Dracula Inquest : Drama. Written by Gary Graves. Directed by Jan Zvaifler. Central Works, At the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant, Berkeley, CA. www.centralworks.org or 510-558-1381. July 12–August 17, 2014 World Premiere #44
Dracula Inquest by Central Works a thriller. [rating:4] (4 of 5 five stars)
If you are a member of Central Works the Bay Area collective dedicated to the production of new plays, you surely must subjugate your ego to the collective ego or at least leave your ego at the door. Now, what the hell does that mean or have to do with a review of their latest world premiere Dracula Inquest?
It means a hell-of-a-lot. The collective concept has worked for them since their decision in 1997 to “write, develop, and produce world premieres.” Whereas most plays go through workshop after workshop, Central Works’ timeline for a play is four to six months. A playwright’s idea is taken to the group and before any script is written, a director is selected and they set about casting the non-existent play. They plan about 10 meetings with the playwright, director and cast contributing to the final script. For Dracula Inquest Gary Graves is their resident playwright and is given full credit for the script.
In Dracula Inquest Graves has taken Bram Stoker’s novel, pared the characters down to four and postulates a “what if” scenario. In the novel the four are the “good guys’ who eventually do Dracula in with a wooden stake through his heart. Wait just a while, what if those “good guys” were not what they seemed and were just after Count Dracula’s wealth? They hide behind their façade as the “Crew of Light” insisting that their heinous act was done in the name of humanity.
In the play the four “Crew of Lights” are the lawyer Jonathon Harker (Joshua Schell), his wife Mina Harker (Megan Trout), Dr. Seward (Kenny Toll) who has prescribe opiates for Minna and the leader of the group Professor Van Helsing (Joe Estalack). They are all locked up in an insane asylum.
Professor Van Helsing and his intrepid team of vampire hunters, now all inmates of the Whitby Asylum for the Criminally Insane —and under investigation regarding
the disappearance of a mysterious nobleman from Transylvania.
(l to r): Kenny Toll, Joe Estlack, Joshua Schell & Megan Trout.
The time is 1895 three years after the disappearance of the wealthy Count Dracula. Scotland Yard Detective Sly (John Flanagan) arrives at the asylum to interview the miscreants having in his possession a typed book describing all the details (much of it apparently taken verbatim for Stoker’s novel) of Count Dracula’s disappearance. The disbelieving Sly may have his convictions changed by the dramatic ending end of the show.
Central works now is ensconced at the Berkeley City Club using the miniscule 50(?) seat three sided theatre with only two rows of seats on each side. This intimacy works wonders for this production with the audience pushing back in their seats to avoid the “insane” action on stage. The play is a shocker and should be rolled out for Halloween. The quality of the actors is superb and all deliver their long speeches with veracity. If there is a weakness of the writing it is that the play is a series of monologs with minimal interaction between the characters. However when there is interaction it is dynamic and allows the actors to appropriately emote.
Detective Avery Sly of Scotland Yard (John Flanagan R)
interrogates Dr. Seward (Kenny Toll L).
John Flanagan has been cast as a detective in other plays and has not lost his touch at interrogation. Without giving a “spoiler” the last scene is problematic for him. Kenny Toll as Dr. Seward, bound in a straight-jacket for the entire play, gives a Tony Award performance. Joe Estlack brings his innate acting ability honed at Shotgun Theatre to this play in his role as the Professor. Joshua Schell and Megan Trout as the Harker’s earn their share of accolades. Running time 2 hours with an intermission.
Cast: Joe Estlack as Professor Van Helsing; John Flanagan as Detective Sly; Joshua Schell as Jonathan Harker; Kenny Toll as Dr. Seward; Megan Trout as Mina Harker
Production Team: Tammy Berlin, costumes; Gary Graves, lights; Gregory Scharpen’ sound/operator; Debbie Shelley, properties; Vanessa Ramos , stage manager; Alandra Hileman, production assistant; Robin Low, box office. Photos by Jim Norrena.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com
