show, in it’s 13 year and last incarnation, was one of the best versions ever.
Set in the Live and Let Die club in the year 2030, Vampires Rock tells the story of Baron Von Rockula (Steinman) searching for a new singer for the club and new virgin bride for himself. Enter sweet and innocent Pandora (Hayley Russell) and a love story is played out before our eyes. With a background of some rock classics. Starting with Welcome to the Jungle, followed by Highway to Hell and with many others in between; Total Eclipse, Since You’ve Been Gone, Bat out of Hell amongst the many.
Totally spectacular this year is the vocally outstanding Victoria Jones and her amazing version of China in your Hand, even better than the T’Pau original.
Comedy comes in the form of deviant janitor Bossley (John Evans) the perfect foil for Von Rockula. Although in the second half, in a Freddie Mercury-esque jump suit, Evan’s raises the audience and the roof with the start of the rock n roll party at the end of the show.
The musicians belt out the numbers, and proving not only can they play but they can sing, Richie Barlow, Mary Marcia Garner in particular. And a circus like performance with fire dancing displays some breath taking aerial dancing from Chloe Bass.
Yes it’s cheesy, it’s pantomime, with lots of audience interaction and breaking of the fourth wall. But its a winning formula that works. But now with a new ending which leads into the new story of Vampires Rock – The Ghost Train, the original is having a rest and I for one can’t wait to see the new show when it begins touring later on this year