The cast and crew of “Dracula” are seeing red, and lots of it.
From the set’s striking crimson spider web to gallons of homemade blood – and even the custom-fitted fangs and prescription red contact lenses worn by Rich Leahy ’08, who plays the title character – this fall’s theater production paints a spectacular and suspenseful picture of the world’s most famous vampire.
The Theatre and Dance Department presents Steven Dietz’s play adaptation of “Dracula,” based on the classic 1897 novel by Bram Stoker. The curtain will rise on the two-act, two-hour production Tuesday, Oct. 30 through Saturday, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 4, 2 p.m., at the Yulman Theatre.
“The technical demands of this show are far more than we usually attempt,” says Prof. William Finlay, director and department chair. “The average show has 30 or 40 cues; this has 240, with 200 sound cues alone. It’s a real sound and light show. You’ll hear everything from boys’ choirs to babies being eaten.”
And there’s no shortage of blood.
“We’re making our own,” says Finlay. “We’re using several different recipes. We’ll go through gallons. There’s blood when stakes are driven into hearts, when people cut themselves, when they’re cut by swords. Of course, people are bitten by Dracula quite a bit.”
Finlay, who was the violence coordinator of a production of “Dracula” several years ago at Albany’s Capital Repertory Theater, said there are also technical demands of working with blood, including making sure costumes are washable, that there are back-ups in case of spills, that the blood itself is chemically safe.
The “Dracula” story follows the Transylvanian count as he wreaks havoc on a host of Londoners. Stoker’s novel was originally conceived under the title, “The Un-Dead.”
“It’s been very interesting playing a character so well known,” says Leahy, a double major in theater and political science. “It’s a challenge not to fall into the patterns you see for the character, like Bela Lugosi’s Dracula. I want to make it really believable and scary. I think Dietz tried to keep the parts of the original book that are frightening and different and off-putting. It’s a lot of fun.”
The play “is really interesting because it’s a mix of Victorian language and costumes with a very surrealistic set and direction,” said Joey Hunziker ’08, who plays vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing.
"It's not just a fantastical story about a mythical vampire," he added. "It's about good vs. evil and the ability of love to conquer all. It sounds cheesy, but it's true. 'Dracula' is about real people fighting real evils, and sometimes what we see and hear is not as powerful as what we believe."
“We’re not doing it campy,” says Finlay. “The Dietz version is very sincere and true to the myth. It’s tough stuff for the students to get their acting chops around because it’s a style piece, not a contemporary American version. It’s just as difficult as Shakespeare. These characters have to be larger than life, but they can’t be a parody or a cliché. They have to be honest.
“We have a lot of new people, a mixture of theater majors and others who are taking theater classes. We’ve been rehearsing Monday through Friday nightly since the second week of the term.”
The Union cast features 15 actors and actresses. In addition to Leahy and Hunziger, it includes Victor Cardinali ’08, as the mad Renfield; Maggie Nivison ’09 as Lucy, Dracula’s victim-turned-vixen; Neill Sachdev ’10 as the guileless solicitor, Harker; Marc Tangvik ’09 as insane asylum director Dr. Seward; and Keegan Peters ’08 as Mina, who is seduced by Dracula and eventually helps to destroy him.
John Costello is sound designer; John Miller, technical director; Dana Cartwright ’08, stage manager; Zachary Smith, crew chief; and Ian Clemente ’10, assistant producer.
The haunting set, complete with giant spider web, a couple of coffins, a roll-away tomb and under-stage areas where a lot of the action occurs, was designed by Charles Steckler. The costumes were built and designed under the direction of Lloyd Waiwaiole.
“Dracula” tickets are $7 for members of the Union community, $10 for general admission and $7 for area seniors. Any Minerva House or group of students that purchases tickets for a group of 10 or more will receive a $3 discount on each ticket, and those wearing a costume to the show on Halloween night will be admitted free.
For reservations, call the theater’s box office at 388-6545.