The Power of the Vampire

St. Nicholas

In a commanding and brilliant tour de force, multitalented and prolific actor Kevin Webb delivers a one-man performance that completely captures the imagination of his audience. The two-act presentation is storytelling, at its best. Mr. Webb mesmerizes his audience and envelopes them in a frightening, sometimes humorous, tale of the supernatural. Through Kevin’s polished performance and ingenuity, he recounts a series of related events experienced by the nameless character he plays that, by the end of the evening, chronicles the power of the vampire.

Celebrated for creating masterful monologues, dark humor and haunting and atmospheric storytelling, ST. NICOLAS is from the pen of award-winning contemporary playwright, Conor McPherson. If his name sounds familiar, it may be because the gifted Irish playwright authored such plays as THE WEIR, SHINING CITY, THE SEAFARER, THE NIGHT ALIVE and the book for the Bob Dylan jukebox musical, THE GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY.

ST. NICOLAS revolves around a nameless, cynical theatre critic. He’s a bitter, middle-aged man with a wife and two grown children. The critic especially relishes the power he has to make or break a new play with his theatre reviews. Like a literary vampire, the critic uses his newspaper column to suck the joy and lifeblood out of all the dedicated theatre artists who’ve worked tirelessly to produce a play. The title of McPherson’s drama is ironic in that, rather than giving joy—like St. Nicholas or Santa Claus—the protagonist takes it away. But in a perverse plot change, the critic becomes St. Nicholas for a coven of vampires.

Our storyteller informs us that one evening, at a Dublin production of SALOME, he became totally obsessed with the play’s leading lady. She was a beautiful and absolutely captivating actress named Helen. The critic hated the show and panned the production in writing, but he crashed their cast party in order to catch another glimpse of the gorgeous Helen. There the critic lied to the director, saying that the production was so powerful that it changed his life. But when the critic’s review is eventually published, the critic lies again and tells the company that his editor had changed everything that he’d written.

The lovely actress would continue to dominate the critic’s every thought, until he finally moves to London. At a pub, he chances to meet a vampire named William. The bloodsucking fiend seduces the critic, giving him a supernatural charm that will make him appealing to everyone he meets. Then William convinces the critic to become the coven’s go-between. He would live with the vampires in their lair and then go out at night to lure beautiful, young revelers to the vampires’ home for late-night parties. The critic’s charm allows him to easily manipulate and control other mortals. Through his debauched delivery of fresh, new blood for the undead, the critic becomes a perverted St. Nicolas…until one night, when he runs into Helen. Then the story takes a dark, new twist.

Ed Rutherford, the talented and imaginative producing artistic director of Black Button Eyes Productions, has once again staged a seldom-seen play for Chicago audiences. True to their mission, and like all of the company’s previous productions, Conor McPherson’s ST. NICOLAS contains “elements of fantasy, in which the magical and surreal invade reality.” Previous plays directed Mr. Rutherford include another vampire saga, STRANGE CARGO: THE DOOM OF THE DEMETER, the company’s recent collaboration with City Lit. Other productions include WHISPER HOUSE, GHOST QUARTET, EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL, SHOCKHEADED PETER and, the show that launched this weird and wonderful theater company, CORALINE.

Theatergoers who enjoy fantasy and horror stories, especially with a generous touch of humor, will thoroughly relish ST. NICHOLAS. And for audiences who appreciate going on a captivating journey with a skilled and engaging storyteller, this master Thespian has a show for you. Kevin Webb absolutely owns the stage, which has been beautifully transformed into an intimate drawing room, designed by Jeremiah Barr. Mr. Webb delivers McPherson’s riveting, picturesque supernatural tale of terror with frenetic finesse. The playwright’s rich, colorful language is the very essence of this production, enhanced by Joe Griffin’s spot-on sound design and Liz Cooper’s evocative lighting layout. And Rachel Sypniewski has costumed Mr. Webb appropriately for portraying the merciless and predatory critic. In this contemporary retelling of the Faust legend, Kevin Webb holds the audience in the palm of his hand. Prepare to experience the power of the vampire!     

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented June 26-July 26 by Black Button Eyes Productions at City Lit, inside the Edgewater Presbyterian Church at 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office or by going to https://stnicholaschicago.eventbrite.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com

Photos by Michael Brosilow