Theatre Review: Dracula
Stephanie Thompson and Misha Kuznetsov in this year’s Actors Theatre production of “Dracula.” (Photo by Harlan Taylor) |
Judging by the displays at Target, it has been Halloween since Aug. 1, but it’s never really Halloween in Louisville until Dracula stalks the stage at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville. Once again ushering in the first of ATL’s holiday offerings, “Dracula” crashes and howls and moans for audiences who have seen it again and again and always come back for more.
Arguably, it is not the most critical of theater offerings, and it’s not supposed to be. What it is is fun. Jump out of your seat, grab the stranger next to you and hang on for dear life fun!
This year’s production has the added bonus of a new Dracula. Misha Kuznetsov, who is from Siberia, makes his debut at Actors and commands the stage anytime he nears it. Lucy may be ethereal and sexy (she is), and Van Helsing may be smart and resolute (he is), but face it — the vampire is the one we come to see. This vampire is old school with his big cape and red eyes, and at the same time quite modern in his glam-rock black leather pants and knee-high boots. His beastly alter ego is wretchedly ugly and has the added advantage of a howling voice.
Oliver Wadsworth also gives an excellent performance as the fly-eating sanatorium resident Renfield, Dracula’s whipping boy. He was an audience favorite as he bounced to and fro around the stage, delivering one of the best lines of the evening when he introduces himself to Van Helsing rather seriously as an entomologist. Kim Stauffer as Lucy manages to seem innocent and vulnerable yet turns into a tainted vixen quite convincingly. Tyler Pierce, as the lovelorn Harker, Mark Sawyer-Dailey as Lucy’s father Dr. Seward, and Graham Smith as vampire-hunter Van Helsing are all quite good as the trio saddled with the job of banishing the demon among them. Cliff Williams III also deserves praise for his role as sanatorium orderly Butterworth, charged with the thankless job of keeping up with Renfield and toting about his pet rat. But Lily Stark, who plays a very young vampire to eerie perfection, provided the most fun of the evening. She gets to scream, dance, throw tantrums on top of coffins and generally have a great time.
As is so often the case with Actors’ productions, the sound and lighting are superb. Lighting designer Tony Penna and sound designer Benjamin Marcum have put together a production that keeps the audience on edge throughout much of the performance. Director William McNulty has infused the old Dracula with a new sensibility, including Rocky Horror-inspired choreography that demonstrates Dracula’s absolute power over his subjects. He utilizes the entire theater, which means that a character may appear at anytime, anywhere. “Dracula” is a fun ride, a worthy vampire tale for the horror buff and a great way to start the holidays.
BY DANA ADAMS
leo@leoweekly.com
