Drink plenty of fluids – Film night review

“Drink plenty of fluids…”that was the advice from Doctor Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) to one of Count Dracula’s victims – ”plenty of fluids : tea, coffee or better still, red wine”! So we did, and ate a hearty supper of Ghoulash (of course).

Saturday night’s extravaganza at WERFA was Dracula (Christopher Lee). The film cost £81,000 to make in 1958 and was the first of eight Hammer Film Productions of Dracula, this one directed by Terence Fisher. The 16mm film and projector on the night was an added treat.

There were plenty of other treats and travelling tips for us too- remember to pack a big-lapelled jacket for dinner, a long white dress, a couple of strings of garlic and don’t forget your mallet and stake, and pack it all into a tiny little leather bag. But Dracula,  his victims and visitors were a little under-dressed compared to our WERFA audience. We had dramatic collars, luscious red lips, oozing wounds, teetering heels, waist length flowing locks and yes, that was just the men! Joyce was magnificent in her purple-hatted witch costume and black lipstick, deserving her prize, and Bernard too with his revolting prop (courtesy of Les’s back-garden production facility).

We had a quiz, cabbage sound-effects, an introduction to the film from Tim, bats, severed limbs, skulls, cobwebs, grave-stones, delicious food and lots of laughs. Thanks to all the team – Bob, Catherine, Dick, Dom, Emily, Joyce, Les, Tim……for another great WERFA evening. Keep them coming!