Sometimes "till death do us part" is more of a demand than a promise. This was the case with Lake Braddock Secondary School Theatre's production of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which created a grotesque look into one of humanity's classic and horrifying tales.
Dracula was originally written as a novel by Bram Stoker in 1897, but in 1995 Steven Dietz adapted the collage of dates and locations into a somewhat linear storyline for the theatre. Taking place across Europe, but mostly Transylvania and England, in 1897, the story follows a businessman's unlucky encounter with Count Dracula. After a frightful night at the Count's mansion, he flees back to safety in England, but the horror follows him home, soon taking over the life he used to know and turning it into a perilous vampire hunt.
Every actor donned an accent, ranging from British to Romanian to even German! The accents were upheld throughout the show which, paired with the Victorian style of the costumes, gracefully transported the piece into the setting of the show.
Lake Rusch as Mina perfectly captured the emotion of the piece, especially in the second act as she entered the hunt for Dracula and dealt with the loss of her friend. Rusch was compelling whenever she spoke, conveying an intricate plot line with ease. Alongside Rusch was Amelia Campbell-Reidhead as Lucy, Mina's close friend. The sisterhood that Rusch and Campbell-Reidhead portrayed was heartwarming from the first scene, strengthening the eventual tragedy that would befall Lucy. Rusch and Campbell-Reidhead both navigated the transition between sensibility and entrancement beautifully, creating an almost otherworldly presence when bitten.
And of course, what would Dracula be without�well, Dracula! Serving Victorian horror and Victorian style was Jonathan Barnard and his smooth-as-silk accent. Barnard was never lacking in dramatic entrances and exits, thanks to Lake Braddock's Lighting Team (Katie Brusseau and Sungah Kong) and head of Special Effects (Soeun Lee). Lee's use of fog added a dramatic flair to tense situations, but never hindered general visibility for the audience, creating a sense of dread for characters and audience alike!
The space of the theatre became part of the stage with liberal use of the aisles and even shaking doors in a blood-chilling moment. Ensemble and lead characters alike freely roamed the aisles, giving an eerie feeling of being surrounded or, with the doors specifically, locked in.
Lake Braddock's production of Bram Stoker's Dracula showcased a tense but entertaining look into love, loss, and lots of blood. Lots.
by Val Altmiller of Herndon High School