DRACULA

An original production Directed and Choreographed by Darren McIntyre

SYNOPSIS

Dracula is a epistolary novel by Bram Stoker, published in 1897, told through letters, diary entries, newspaper articles, telegrams, and a ship’s log. The novel is set mostly in Transylvania and England. The expression Dracula, which is now primarily known as the name of a fictional vampire, was for centuries known as the sobriquet of Vlad III. His name had its origin in the sobriquet of his father, Vlad Dracul (“Vlad the Dragon” in medieval Romanian), who received it after he became a member of the Order of the Dragon. Dracula is the Slavonic genitive form of Dracula, meaning “[the son] of Dracul (or the Dragon)”. In modern Romanian, dracul means “the devil”, which contributed to Vlad’s reputation. Vlad III is known as Vlad the Impaler in Romanian historiography. This sobriquet is connected to the impalement that was his favorite method of execution.

OUR STORY BEGINS with…

Mina Murray, saying goodbye to her fiancé Jonathan Harker, a newly qualified English solicitor, as he sets off on his journey to visit Count Dracula at his castle in Transylvania, to help the Count purchase a house near London. Mina then visits her dear friend Lucy Westenra at her beautiful estate in London to celebrate her engagement to Arthur Holmwood.

Jonathan travels to Transylvania where he meets the Count at his castle. Harker ignores the Count’s warning to stay in his guest chambers and wanders the castle and encounters three vampire women, the three sister vampire brides. Dracula rescues him from their first attempt to seduce and bite him, and Harker realizes that the Count is a vampire, too. Soon after, Dracula leaves the castle, abandoning Harker to the women; Harker escapes with his life and ends up delirious in a Budapest hospital. Mina receives a letter about her missing fiancé’s illness and goes to Budapest to nurse him. 

Dracula takes a ship for England, the captain’s log narrates the crew’s disappearance, until he alone remains, bound to the helm to maintain course. An animal resembling a large dog is seen leaping ashore when the ship runs aground at Whitby. 

-Intermission-

Dracula’s communication with Renfield, an insane man who eats vermin to absorb their life force, sends him in a frenzy, ringing bells to celebrate the arrival of his master. Lucy begins sleepwalking and Dracula stalks Lucy, seducing her with a bite and they share blood.  Lucy becomes very ill after her encounter with Dracula. Dr. Abraham Van Helsing determines the nature of Lucy’s condition, but refuses to disclose it. He diagnoses her with acute blood-loss. Lucy dies shortly thereafter. Jonathan Harker, now recovered from his unknown illness, married Mina and they have returned to London. 

After Lucy’s burial, newspapers report children being stalked in the night by a beautiful lady, and Van Helsing deduces it is her. Dr. Van Helsing, Arthur, Jonathan and Mina go to her tomb and see that she is a vampire and are forced to stake her heart. Dr. Van Helsing finally shares what he knows about Dracula and vampires, so all will better understand Dracula’s actions and predict his movements.

Dracula secretly attacks Mina as the others are out hunting for him, drinking her blood and forcing Mina to drink his blood. Interrupted by their return, Dracula is forced to flee. Mina is now cursed to become a vampire after her death unless Dracula is captured and sealed in his coffin forever. They learn Dracula is fleeing London and heading back to his castle in Transylvania. Mina has a faint psychic connection to Dracula, which Van Helsing exploits via hypnosis to track Dracula’s movements. Guided by Mina, they pursue him. They all meet at Dracula’s castle and chaos unravels in a pursuit to trap the Count into his tomb forever.

PAST PERFORMANCES – 2021 & 2023