Untitled Vampire Play

Long before Twilight or The Vampire Diaries captured mainstream pop culture, there was Carmilla. In 1872, Irish author Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu published this Gothic romance about a human and a vampire. Carmilla stands out not only for its exploration of dark romance but also for its characterization of desire, fear, and the enthralling entanglement between love and danger. It also featured a romantic same-sex relationship. Le Fanu's chilling narrative laid the foundation that continues to inspire and influence modern interpretations of vampire love stories. Humans' fascination with transforming their lives and removing the possibility of death to internal life has captured our imagination since the beginning of time. One of these transformations of life after death comes from vampire folklore of being bitten by a bat. When a human becomes smitten with a vampire, it sparks one of pop culture's most timeless and captivating romantic tropes.

Written by Kevin Douglas, the Untitled Vampire Play, the world premiere at Chicago's Lookingglass Theatre Company, follows this iconic narrative, adding a comedic twist to the horror of being a human in love with a blood-drinking vampire. Although adding comedy isn't unusual, Douglas's comedic narrative and timing in its placement are truly compelling. Directed by Devon de Mayo, Untitled Vampire Play, which describes itself as a rom-com that turns into a horror, captures your imagination with its opening scene. The production is seamless and flows throughout its 2-hour-and-15-minute runtime. The simplistic yet captivating staging, featuring coffins rising from the stage, sets a perfect imaginative tone, establishing a hauntingly enchanting atmosphere through its whimsical narrative.

Douglas's storyline centers on Dom, a mortal who is trying to find the same true love his parents had, and meets Val, a vampire. Undeterred by learning of Val's unique, paradoxical space of being undead, he falls in love with her and wants Val to meet his parents. He meets with his parent first to inform them about Val and, with some hesitation, tells them that the love of his life is a vampire. Their jaws dropped in disbelief, and their initial shock quickly gave way to playful skepticism, dismissing his words as Dom following his father's humorous antics. Val is apprehensive about meeting Dom's parents and grows even more so when she learns that Dom has told them she is a vampire. When they finally meet, Val is shocked that they don't believe she was a vampire. When she learns that Dom doesn't want to go through the process of being her forever lover, complicated by Dom not knowing Val has a sister and brother, the challenges of bringing a mortal and undead family structure together become all the more captivating and intriguing. To add to the chaos, Dom's mother, who is in law enforcement, is looking for a serial killer on the loose in Chicago, who leaves a trail of blood from the victims' bodies similar to a ferocious animal bite.  

As a captivating subplot, we learn how Val and Rose satisfied their thirst for blood by securing a steady supply of medical blood bags. In stark contrast, Roderick remained drawn to the primal experience of feeding directly from humans, creating tension within their vampiric family. Also, in any captivating vampire narrative, the presence of an arch-nemesis vampire hunter is essential. Enter Lance, portrayed by Bandealy—an unwavering foe who is part of the Van Helsing lineage. With a fierce determination, Lance embarks on a relentless journey across the globe, driven by a singular mission: to track down and vanquish the formidable trio of vampires—Val, Rose, and Roderrick. Lastly, the special effects, featuring the illusions of arrows in this play, are spectacular. They enhance the thrilling atmosphere and add an extra layer of excitement to the scenes.

The play showcases a talented cast, highlighted by the outstanding performances of Jordan Anthony Arredondo, Kareem Bandealy, Walter Briggs, Courtney Rikki Green, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, and Jin Park. Jordan Anthony Arredondo's portrayal of Dom captivated the audience as the love-struck mortal, unafraid to love his vampire girlfriend. Kareem Bandealy effortlessly shifts between humor and seriousness, playing the dual roles of the witty, charismatic Louie, Dom's comedic father, and Lance, the vampire slayer. Walter Briggs delivered a standout performance as Roderick, the charismatic antagonist, the disavowed brother of Val. Briggs truly captivates the audience with his sharp wit and charming performance, elevating the entire production.

Courtney Rikki Green is bedazzling as Val, commanding the stage with an engaging presence. Cynthia Kaye McWilliams commanded attention with her powerful presence as Alicia, and Jin Park's performance was a delightful mix of tolerance and temperance, expertly navigating the dramatic elements of character, Rose. Their chemistry on stage was tantalizingly whimsical and captivating, providing a fun night at the theater. During the performance, those in the first row may experience splashes of blood during some scenes, but before you get horrified, it's not real and can be easily washed out. It's a thrilling treat for vampire fans who love to embrace the experience of being a part of the theatrical performance.

Playwright Kevin Douglas said the idea for the play came to him while contemplating a significant question on his way to a funeral: "How can two people with differing but strong convictions make a relationship work?" With themes of love, codependency, convictions, and understanding boundaries, the exploration of a relationship at the extremes of life and death may initially seem strange; however, it vividly mirrors how we navigate and reflect on our connections in contemporary society. Douglas weaves a narrative of conditional love between Dom and Val that defies conventional divides, illustrating how it can flourish even in the face of deep-seated biases and capturing the transformative power of love to transcend even the most daunting differences. It also highlights the limitations of love, emphasizing Dom's hesitation to share the foundation of love that Val desires and the extent of her willingness to pursue an everlasting connection. In 2018, Brenda and I had the delightful opportunity to interview the talented Kevin Douglas and his charming wife, Tamberla, during her performance of Plantation! at Lookingglass, directed by David Schwimmer, and written by Douglas, where he shared with us some of his theatrical aspirations. During our conversation, Kevin opened up about his theatrical dreams and aspirations, sharing with us the passion that fuels his artistic journey. This phenomenal couple injects an electrifying, youthful energy into the theater scene that is irresistibly captivating. Douglas's Untitled Vampire Play showcases the remarkable talent and serves as a powerful testament to this playwright's potential, suggesting a promising future.

⭐⭐⭐1/2

Lookingglass Theatre Company

UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY

by Ensemble Member Kevin Douglas

Directed by Devon DeMayo

June 4 - July 12, 2026

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