John Mattera's adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula is a drama, right? If I could only stop laughing or was still in knickers, it would appear to be a drama. Or maybe I've just seen too many horror flicks and stage productions. Either way, director James Gary Byrd has created a delightful, highly interactive production.
Count Dracula (Jeffrey James Lippold) is living on a large estate next to an insane asylum run by the naive Dr. Seward (David O'Neal). Professor Van Helsing (Michael Gardner) tries to convince the good doctor that Count Dracula is a vampire. The hospital staff includes Albert (Bernie Nofel) and Nurse Emma (Jessica Hazel Purdin). There are the usual plot twists and turns, making for an enjoyable evening.
Lippold's Dracula is delightfully sinister, with an insatiable thirst. His eyes are dark and piercing, and the horror of his presence instills fear. Certainly, don't let your favorite lady get near him. One only has to ask the beautiful Lucy Westenra (Allison Williams) and Mina Murray (Kat Ochsner) the fate of those who fall under his spell. Lucy's parents, Martha and Henry are distinctively played by Allison MacDonald and Timothy Paul Evans.
The young suitors, Arthur Holmwood (Casey Gardner) and Jonathan Harker (Michael Oravec), while not contributing directly to Dracula's culinary delights, seem to have lost their appetites, at times, for their lovely ladies.
Providing a bit of relief from the constant quest for blood are two amusing characters. Ivan Harrison plays Charles, the Westenra family's near-sighted butler. He begins terrorizing the audience even before curtain and is obviously not to be trifled with. Then there is Charley Miller as poor demented Renfield. A nut case, Renfield happily eats bugs and such. Both Miller and Harrison are scary in their own manner.
Gardner joined the cast 24 hours prior to opening in the role of Professor Van Helsing. He had his character well honed opening night, even while still on book. There are also three lovely female vampires, Katrina (Cicely Kay Carnahan), Francesca (Stephanie Jackson), and Sophia (Teresa Neale) who do a bit of terrorizing on there own.
Gary Byrd's set is limited to an occasional window or hint of a wall with set pieces that suggest a location. This works well with his subdued lighting effects, suggestive sound design, and, with Ivan Harrison, technical effects. Eric Scot Frydler's original score adds much to the mood. Barbara Hart and Jessica Hazel Purdin's period costumes are excellent.
Dracula is just plain fun. Even at two and a half hours, with intermission, it is well paced and entertaining. Before the lights come up for intermission, there is a vampire abduction of a young audience member. At another point, Count Dracula successfully frightens some already skittish patrons. This production is definitely not for the faint of heart.
