"Dracula" Review

For centuries, the figure Dracula has captured the attention and fascination of the public's imagination and no matter how old the tales may be, Dracula can still be produced again and again and be seen more than once through a critic's eye. Directed by Matthew Gorris and Karen Howlett, Tidewater Community College’s production of the play by the same name falls into that category and although brief, the show was riveting.

Having previously seen William McNulty’s adaptation of Dracula, I was endowed with a new perspective in Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderson’s dramatization. It was a tidier show in that it was an hour and twenty minutes long, but the plot did require more exposition, which honestly wasn’t surprising. McNulty’s script is far longer, but was equaled in the amount of explaining that needed to be done in Balderson's script.

Also, while the two productions I saw were on college campuses, they were drastically different, particularly in deliverance. While the first was far more melodramatic and extensive in all aspects of production, TCC’s was more clean cut and practical if you will, while still keeping with the dramatics that have come to be expected of a story involving the character of Dracula.

As refreshing as was a different interpretation, so was the talent. Actor Logan Bennett carried the role of Van Helsing with great fervor and the sincerity with which he performed his role nearly outshone those of his fellow co-stars. But not all the actors shall go unnamed. The romantic tension between Harker, played by Michael SanGiovanni, and Lucy, played by Victoria Molmet, was undeniable and completely acceptable in terms of the characters, while only once or twice it felt as if it was an uneasy oddity attributed to the actors themselves.

I must comment on seeing what I believed in the moment to be gender swapped roles in that of Dr. Seward, played by Jasmine Hopkins, and Renfield, played by AJ Watson. Although it did surprise me, I did not feel that the apparent change constricted either the performance or narrative of the story. [SPOILER] An aspect I did not fully appreciate was the less than subtle buildup to the ultimate capture/death of Dracula. It was less than climactic and I was rather disappointed by the downplay. But all other elements forthcoming were welcome.

The only accent attempted in the show rather threw off the dynamic however. Renfield’s attendant, played by Hack Gallotta, was both a breath of fresh air and a nuisance. At first he seemed to be focusing to much on an accurate delivery. Eventually he eased into it, but it would have been wiser to omit the cockney dialect altogether to create a more cohesive vision. Instead it was a slightly painful reminder that the English men and women weren’t really English or in England at all. It also failed to distinguish the lower class and servants from the Doctors and upper class as the Maid, played by Jessica Raitt, did not attempt the same accent for her character.

It must be clarified however that neither of these actors nor any of the others failed to deliver a wonderful show. There was energy, passion, drive, and the will to do the show justice, which is something I fail to see in other performances at times. Their professional deliverance was undeniable and gladly accepted.

Having been deeper involved with the McNulty production, I wish I could say I knew more about the thought that went into the costumes and set design. The aesthetic was certainly similar, but an interesting aspect I realized was that the color most frequently associated with Dracula in TCC’s production was green in his vampire form and red while portrayed as a bat. The contrast in colors was appreciated when it came to Dracula’s different forms, but perhaps not so much when red is in fact his signature color. Green didn’t have the same, daunting effect at times that red could’ve had and made it look rather Christmas-y at times. Additionally, although I didn’t fully understand it, I supported the idea of playing around with shadows and wished there could’ve been more attempted with that element.

Tidewater Community College has yet to cease amazing me with their seemingly flawless performances and actors' dedication to the art of theatre. Dracula was very well a continuation of this consistency and the imaginative storytelling at TCC that does not fail to be dull nor idle.

~Olivia