Image: Photo: Dylan Evans
This adaptation by Shake & Stir Theatre Co. of the immortal gothic novel by Bram Stoker was first staged in 2015 to ecstatic critical acclaim. Now, the same production is touring the nation, playing in roughly 50 venues including the wonderfully accommodating Parramatta Riverside Theatre – and if actor, David Whitney’s enthusiastic description is accurate, it promises to be quite a spectacular show.
Whitney plays Abraham Van Helsing, the Dutch professor and vampire aficionado who is called to London to help eliminate the evil and virulent Dracula.
“He’s a wonderfully eccentric character… his social skills are not great, he can be quite abrasive and direct and a lot of humour comes from that,” Whitney says.
The adaptation is faithful to the original story, which was written 120 years ago after the opium driven horror fantasy that was vogue at the time. Nowadays it can border on extreme and absurd, so it can be hard not to stray into parody. Whitney explains that they are playing it straight and allowing the laughs to fall where they may. The real appeal is the cinematic, enthralling production:
“It’s a huge wonderful set which revolves, and staircases and hidey holes…the set, the lighting and the sound all build this horror intrigue…we’ve got a lot of tricks like firey crosses and things disappearing and Dracula flying down a wall…”
Sound Designer, Guy Webster has created an original score and a soundscape that includes special effects, helping to establish an eerie, tense atmosphere.
There are also theatrical “blood and shock” devices inspired by the grotesque French Grand Guignol theatre, as well as a scintillating undercurrent of eroticism.
“Shake and Stir are very ambitious in terms of staging and they give the audience their money’s worth,” assures Whitney…cross his heart.
Apr 1-4, Various performance times. Riverside Theatre, Corner of Church and Market Streets, Parramatta. $38−$52+B.F. Tickets & Info: www.riversideparramatta.com.au
By Rita Bratovich.
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