Let The Right One In - Altrincham Garrick

FOR Oskar, relentlessly bullied by his peers, his life is a living hell.

His tormentor in chief is the dreadful Jonny, who subjects him to the cruellest of humiliations, including forcing this socially inept teen to eat sand, after he and his sidekick take exception to him harmlessly playing in a sandpit.

But has Oskar found an ally, a soul mate in Eli, who he first encounters living a semi feral existence? She too holds a dark secret which I’m not going to divulge in case there’s anyone reading this who, like me, is new to a story that is as sensitive as it is spine tingling.

While Sam Evans is a study in obnoxiousness as Jonny, you can’t help feeling for Oskar, played so brilliantly by Charlie Gallagher in what is for me his best performance to date at the Garrick theatre.

The chemistry between him and Chloe Arrowsmith is so strong I felt I could reach out and touch it.

Mark Goggins has created a captivating, at times haunting original score which provides the perfect musical backdrop to a highly unusual and off the wall story that will live long in the memory of those who see it.

Let The Right One In is performed by the Garrick Ensemble, a group of 18-30 year olds from Greater Manchester under the direction of the Garrick’s artistic director, Joseph Meighan.

Meighan is a man on a mission to deliver theatre that will appeal to everybody and it’s mission accomplished for me.

I urge people not to be put off by the bloody bits or the smattering of naughty words and judging by the overall standard of acting, the future of this theatre looks very bright indeed.

You simply must see this.

Until February 10. Tickets are available from 0161 928 1677 or www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Star rating - *****

Photo - Martin Ogden.