Dream a Little Dream of Stranger Things: The First Shadow
A fun night in Hawkins for fans and non-fans alike!
Screen-to-stage adaptations or prequels of famous franchises have increasingly popped up in the theatre world. In West End, we have productions like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Frozen, and Lion King, attracting fans to see well-loved properties in a new way!
Stranger Things: The First Shadow was quite a unique show to bring to the stage. It’s by far the most contemporary of similar productions so far.
And what story would they choose to adapt from all the plotlines and characters in the sprawling saga?
However, having been to a few Stranger Things pop-ups and experiences myself, the franchise’s nostalgic and lore-based story is the perfect source of fun geeky tie-in products.
As soon as you walk into the Phoenix Theatre, you are met with a concession stand that is rebranded as the Scoops Ahoy Ice Cream Parlour from the show, setting the mood for the night to come.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a prequel to the Netflix show. Set in our beloved Hawkins in 1959, we follow the origins of Henry Kreel, a memorable character we got to know very recently in season 4.
Fans are also treated to young versions of Joyce (Isabella Pappas), Hopper (Oscar Lloyd), and Bob (Christopher Buckley), all of whom are written and portrayed in a way that really echoes the show’s grown-up versions.
The highlight of the play was definitely the sounds, effects and aesthetics that masterfully emulated the look and feel of the show.
There were a few jumpscares that harkened back to the 80s thriller-inspired TV show (though nothing too horrific), and it was interesting to see it done in a live theater setting. The show had a bit of a ‘Phantom of the Opera chandelier drop’ moment at the climax of the show that I still can’t figure out!
There were also some interactive scenes where actors would interact a bit with audience members, which is always a bit of fun, especially if you are stuck in the nosebleed seats.
Louis McCartney's performance as Henry Kreel, a troubled teen, was impressive and very physical. However, the somewhat underwhelming script did a disservice to the superb cast.
The pacing of the play was jerky, with lots of slow and boring scenes in the second half just before the big climax. Often, it seemed to struggle to justify its three-hour runtime, and sometimes, jokes simply would not land.
Personally, I also miss the iconic needle drops from the show (Running Up the Hill was a cultural touchpoint), although understandably there may be some difficulties with getting permission to do it for a stage show.
Overall it is worth it to experience an unseen part of the Duffer Brothers’ world, and you can be sure that fans and non-fans of all ages can have a good time!
Written by Mika Sudjarwo