The Horrifying Legend of Dracula

Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter

In 1897, Irish author Bram Stoker wrote a book that would become one of the bestselling classics of Gothic Horror. The legend of Dracula, or The Un-Dead, was creatively told through newspaper articles, invoices, telegrams, letters and diary entries by the various characters in the book. The novel begins when Jonathan Harker, a young English solicitor, journeys to remote Transylvania. He plans to meet one Count Dracula, in order to finalize the nobleman’s purchase of decaying property near London. 

While staying at Castle Dracula, Jonathan Harker encounters some supernatural characters and unexplained occurrences. They lead him to believe that his regal host is actually a vampire. Harker escapes and flees for his life, eventually returning to England, while Dracula charters passage aboard the Russian ship, The Demeter. He plans to transport 50 enormous wooden crates of Transylvanian earth, along with himself, to his new homeland in Whitby, England.

The seventh chapter of Dracula is told through the final entry in the ship captain’s logbook. It narrates the troubled, seemingly cursed voyage of the good ship Demeter, and how the entire crew disappeared by the time the ship reached the English shores. Only the Captain remained, his dead body found lashed to helm. It is further noted in a newspaper account of the incident that a large dog was seen leaping from the deck when the ship ran aground at Whitby.

In a creative attempt to read between the lines of Bram Stoker’s “found footage” concerning the horrifying legend of Dracula, talented Playwright Timothy Griffin brilliantly fills in the missing details in his new play. In STRANGE CARGO: THE DOOM OF THE DEMETER we learn the tragic details of the voyage from Eastern Europe to Great Britain. We discover the name, the wisdom and the strong religious beliefs of wise Captain Gorodetsky (beautifully portrayed by Brian Parry, who was seen at City Lit in HOUSE OF IDEAS  and the more recent R.U.R). As the Captain, Mr. Parry is the very heart of this story, and his performance beats with the pulse of authority and an empathy for his crew. 

Upon boarding, theatergoers will immediately meet each of the ill-fated eight crew members of The Demeter. Through the seafaring saga Griffin delves into themes of brotherhood, male bonding, and the contagion of paranoia and fear. The crew members include First Mate Basarab (portrayed with power and passion by Alex Albrecht); Second Mate Mr. Post, strongly played with understanding and sincere humanity by the marvelous Robert Howard (AUGUST WILSON’S SEVEN GUITARS); Gusa, a miraculously multitalented Jennifer Agather (A WINTER’S TALE at Invictus) plays an agile young man, whose background and strong relationship with Basarab remains cloaked in mystery until near the end of the play. 

Having worked with Redtwist, Idle Muse and Chicago Shakespeare Theatres, Andrew Bosworth makes a particularly energetic, erudite and eloquent Mr. Abramoff. Riles August, a recent Chicago transplant, portrays Mr. Olgaren with dignity, strength and determination; an ensemble member with Theatre Above the Law, Ross Compton’s portrayal of Mr. Bucatar is thoughtful and thrilling; As Mr. Petrofsky, Nathaniel Kohlmeier creates a tempestuous, athletic young sailor who frequently seems to be looking for a quarrel; and Cameron Austin Brown, as the innocent, young Turkish enlistee, Munir, often incites the crew’s wrath simply because he’s not Russian.

Talented newcomer to City Lit, Herb Metzler is absolutely stunning and captivating as Yorga. We meet the older Rumanian gentleman in the first scene. He arranges the transportation of several large boxes of soil, from Transylvania to England, aboard The Demeter. While observing the crew members loading the coffin-sized crates onto the ship, Yorga convinces the Captain that its mandatory that he accompany the parcels to their destination. Throughout most of the play, the audience watches the elderly gentleman lurking around the ship throughout the voyage. And then, mysteriously, the crew begin to disappear.

The play is Directed with his typical macabre spirit and mysterious style by the Artistic Director of Black Button Eyes Productions, Ed Rutherford. This talented artist is often called Chicago’s Maestro of Theatrical Horror. If this co-production with Black Button Eyes Productions is any indication, one would hope that Mr. Rutherford will return to helm additional shows, particularly Timothy Griffin’s highly anticipated upcoming sequels to this play: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO RENFIELD and THE DUBIOUS ACCOUNT OF DRACULA. 

Helping Mr. Rutherford bring this play to life is another talented crew of artists. They include Ruby Lowe for her massive and majestic seafaring Scenic Design. Timothy’s talented brother, Joe Griffin, has created a realistic Sound Design and Original Musical Composition that add so much to the story’s mysterious quality. Jeremiah Barr competently provides the many period properties and shadow puppets. Liz Cooper has Designed a Lighting Plot that adds a ghostly, supernatural atmosphere to the play; and DJ Douglass has devised a nice Projection Design that keeps the audience informed as to where and when each scene occurs. And Beth Laske-Miller has outdone herself with her believable and detailed late 19th century Costume Design.

Perfectly presented during the Halloween season, City Lit’s co-production with Black Button Eyes Productions is an absolutely  timely artistic pairing. Ed Rutherford’s Direction is just right for presenting Timothy Griffin’s creative take on the Legend of Dracula. Perhaps a little long, STRANGE CARGO could easily be trimmed down to a comfortable running time of two hours, or less. That would still leave the audience wanting more. But without a doubt, this horrifying legend of Dracula will forever be remembered as one of City Lit’s finest productions.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented October 10-November 23 by City Lit, in a co-production with Black Button Eyes Productions, inside the Edgewater Presbyterian Church at 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 773-293-3682, or by going to www.citylit.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.