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IN A GLASS DARKLY - An original music drama, inspired by J. Sheridan Le Fanu's 1872 novella, "Carmilla"
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BACKGROUND TO THIS WORK Twenty-five years before Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” was published, another vampire story was at the height of its popularity. The story had been written by a fellow Irishman, called J. T. Sheridan Le Fanu. His novella was titled “Carmilla”. The story first appeared in four issues of the magazine, “The Dark Blue” (from December 1871 to March 1872), and later in the 1872 collection of short stories by Le Fanu, called “In A Glass Darkly”. Now recognised as being a major influence on Bram Stoker and his famous vampire creation, Le Fanu was one of the first authors of this era to invent distinctive characteristics for the vampire and a way of destroying them. Further evidence of a direct connection between Le Fanu and Stoker can be found in Stoker’s short story “Dracula’s Guest”. The story is set in Styria, where Le Fanu sets his Carmilla story, and also features a female vampire. It was with this connection between Le Fanu and Stoker in mind that I decided to write the script for, what was to become, “In a Glass Darkly”. |
Illustration from “The Dark Blue” magazine. 1871. |
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Using the title character of Le Fanu’s novella and some minor elements of the story, together with Stoker’s later expansion on vampire mythology, the original plot acknowledges both authors and their respective contributions to Gothic horror. The creation of a new anti-hero has also added to the vampire mythology in the plot of this original music theatre work. |
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THE MUSIC THEATRE WORK
Set in the nineteenth century, the main plot concerns the lives of the Perrodon family and the threat they face from a mysterious nobleman and his sister… In this work, the plot is revealed through the use of dialogue, narrative, recitative and lyric structures for songs. The script and lyrics are deliberately stylised and in keeping with the period. Some allowances have been made for modern audiences in this respect. By contrast, the original music (by Christopher J. Orton) has been composed with modern audiences very much in mind. |
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Further information on this new work will be posted here in due course ... |
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ANOTHER MUSICAL BY ORTON & EVANS... |
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Dracula, the Musical by Orton, Evans & Lynn |
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from a recent issue of WHAT'S ON STAGE - The UK Theatre Magazine : "Evita started as a concept album. Why not Dracula? This 70 minute CD has already gathered a battalion of fans (or should they be fangs?). It's a powerful new Gothic musical that remains faithful to the original novel and has enough dramatic bite to keep you listening well beyond moonrise. With music by Christopher J. Orton and Lyrics by Gareth Evans, the songs deliver just the right measure of dramatic passion to get the blood pumping. And when you've got one hell of a vocalist like Les Miserables stalwart Michael McCarthy hitting all the right notes in the title role, something really does begin to quiver on the side of the neck. First the concept. Then the concert? Next, the West End?" The Editor - What's On Stage Magazine |
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The Dracula Musical concept album can be purchased from Dress Circle: The London Musical Theatre Store. Now also available to buy at the Sound of Music Store (and website), Germany.
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