DRACULA: THE BLOODY TRUTH By John Nicholson & Le Navet Bete Directed by Dave Ward Players Dramatic Society I did not know quite what to expect from a production of Dracula, especially during Halloween month. I was braced for a fright but from the opening ‘banquet’ scene I realised we were set for something different and enjoyed a frightfully funny evening instead. Bram Stoker’s tale of the vampiric Count Dracula needs no explanation. It is the stuff of legends; his novel having been adapted and dramatized multiple times for stage and screen. Here we are transported back to the Victorian age where Professor van Helsing is unhappy with Stoker’s fictional version of Dracula and is determined to present us with the “terrifying” truth. He has recruited a small group of three actors to assist. What ensued was like a chaotic Dracula pantomime, complete with toy horse, missing cues (deliberate!), audience stooge and fake blood. We were frantically led from Transylvania to Whitby, encountering almost thirty different characters, all played by the four talented and energetic cast members. The director, Dave Ward, made the most of every comedic device available to him. All slapstick elements, including chaotic quick changes, farcical entrance and exits and collapsing scenery were skilfully executed. The Dressing Screen high jinks alone must have taken some patient rehearsing as they were timed to perfection. He was assisted by Chloe Broomhead who also spearheaded the intricate sound design. Talking to Chloe after the performance, she divulged that there were over 200 sound cues, all
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