Eastbourne Herald

There is something quite magical about seeing a new musical for the first time; it has all the excitement of discovering a new species of wildlife that nobody ever dreamed existed. Such a discovery can of course be exhilarating, or can be tempered with disappointment. Bernard J Taylor's music is wildly exhilarating.

The rock beat of some of his work is hypnotic; the melodies of the ballads, particularly love duets like Wherever You Are and The Girl You Left Behind, are charming; at least two of the chorus numbers, Waiting for the Light and Don't Go, are outstanding. Musically, Bernard J Taylor is poised for great things.

Peter Straker makes an ideal vampire. His superb voice one moment conveys the menace, next the misery of this haunted creature, while his final admission of love for Mina (Point of Singularity) is very moving.

Sheri Copeland plays Mina. She has an attractive stage presence, a beautifully clear voice and conveys well Mina's caring nature in her solo Poor Wretched Man. Stephen Barlow develops his role well, giving Jonathan an air of innocence in the beginning which contrasts markedly with his changed persona after his experiences at Nosferatu's castle.

Christopher Biggins plays the demented Renfeld with great gusto and is chillingly mad in his cell.

Jonathan's encounter with the three sirens is one of the staging highlights of this very well stage production, and director Jonathan Clift uses stage space well and has some good groupings for the chorus. Musical director is Gareth Price, and while the backing tapes may not provide the force that comes from a live orchestra, it does mean that every single word sung by the talented cast is audible.