Playwright: Bram Stoker
At: The Building Stage, 412 N. Carpenter
Phone: 312-491-1369; $16-$20
Runs through: Oct. 18
Flapping into to West Loop, The Building Stage's version of Dracula is visually appealing and shows that a dialogue-heavy play is not needed to get a message across.
Drawing from the plot and characters of Bram Stoker's novel, this in-house company carves out a niche piece full of high-stakes drama and mood.
Blake Montgomery's production is a throwback to silent films of the past and paints pieces across the stage to convey the story. The director chose to blanket the stage with the facial expressions and body movements of the actors—challenging the audience to remember the melodramatic cinema of the past.
The novel, written in 1897, still continues to keep audiences on the edge of their seats today with its story of Lucy's seduction at the hands of a vampire. The cast does a superb job of working together and bringing the plot to life. Meghan Reardon is a standout as Mina Harker. She understands the style of the piece and carries the audience along with her. Not an easy task for any of the cast with almost no text to help supplement an hour-and-50-minute production. When the cast is finally allowed to speak, it's almost jarring to hear that they have voices, but it makes a nice conclusion to the story.
The space is hip and modern and smelled of fresh paint. Ceiling fans would have been helpful during opening night, for at times members of the audience broke into a southern church revival sweat and used their programs to circulate air.
The plot moved along quickly with the help of the eclectic and ethereal music. David J. Amaral made a good choice by using segments by composer Dmitri Shostakovich.
The lighting and costumes choices were also very effective. Actual dialogue for the characters is posted behind the set, similar to vintage black and white silent cinema. Use of curtains and small paintings convey travel and time throughout the show.
Trying a different take on the familiar story was much appreciated and showcased the talent and space of The Building Stage's ensemble cast and crew.
While this may not be the adaptation to satisfy every viewer, this cast intrigues just enough to make one curious to see what they will sink their teeth into next.