Seems like every single Fringe has at least one vampire play. I never get to see all of them alas! But this year I did get to see Vampire Nightclub 1983, a solo piece using the undead as a powerful metaphor.
Audrey Valcourt wrote and performed this relatively short (under 30 minute) piece, explaining from the year 1983 how she came to be a vampire in New York City. It makes for some interesting lore and brings the metaphor front and center. She was not made, but born a vampire. Although she felt so very out of sync with her life, she had no idea of the sheer scale of it, until a little after puberty when she began to change. Or, become her true self. Her best friend didn't believe her, until seeing the fangs she ran away.
Our narrator spirals after that, running away, certain she is destined to be alone forever. After many unsuccessful attempts at suicide (including driving a stake into her own heart) she ends up doing nothing, just existing.
Until...she meets others of her kind. She falls in love. She makes friends. Every night she dances and listens to music, mingling with vampires and humans, finding many among the latter perfectly willing to be donors for one reason or another.
She is happy, until one of her friends gets sick. Which rocks her to the core. Vampires don't get sick. What is this?
AIDS. That is what 'this' is, and the devastation, the terror, the melancholy clutching at love even as one's lover fades--yeah the metaphor (or if you prefer analogy) seems pretty clear, especially during Pride Month.
Honestly, this solo piece works well overall, and I ended up caring about the character and her friends. I do wish she had greater skill at moving and talking like different characters. In fact, I find myself wanting to see the piece expanded into a full length work, with a larger cast and frankly even larger scale.
The last show (for now) of Vampire Nightclub 1983 will be at the Broadwater Studio, 1078 Lillian Way, Los Angeles, CA 90038 on Saturday June 24 2023, 6:00 PM.
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