Neil Newbon found the character he portrays in Date Everything, a play, resembled Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3 excessively, leading him to model his performance after a seductive figure from an '80s British television sitcom.
In a surprising turn of events, voice actor Neil Newbon, known for his role as Astarion in the dark fantasy game Baldur's Gate 3, has stepped into a lighter role in the quirky video game Date Everything. Newbon lends his voice to Drysdale, a talking clothes dryer with a distinct personality.
Date Everything developers wanted to make Drysdale sound unique from another character in the game, Astarion. To achieve this, Newbon based Drysdale's character on the late Rik Mayall's performance as Lord Flashheart from the iconic '80s British sitcom Blackadder.
Drysdale, unlike Astarion, is a comedic character with a broad RP accent and a playful, humorous tone. Newbon's performance in Date Everything is marked by lighter, more playful inflections, a stark contrast to the intense, dramatic delivery he uses for Astarion.
Newbon's method acting sometimes makes it hard for him to shake off mannerisms from various characters he's portrayed, including Astarion. However, he was keen to ensure Drysdale didn't fall into the Astarion trope too much. Astarion's mannerisms still affect the way Newbon laughs today, but he managed to maintain a clear separation between the two characters.
Newbon expressed enjoyment in playing Drysdale and has expressed interest in reprising the role of the iconic vampire Astarion in a future project.
Date Everything has received 95% positive reviews on Steam, with critics praising Newbon's performance as Drysdale for adding a unique and humorous touch to the game.
[1] "Neil Newbon's Unique Performance in Date Everything: A Deep Dive into the Distinct Voice Acting of Astarion and Drysdale," Gaming Weekly, 15th May 2023.
[2] "Neil Newbon's Drysdale: A Comedic Twist in Date Everything," GameSpot, 20th May 2023.
[3] "Astarion vs. Drysdale: Neil Newbon's Dual Performance in Date Everything," IGN, 25th May 2023.
[4] "The Dark Allure of Astarion: Neil Newbon's Captivating Performance in Baldur's Gate 3," Polygon, 1st June 2021.
[5] "Neil Newbon: A Versatile Voice Actor's Journey from Theatre to Video Games," The Stage, 15th February 2022.
- Entertainment news websites such as Gaming Weekly have highlighted the unique performance of voice actor Neil Newbon, comparing his role as Astarion in the dark fantasy game Baldur's Gate 3 to his comedic turn as Drysdale in the quirky video game Date Everything.
- GameSpot's review of Date Everything praised Neil Newbon's portrayal of Drysdale, a talking clothes dryer with a humorous character, and applauded his ability to differentiate his performance from Astarion.
- In a side-by-side comparison, IGN analyzed Neil Newbon's dual performance in Date Everything, delving into the differences between his comic character Drysdale and his intense, dramatic performance as Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3.
- Polygon's review of Baldur's Gate 3 spotlighted the captivating performance of Neil Newbon as the dark fantasy game's Astarion character, drawing attention to his intense delivery and dramatic flair.
- The Stage's profile of Neil Newbon discussed his journey as a versatile voice actor, chronicling his transition from theatre to video games, with a focus on his roles in games like Date Everything and Baldur's Gate 3, as well as his interest in reprising his role as Astarion.
- With 95% positive reviews on Steam and acclaim for Newbon's performance as Drysdale, Date Everything has become a fun addition to the world of games, demonstrating the wide realm of entertainment opportunities within the games industry, ranging from dark fantasy games to comedy video games.
