The Citizen, 1999-09-22, Page 23ntertainment
Theatre review
‘Dracula’ seductive
The seduction
June Crowley as Mina Murray falls under the seductive
spell of the Prince of Darkness, played by Juan Chioran, in
the Stratford Avon Theatre production of Dracula, a cham
ber musical based on the Bram Stoker novel.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
Stratford Avon’s Dracula a cham
ber musical based on the classic
novel by Bram Stoker is compelling.
When one thinks of the Prince of
Darkness they are likely to envision
a blood swigging, pointy-toothed
character typical of those campy
horror films. Not so this Dracula, an
enigmatic villain who repels and
fascinates.
Richard Ouzounian’s version is a
tightened account of the original
Talk follows
public
readings
Continued from page 21
run of seven performances.
“The process of development of a
new play is a lengthy one and these
productions will bring the script up
to a new level,” said Simon
Johnston, producer of the series.
As w-ith the public readings, there
will be a talk back session after
each performance during which the
audience is invited to discuss the
play and offer comments to the
writer and those involved in the
production. This interactive feature
involving the audience in the
development of a play is unique to
the Writers Workshop.
The London Ticket Centre, call
673-5715. Admission is $12.
with only seven of the most impor
tant characters maintained and the
plot successfully compressed.
Lawyer Jonathan Harker arrives in
1897 Transylvania to finalize the
count’s purchase of an English
estate. Dracula on seeing a picture of
Harker’s fiancee, Mina Murray and
her friend Lucy Westenra is capti
vated by the latter.
Harker, is taken prisoner by his
frightening host and after several
weeks manages to escape. Mina
receives word that he is in hospital
in Budapest suffering from a brain
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Sept. 20
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fever. She travels there to bring him
home.
Meanwhile, Dracula, having
arrived at his estate, seeks out Lucy,
who falls under his spell.
Succumbing to his bite she becomes
physically ill. Her fiance. Dr. Jack
Seward cannot find the cause of her
sickness and calls in his mentor. Dr.
Van Helsing, who recognizes the
vampire’s mark on Lucy’s neck.
Upon her death and her birth into
the life of the undead, Van Helsing
imparts to Seward that a wooden
stake must be driven through Lucy’s
heart. Harker does it and Dracula
seeks revenge by seducing Mina.
Juan Chioran in the title role gives
a powerful performance. He is a
charismatic count, enigmatic, yet
disturbing. Intnguingly sinister he
manages to simultaneously seduce
and terrify.
June Crowley as Mina and Amy
Walsh as Lucy, are lovely heroines.
Walsh’s endearing ingenuousness
gives validity to the idea that a
strong, virile male would be drawn
obsessively to her. Both women
have impressive voices, particularly
Crowley. If angels do sing, they
surely sound like her.
Roger Honeywell as Harker, is
vapid as a hero. (This may be a per
sonal view based solely on the fact
that he bears a striking resemblance
to Will Farrell of Saturday Night
Live.) His performance is highlight
ed by a powerful singing voice.
Shawn Wright as Seward and
Michael Fletcher do equally fine
work.
Benedict Campbell as R.M.
Renfield, with the exception of
Chioran, has the most interesting
character to portray and does a stel
lar job.
The songs, with lyrics by
Ouzounian, who also directed, and
music and orchestration by Marek
Norman deliver on all emotions and
work well within the performance.
Devin Fraser’s lighting and
Douglas Paraschuk’s design estab
lish a mood of evil, infused with a
romanticism which effectively sets
the stage for this tale of darkness
and light, hate and love. A ‘brilliant’
ending is the visual piece de resis
tance to this stunning theatrical pro
duction.
Dracula runs at Stratford's Avon
Theatre until Nov. 7.
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1999. PAGE 23.
Blyth Festival seeks
volunteer actors
1 he Blyth Festival is presenting
an old-fashioned pantomime. Jack
And The Beanstalk on Friday, Nov.
26, and Saturday, Nov. 27.
Everyone who loves theatre is
welcome to participate in this
production either as actors,
musicians, acrobats, jugglers, stage
technicians, seamstresses or
secretaries.
The English pantomime is a
traditional form of entertainment,
aimed at kids and adults.
Pantomimes used to be as much a
part of Christmas as the tree,
usually based on a fairy tale but
replete with many local references
and jokes for the adults.
Blyth’s Jack And The Beanstalk
will be set in mythical kingdom of
Blyth (which is a myth) which
faces being swallowed by the
Dreaded Northern Region when a
very special Princess is kidnapped
by the Giant.
Medic Alert
SPEAKS FOR YOU
1-SOD-668-15D7
www.medicalert.ca
Atwood Lions
Bingo
every Thursday
Doors open 6:30 p.m.
Starts at 7:00 p.m.
Jackpot $500.
on 54 calls
Pot of Gold $500.
on 51 calls
Loonie Bin
Jdappy 1*
ffirtJiday
Ashley
September 25th
Love Mom & Dad
The pantomime will be scripted
by Anne Chislett, Keith Roulston
and David Scott.
Anyone wishing to be part of the
fun has only to call the Festival at
523-4345 and sign up.
60th Wedding
fflnniversary
The family of
Alvin and Gene Snell
invite relatives and friends
to an
Open House
at Blyth United Church
Sunday, September 26, 1999
from 2-4 p.m.
to celebrate this special
anniversary.
Best Wishes only please
Jlappy ffirst
birthday
Emily
ofJsew Brunswick
EMILY CROFT
will turn one
on September 26
Love from Grandpa &
Grandma Roulston