Dracula sinks his teeth into drama
The Count returns for
By: Chaley Zachmeier, Senior Staff Writer
Issue date: 2/14/07 Section: Tempo
For some, Valentine's Day means vomiting in a box of Russell Stover chocolates. Those people need a good glass of red wine and a night of "Dracula." Luckily, The Coronado Playhouse offers just that, plus a special dinner show.
This version of "Dracula" by John Mattera is a comedic look at the story that has been told countless times. With a tale so well known, the acting is essential for a great show. The ensemble delivers strong performances and the long play is entertaining the entire time.
Jeffrey James Lippold does a bloody good job playing Count Dracula. He becomes wittier and more likeable as the show goes on. His character is flat-out horny for a sip of refreshing red blood cells. The voice that Lippold speaks with gives his character depth and sex appeal.
Though he is the lead, it isn't Dracula who steals the show but the comic relief.
Ivan Harrison plays two roles: one as a narrator, who is dressed as a transvestite from Transylvania, and the other as Charles, the family butler.
Charles is an elderly and nearly blind man who wobbles along with help from a cane. His confusion and worsening condition make the family keep him on as help. Harrison's portrayal is acted out with somewhat slapstick tactics and superb skill.
Harrison's actions resulted in eruptions of laughter throughout the show. The largest was when he ran across the stage with the implication he had just come from the bathroom, with his pants around his ankles.
"If you wanna make 'em laugh, drop your pants," Harrison said with a fine Nottingham accent. "But really, all that comedy is written into the script. It's just a matter of getting it out."
Another showstopper was Mr. Renfield, played by Charley Miller. Renfield is Dracula's puppet who is trained to eat bugs and spiders in hopes that he too will live forever. Miller's take on the character closely resembled Gollum/Smeagol from "The Lord of the Rings." One moment he's raving mad and spewing the ridiculous statements of someone in an asylum; the next, he becomes a refined individual who is much more in control of himself and the situation at hand. The character is a split personality gone right.
Miller said he didn't have any plan to make his character into something as recognizable as a JRR Tolkien character. He chose not to take the route people were expecting by sucking down bugs or maybe gummy worms during the show. He really tried to imitate Dr. Seward and Professor Van Helsing's characters, the intellectuals who solve the Dracula dilemma.
"Anything else that showed up was subconscious," Miller said. "My intentions were to make Renfield as lowly and dirty as I could and bring some balance to the fact that he is sometimes sane."
The play is highlighted with harpsichord instrumentals and shrieks of violin that increase the dramatic effect in ways spoken words cannot. The Coronado Playhouse even adds its own touch to the show, making it a personal and intimate experience.
The theater is set up with 25 tables with four chairs each and a low-slung stage. Each player comes into the crowd at the end of the show for a chance to chat, which is a theater tradition. This is what really brought the story to life.
So this year, forget the crappy cards and nauseating ordinary customs. A dose of "Dracula" is just want St. Valentine ordered.
Read Hitch's review in the San Diego Theatre Scene
Read the Coronado Eagle review