Inside Salisbury. Review - Studio Theatre's Count Dracula and teaching an old dog new tricks
Dracula comes to Salisbury and Dogs Trust aim to dispel myths
By Annette J Beveridge
DRACULA, the legendary blood-drinking Count from Transylvania, took to the stage in Salisbury intent on committing some evil skulduggery.
The story is told through letters and journal entries at first, and follows the experiences of a young man, an English solicitor called Jonathan Harker (Matthew Hodge). Having travelled to Transylvania, he meets the Count (Paul Chalmers), an evil, manipulative vampire who draws him into a fiendish plot, one filled with horror and fear.
The Count plans to travel to England, and Jonathan has found him an old property located right next to a lunatic asylum. What could go wrong?
Once back in England, Jonathan Harker’s life and the lives of those around him will change forever. Enter a world of drama and theatrical splendour.
From Transylvania to England, Dracula soon has his sights set on Lucy Westenru(Martha-Rose McKeown), who is young, beautiful and betrothed to Dr John Seward (Andrew Hall), who runs the lunatic asylum. Deeply in love, both are oblivious to the dangers lurking close by. Then come the nightmares and the sleepwalking when Lucy is drawn into the shadows where Dracula’s ghouls weave their evil spell upon her.
Alina Murray (Martha Osment) is married to estate agent Jonathan. A close friend of Lucy, they too are drawn into the web of danger and feel helpless against Dracula’s powers.
Simon Haseley plays a convincing lunatic at the asylum called Renfield. But is he as dangerous as he seems? Dr Abraham H von Helsing (Alistair Falkner), a man with endless knowledge and a lot of common sense, raises the alarm that all their lives were in imminent danger.
Failing several times to rid themselves of the danger, a trip to the crypt is the only solution.
I have been to many plays at The Studio Theatre. Personally, I think this was a brave choice of production and very different to the others. I did wonder if it would work on a small stage or be better suited to a larger stage with full-scale effects, but this production really worked. There was clever use of lighting and effects, and the simple stage was transformed from scene to scene - first depicting Count Dracula’s castle, and as the play progressed, bringing other scenes to the fore to add darkness, light and shade.
The stage transitions were fluid, aided and abetted by the darkly-dressed ghouls, ever-present in the shadows while drawing the living to the edge of humanity.
This play had it all, there was darkness and humour, and it was such an enjoyable evening.
Want to experience the drama? Just click here and book a ticket for Dracula here. It is available until Saturday, May 24.
Teaching an old dog new tricks on National Rescue Dog Day
THERE are many misconceptions around adopting rescue dogs, but all need a second chance at a forever home, and on National Rescue Dog Day, one charity wants to set the record straight.
The Dogs Trust in Salisbury wants to dispel the myth that an older dog can’t learn new tricks, because many older pooches still love to play, to learn and be mentally stimulated.
Some people are drawn to small dogs, believing they don’t need much exercise, but even the smallest dogs love a run around. Dogs Trust considers how active a dog is and how this might work with potential owners.
Not all rescue dogs are problematic, as many people think. There are a multitude of reasons why a dog is handed into the charity, including changes in their owners' circumstances, such as illness, financial difficulties or moving home.
Another myth is that greyhounds need a lot of energy. Greyhounds can be quite snoozy and love to relax. While they do love to run, they will often be seen napping and catching up on much-needed sleep.
Some dogs wear muzzles, but this does not make them bad. This is just another misconception. Often, muzzles help the dogs feel more comfortable and safer in certain situations.
Anyone considering adopting a dog can pop along to the Dogs Trust. The charity is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 12–4pm. There is no need for an appointment to visit, it is possible to meet the dogs looking for homes, get advice or apply to adopt.
As every dog is unique, finding the perfect match can take anything from a few weeks to several months. Dogs Trust will work with you to find the right dog for you, however long it takes.
To find out more, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/salisbury.