THEATRE REVIEW: Vampires Rock - The Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

What better way to unwind on a Friday than to go and see a show that’s a feast for the eyes, crammed full of classic '70’s and '80’s rock and very, very funny. ‘Vampires Rock’ is all of this and more quite simply superb and a delight from start to finish.

The ‘Vampires Rock’ show has undergone a few development over the last few years but the basic formula has remained the same and just like ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ has built up a steady following, who just keep coming back for more, year on year. Increasingly, again akin to ‘The Rocky Horror Show’, a tradition of the audience dressing up in ‘Rock Vampire’ costumes (think of the likes of Alice Cooper, Ozzy Ozbourne or even Kiss). ‘Vampires Rock’ just keeps increasing in popularity as it is continuously refined.

At first glance, ‘Vampires Rock’ is an absurdly simple concept; take some of the finest rock and metal songs of the '70’s and '80’s, use the imagery and backdrop of classic horror movies from the '30’s and '60’s and present it in a glitzy, sexy format using a plot as thin as the most basic of pantomimes to link it all together. And yet it works together like a dream! The reason is that behind a self-deprecating comic style and an easy-going manner with the audience, ‘Vampires Rock’ is an object lesson in meticulous attention to detail and thorough all-round professionalism (with a brilliant array of costumes and impressive two-level stage).

Steve Murray has come a long way since his appearance as Meatloaf on ‘Stars In Their Eyes’ over twenty five years ago but has himself grown into something of an institution. The warm applause of the audience when ‘Mr Steinman’ (to use Murray’s stage name) walked on stage had the feel more of meeting an old friend you hadn’t seen in ages rather than a polite greeting for an artist about to perform. When long-time associate John Evans walked on as Bosley The Janitor to Steinman’s Baron Von Rockula, the audience cheered in much the same was as Riff Raff’s first appearance, as the audience greeted another cherished acquaintance. The fourth wall is not so much broken as smashed to pieces as the whole cast enjoyed an easy rapport with the audience from start to finish.

The show has the warm feel of an ensemble with the musicians being very much up front and part of the performance whilst the dancers also sing and help drive the story. The full complement of six actor/singers and five musicians give the impression of a much bigger cast and the overall feel is of a big-budget West End extravaganza.

As Steinman unconvincingly kept reminding the audience, this was not pantomime but by his own admission, ‘bloody close’ and the plot was as thin as the thinnest of wafers. The other main characters of Vampire Queen and the virginal Roxey Honey Box were stock to say the least but none of this was of any importance as all the cast, not forgetting the excellent two Vampires providing dance and backing singing, interacted with the superb rock band to give a brilliant show, all the cast appearing to enjoy themselves as much of the audience. Every one of them was upfront, each having their own special moments in the show and the audience loved every minute of it.

It may be all about soulless vampires but if you don’t love ‘Vampires Rock’, you truly have no soul. Here’s to the next year’s new show from Steve Steinman -‘Love Hurts’; can’t wait!

Reviewer - John Waterhouse
on - 7/2/20