Front Row Review: Cynthia Erivo in Dracula, Charli XCX mockumentary, The Secret Agent
Feb 19, 2026
Inua Ellams, poet and playwright known for sharp cultural commentary, and Hanna Flint, film critic noted for incisive reviews, discuss Cynthia Erivo's one-woman Dracula. They explore onstage technology and staging choices. They unpack Charli XCX’s mockumentary about fame and the aftermath of Brat. They also examine Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent and its political storytelling.
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Dracula Reimagined For The Multi‑Screen Era
- Cynthia Erivo's Dracula leans into multi-screen theatrical techniques, blending live performance with onstage cameras and overlays.
- The production targets a multi-screen generation and reframes stagecraft as a multimedia event.
Camera Intimacy Can Soften Stage Performance
- Critics differed on whether cinematic restraint diluted theatrical character distinctions in Erivo's performance.
- The production's use of filmic intimacy sometimes conflicted with expectations for larger-than-life stage acting.
Charli XCX Plays Herself In A Mockumentary
- The Moment is a mockumentary starring Charli XCX that riffs on the aftermath of her viral album Brat.
- Inua Ellams expected to hate-watch but was charmed by Charli's naturalness and comic performance.
