Vampire love story takes center stage as CCRI Players launch 2024-25 season

10/23/2024

The Community College Rhode Island Players make their 2024–25 debut this week with an adaptation of a modern-day vampire myth that delves into societal issues of isolation and anxiety to craft a turbulent, yet tender, love story between two unlikely partners.

Let the Right One In, adapted by Jack Thorne from the 2004 best-selling novel, premiers Thursday, October 24 at 7:30 pm at the Bobby Hackett Theatre with additional showings Friday and Saturday at 7:30, Sunday at 2, and a special Halloween performance October 31 at 9 pm. Tickets are available online.

Described as “a dark and visceral coming-of-age vampire love story,” Let the Right One In focuses on the relationship between a 12-year-old boy, Oskar, and a centuries-old vampire child, Eli, set in 1980s Sweden. Oskar is a bullied, lonely teenage boy living with his mother while Eli is the young girl who has just moved in next door. Sensing in each other a kindred spirit, the two become devoted friends. Horne’s theatrical version is adapted from John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel, which inspired a 2008 Swedish film adaptation of the same name and in 2010 an English language version entitled Let Me In that was set in New Mexico with different names for the main characters. The novel also inspired an A&E horror drama television series that lasted one season in 2015.

With Halloween on the horizon, Let the Right One In sets an appropriate tone as the Players’ begin their 2024-25 season. Director Anthony Goes, a CCRI alumnus and Adjunct Theatre Professor, began the process of hosting auditions and casting during the spring semester so the performers could hit the ground running at the start of the fall.

“Everyone came in with a positive vibe and was ready to work,” said Goes. “This has probably been the easiest process we’ve had thus far.”

While the subject matter of Let the Right One In is as dark as it is enlightening, Goes is confident the audience will a little bit of themselves in the main characters, both of whom feel isolated, but find companionship through their unlikely connection.

“That yearning to connect with someone and see that relationship grow is something I was really fascinated with,” Goes said. “The characters in the story who are isolated really fight to have that moment. Some of the scenes are heartbreaking to watch and you really feel for the characters. Other scenes are rather brutal, but we hope we can stay true to what the intentions of the story are and, at times, upset and disgusted by what they see. The issues discussed still hold true today.”

In addition to early auditions and casting, Goes also brought in an intimacy coordinator – Valerie Remillard, a Drama Teacher at The Prout School in Wakefield, RI –  to work with the performers as they got closer to the premier date. Intimacy coordinators have become more commonplace in the performing arts in recent years (notably after the #MeToo movement that came to light in 2017, says Goes) and serve as advocates for actors and actresses and a liaison between the performers and production team for scenes that include intimate physical contact. While this isn’t the first time the Players have worked with an intimacy coordinator – they also had one on the set of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown in April – this was Goes’ first experience with one both in and outside of CCRI.

“I come from a background of just ‘feel it out,’” said Goes, who has performed in numerous regional theater productions in addition to roles in various television shows. “Now a lot of those scenes are choreographed like any dance or fighting scene would be. These are all things we’ve worked on with our intimacy coordinator and they’ve done an amazing job creating a wonderful story through their work. It’s been very interesting to watch that build.”

“It’s wild to see how simple things such as hugs or a touch to the hand can tell a story. It’s something I never really thought about until getting the chance to work with an intimacy coordinator. Their presence helps performers feel much safer around sets.”

The case of Let the Right One In includes Felix Burns as Oskar; Aliza Almonte as Eli; Connor Maddix as Hakan, a middle-aged male that lives and travels with Eli; and Noah Goldman as Jonny, Oskar’s bully; with additional roles played by Ben Card, Jalen Rodriguez, Remmie Gyette, Felix Burns, Gabriella Seal, Thomas Mahoney, Olivia Dailey, Miguel Soto-Sanchez, Max Hayden, and Sophie Bryant.

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