Review: DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS at Arizona Theatre Company
Dracula is at it again in this delightfully zany production!
DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS at Arizona Theatre Company is bloody brilliant! The play, written by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen and directed by Gordon Greenberg, is a laugh-out-loud spectacle! DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS was a smash-hit off-Broadway. Here in Tucson, it feels like we have stepped into my favorite theatre district of New York: Off-Broadway! DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS is hilarious in every sense of the word. It is extremely fast-paced and funny, with clever and tongue-in-cheek dialogue that will have you in stitches. Some of the humor is more adult and contains innuendo, so discerning audience members will appreciate the jokes more.
DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS is very aggressive in its gags. You will laugh until it hurts. There were several moments throughout the evening where our audience did not just laugh. We also clapped. So be prepared to actively participate in the performance in your reactions. As mentioned, some of the humor is sexual in nature. However, a quick study of the Dracula lore will reveal that Dracula and his presence have always been sexually charged, with many clear references to seduction of victims. It's just more overt here! That said, everything in DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS is tasteful, and the content itself sticks to wordplay and visual jokes. I laughed my head off.
The ingenious banter is deliciously delivered by a firecracker cast. Christopher James Stevens shines in the title role. Sexy, smart, and stylish, his Dracula beckons the characters (and the audience) to enter his world. Stevens is so much fun to watch in this very physical role. The premise is simple: Dracula is trying to find victims to bring to his recently purchased castle in Transylvania. Stevens takes up a great deal of the stage time, and is a welcome presence every time he takes the stage.
What makes DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS such a delight is its vast array of characters, 30 to be exact, and played by five actors! Paul Vogt is a laugh-a-minute as Mina, Van Helsing, and others. The comedic chops and timing of all cast members in this play are simply astounding. And actors play different genders, which is refreshing to see. Vogt chews the scenery as both Mina and Van Helsing...Jean Van Helsing, that is! James Romney is buoyant and boisterous as Harker and others. They have the best character arc in the show, which was delivered very well.
The best dialect work in the show goes to Susana Cordón. She is clearly a refined and well-trained actress having the time of her life in a farcical and very witty comedy. Susana Cordón grounds the chaos with her characterizations of Lucy. She gets to be a bit zany herself with some of the characters she plays. Kudos to Kelly Bashar for her work as Dr. Westfeldt, Renfield, and others. She has the fastest costume changes in the show, and they must be seen to be believed! This truly is a dynamite cast.
Set design by Tijana Bjelajac is suitably and simultaneously macabre and flashy. The lights, which outline the giant bat wings attached to the set, almost look like veins, and light up synced to sound and other key effects. The lighting and sound by Rob Denton and Victoria Deiorio respectively, is excellent. Costumes are period-appropriate and designed to precision by Tristan Raines. ATC is making great choices with their programming, and the audience ate this one up. As someone who appreciates horror comedies, particularly slightly edgy ones, I was right at home. Go see DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS! Get your tickets at atc.org. Photos by Tim Fuller.
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