Let The Right One In
Apollo Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 2nd April 2014
They say love is blind and that people will do anything to protect the one they love. But would you be able to kill for love? Based on the cult 2004 novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, Let The Right One In is a love story with gore.
After a series of brutal murders in the woods, people are warned to stay away. Loner Oskar (Martin Quinn) ignores this advice and continues to play there. This is where he meets Eli (Rebecca Benson) who, despite initial protests, gradually becomes the friend he never had. But Eli has a dark secret which could ruin everything and as Oskar battles with his feelings for Eli and his misery at school, he is drawn into something he had never imagined...
Staging Let The Right One In is no easy task, but Jack Thorne's version works surprisingly well on stage. Before the play begins, characters are walking through the scenic snowy woods, hurrying about their business. Then a man is strung up, his throat slit and his blood drained. The atmosphere suddenly becomes a lot darker.
Physical theatre at its best, the main story is combined with beautiful music and movement that add to the mystery and magic of the plot, which is a fairly true representation of the original story. There are perhaps too many attempts at humour, as they almost detract from the beautiful simplicity of the story.
There is also one slightly confusing plot point where Eli's full name is revealed to be Elias, but this is never explained. To those who have no previous knowledge of Let The Right One In, it actually weakens the plot and is completely unnecessary.
Martin Quinn is well cast as Oskar, coming across as a shy and awkward teenager who just wants to get on with his life. When he meets Eli we see him become more confident even though he is physically struggling to understand his conflicting emotion.
Rebecca Benson is a fearless young actress with no hesitation, spending most of her time on stage climbing trees, swinging on the set or covered in blood. Her performance and characterisation are strong, although her voice is strange and a bit annoying. However, this could be her attempt to portray a teenager who is actually hundreds of years old and therefore quite mature. Only once does she seem a delicate little girl... but then seconds later we see her attack and kill a man.
"Let The Right One In is a play like no other"
The blood when it comes is a stark contrast to the snowy set, but doesn't feel overdone. It's also very convincing, as is Eli's strength and power over the grown men. The swimming pool scene is surprisingly impressive; even though the audience know that Quinn will be fine, there is always the 'what if..?' element to add to the drama.
Let The Right One In is a play like no other. Yes it's gory and a bit creepy (it might even make you jump), but through clever use of music and movement, it manages to be beautiful at the same time.
Reviewed by Michaela Clement-Hayes
Let The Right One In runs at the Apollo Theatre until Saturday 27th September 2014
Click here to book tickets
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