THE long, dark, windswept journey out to Cotherstone should be the ideal preparation for a tale concerning the Prince of Darkness, but Barnard Castle-based Castle Players aim for the jocular rather than the jugular on this occasion.

Carry On Screaming meets Monkey Magic might be a fair description as the ten-strong cast pull all the puns out of Bram Stoker's gothic tale and throw in a "chopping the vampire in four" trick for good measure. Hampered by the lack of atmospheric lighting, the production does score highly because the black-clad actors use physical theatre to create ships, boats, carriages, castles and trains. Diminutive dracula Andrew Stainthorpe is always game and creator/director Simon Pell ensures the performance is all the more enjoyable by making the vampire sensitive to personal criticism. Pell's script also takes risks with a reference to "saving the world from an illegal, immigrant band of vampires" and creating the all-action US hero Quincey Morris (Chris Best) who operates like George W Bush when it comes to foreign politics. Edmund Purdy adopts a dodgy Dutch accent to play crucifix-carrying Prof Van Helsing as this whimsical, family-friendly show whiles away a decent evening's entertainment.

Other performances: Feb 13, Whorlton, Village Hall, tickets on the door; Feb 21, Butterknowle, Village Hall, (01388) 718 448; Feb 27, Barnard Castle, Witham Hall, (01833) 631 107; Feb 28, Newsham, Village Hall, (01833) 621 370.

Published: 03/02/2004