ALL THE YOUNG VAMPS

In a way, it’s the perfect combination of Twilight’s new-pale-kid-in-town vampire romance and Fright Night’s new-bloodsucker-next-door vampire spooks. The Swedish fable Let the Right One In, first a novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist and then a film by Tomas Alfredson, is equal parts gore and heartfelt coming-of-age tale. Oskar, a troubled loner living with his alcoholic dad, is bully-bait until he meets Eli, the beguiling new girl next door who doesn’t go to school. As a series of violent murders plague their small town, Oskar and Eli’s relationship grows stronger. Put two and two together and you can see where this is heading. But the central relationship is surprisingly tender, proving that supernatural elements can still be used as effective metaphors, instead of just for cool-looking kicks. Tonight the National Theatre of Scotland brings it to the stage with an adaptation by Jack Thorne. Don’t miss this production that beautifully captures all the strange melancholy of the original tale.

Jan. 20-Feb. 15, 8 p.m., 2015