Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors - Nocturnal Giraffe Theatre

Photo: Jared Fessler

There is a lot of theatre going on in the Twin Cities right now, and a lot of it is seasonally appropriate - Patrick Page exploring Shakespeare Villians, Ghost Quartet, the whole of the Twin Cities Horror Festival, two chances at Spooky 16 Bar Bingo at the Hive, plus all the spooky hay rides, and things. Sometimes you need some laughs in these spooky times, and thankfully Nocturnal Giraffe Theatre has got them for you.

Performing in a black box space at the Center for Performing Arts in Minneapolis, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors is guaranteed to make you laugh...possibly till you cry. Written by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, this 90 min work recently played off-broadway which is where I first heard of it. It caught my eye because I do like a good vampire story, it had Andrew Keenan-Bolger in it, and it looked campy and very funny. What I did not know until I saw this production is that it is only a cast of five!! Well, considering the actor playing Dracula only plays Dracula...all the other characters are done by a cast of four!

Photo: Jared Fessler

The story is very loosely based on the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. Harker (Bradley Johnson) goes to Transylvania to help Dracula (Dustin Bronson) sign papers to own land in England. Harker returns to England and is reunited with his love Lucy (Bethany McCade). During an engagement party for Harker and Lucy we meet her father Dr. Westfeldt (Katie Consamus) and her sister Mina (Corey Mills). Dracula shows up, falls for Lucy, and the story commences as I assume we all know it. There is love, lust, blood sucking, bat flying, physical comedy, failing health, and hijinks. Like all good comedy the acting is honest and over the top. Some bits are clearly inspired by Monty Python, other bits are sheer physical comedy (thank you Corey Mills), and some really fun Improv (looking at you Dustin Bronson...and child audience member). The show was fast paced but still provided time to enjoy the laughs and comedy, and the sight gags, and the biceps. 

Each cast member was perfectly cast, with each character being strong and clear. Major kudos to Katie Consamus, and Corey Mills who had moments where they had to interact with other characters that they also played. Consamus playing both Westfeldt and Renfield leads to a very nice and funny interaction towards the end of the show. Mills has a wonderful time playing Van Helsing examining Mina...who he also plays. Bradley Johnson and Bethany McCade both played multiple characters as well, but had time for quick changes between them. And even when Johnson was playing three characters at one time, each one was distinct in voice and physicality. Bronson was wonderful as Dracula, exuding a sensuality, while also playing up the campy humor that a character like Dracula has. 

Photo: Jared Fessler

The whole production directed by Joy Donley was fantastic. She found ways to keep the comedy going while grounding it as well so while it was over the top at moments, there was never a sense of overkill. The comedy beats were there for a very specific reason, and they worked. At the same time, the script and direction provided some space which allows for moments of improv. For example, there is a scene where Dracula talks about his childhood and it just happened that there was a child sitting in the audience right near where that scene takes place. Bronson took a moment to say "like you" and point to the child, and then reference back to them later in the same scene. I'm not sure "like you" was in the script or not, but I am guessing not. It was just a perfect small moment and comic beat. The show is full of them and you really should go. Dracula; A Comedy of Terrors plays three more weekends, and is a lot of fun to watch.