Review: Fifth Third Bank's DRACULA at Actors Theatre Of Louisville

Howard Kaye and Emily Bennett in Fifth Third Bank's Dracula, 2016, Actors Theatre. Photo by Bill Brymer.

Fifth Third Bank's Dracula

By Taylor Clemons

Entire contents copyright © 2016 Taylor Clemons. All rights reserved.

When I stepped into the unique Bingham Theater, I knew I was in for a spooky delightful treat. Staged in the round with audience members inches from the action, the the promise of frightening entertainment was all that more realized. As the lights go down, the stage is filled with a gloomy fog, and we are transported into an eerie graveyard, late at night, in Purley, England.

The plot is fairly known (this is an Autumn Louisville tradition of sorts), so I will touch on it only slightly. We learn that Van Helsing (WilLiam McNulty) has been summoned to the institution of Dr. Seward (Ryan Didato) after an odd "disease" has killed his love Nina and is starting to take one of his closest friends Lucy (Emily Bennett). Van Helsing first meets Renfield (Benjamin Pelteson), a patient of Dr. Seward. He is, for lack of a better word, nuts. As Van Helsing learns of the illness, they soon begin to think that the mysterious Count Dracula (Howard Kaye) could have something to do with it.

If I'm being completely honest, I had very low expectations going into this. I thought it would be cheesy or silly, but I must say I could not have been more wrong. I was completely transfixed on the show, and I will admit, legitimately frightened at at the edge of my seat. The wonderful performances attributed greatly. Howard Kaye as our mysterious and devilish Count Dracula lead the company with amazing strength. We gave the horror that we all know, quite a terrifying face. Emily Bennett's Lucy has a is fragile and poised, but transforms into a force to be reckoned with when all that she has ever known is threatened. Benjamin Pelteson provides a lot of much needed comic relief in this dark tale, and was a quick audience favorite. Ryan Didato is strong and often heartbreaking as the newly widowed Dr. Seward. One scene in particular in the second act is utterly crushing. WilLiam McNulty's Van Helsing is very much the "straight man" in this production. The character itself isn't very interesting, but is very much the important catalyst that sets the action in motion. He does a very good job with a somewhat mundane character. Jacob Sabinsky as Lucy's lover Jonathan is great here. He had a great spark about him that really worked for what could easily be a bland character. My personal stand out has to be Grace Palmer as the mousy nurse turned manic minion, Ms. Sullivan. The dark change her character makes is so drastic that one couldn't help but be entranced by the incredible range of her performance.

The technical elements of show were top notch. Lighting designer Tony Penna does an amazing job setting the dark tone. Everything from pyrotechnics to flight direction was spot on. Being in the round, all of the seats are pretty great. Personally I only missed a handful of moments, that didn't hurt my enjoyment or understanding of what was happening. WilLiam McNulty's direction was rich and interesting. The first fourth of the show was a bit dull, but you don't go to a show expecting the exposition to be the most exciting part. As soon as we meet the Count, the story shifts into full throttle.

In closing I absolutely adored this production. It's the perfect thing to usher in Autumn, and leaves you in a definite Halloween spirit. I can't recommend this show enough, and I personally hope to catch it at least once more before it concludes it's annual seven week engagement.

Fifth Third Bank's Dracula September 9, 2016 - October 31, 2016

Actors Theatre of Louisville (Bingham Theater)

316 W. Main Street

Louisville, KY 40202

Tickets: (502) 584- 1205

actorstheatre.org

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