Carmilla Sub Title A Romantic Legend of the Undead AUTHOR Lord Longford Adapted from J. Sheridan Le Fanu by the Earl of Longford Setting A Salon adjoining Count Carlsfeld's ballroom in Styria in the Empire of Austria, 1840 Synopsis A forerunner of Bram Stoker's Dracula, Le Fanu's story concerns a female vampire, Carmilla, who preys on young women like Laura, the daughter of an Austrian landowner. A family friend, General Spielsdorf, whose daughter has already fallen victim to Carmilla is determined to vanquish her for good. Adapted/Translated From Sheridan Le Fanu PLAY TYPE Adaptation/Translation Number of Acts Full-Length Cast Size Male 16 Cast Size Female 11 Casting Notes Two female roles can be doubled up, one male role is doubled. Extras as peasants are also mentioned. Date of First Production 3 May 1932 Production Presented by Edwards-Mac Liammoir Gate Theatre Productions ORIGINAL VENUE Gate Theatre/Amharclann an Gheata Original Cast Madame Perrodon Nancy Beckh A Masked Lady Esme Biddle Guest at a Masque Edward Byrne (1) Guest at a Masque Iris Callaghan Millarca Coralie Carmichael Carmilla Coralie Carmichael Bertha Betty Chancellor Servant in the Schloss Patrick Collins Guest at a Masque Patrick Collins A Gentleman Cyril Cusack First Man-servant James Devoy General Spielsdorf Lionel Dymoke Count Vordenburg Hilton Edwards A Pale Gentleman William Fassbender Second Man-servant William Fassbender Guest at a Masque Geraldine Fitzgerald (1) Guest at a Masque Cyril Griffin A Woodcutter R.G. Hennessy A Priest James Lawlor A Gentleman Edward Lexy Laura Meriel Moore A Doctor Art O'Murnaghan Guest at a Masque Florence Sheridan A Hunchback Landon Sorrell The Father John Stephenson (1) Mlle. de la Fontaine Diana Vernon A Lady in Black Elizabeth Young Production Team Settings by Micheál Mac Liammóir Lighting Designer Hilton Edwards Costume Designer Micheál Mac Liammóir Musician Cathleen Rogers Musician Bay Jellett Musician Gretta Smith Produced by Hilton Edwards Stage Manager Art O'Murnaghan Assistant Stage Manager Máirín Hayes Wardrobe Supervisor Christina Keely Chief Electrician Martin Rabbett Carpenter Michael Lambert CLICK HERE for information on script availability, production rights and translations for this play The information for this entry was taken from press cuttings of the time, with additional information from the production programme of the revival production in 1933. Printer friendly version