Vampy, sexy, and bloody funny: Dracula gets the pulse rising and the laughs rolling

Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors

Get ready to laugh until your sides hurt at the campy sex-capades of this delightful take on the OG vampire story, no sparkles or Sookie needed.

Lazy Susan Theatre Co.’s production of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors as directed by company member Matthew Masino is frighteningly perfect. In this modern farce with salacious slapstick and a “f*** gender constructs” attitude, the cast channels the best energy of Saturday Night Live and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Every company member is having such fantastic fun; their energy is infectious. Catch this Jeff Recommended show before it flies away!

Dracula: Comedy of Terrors written by Gordon Greenburg and Steve Rosen premiered in New York in 2023 to critical acclaim. The 5-actor, multi-character piece is a screamingly funny send up of Bram Stoker’s famous work. This play is a gem; with the skilled creative team, and the across-the-board superlative acting talent of the company, Masino takes every hilarious moment of this gem and shines it to perfection.

In this lightning-paced, highly physical comedy the ensemble masters every device, from immaculate deadpan delivery to ludicrously larger-than-life exchanges. Creative use of props – and bodies – convey carriages, wolves, and travel montages to excellent comic effect. The cast has significant improvisation experience in their histories, and it shows in the unfailing energy and exceptional timing.

All the favorite characters are here, albeit hysterically instead of horrifically rendered – the seductive Count Dracula and the mad manservant Renfield; the enchanting ingenue Lucy, her betrothed Jonathan and her fallen sister Mina; their faithful father Dr. Westfeldt, and the heroic Dr. Van Helsing.

The story begins in Transylvania, with the unwitting Jonathan courting the business of the sexually omnivorous Count. Dracula sees a portrait and becomes consumed with desire for Lucy, Jonathan’s fiance. While Lucy remains impervious to Dracula’s advances, her sister Mina is sent heels over head with desire for the salacious Count. When Mina falls deathly ill the famous Dr. Van Helsing is summoned, but it takes the entire family and a herd of hobby-horses to hunt down the monster and save the sisters from Dracula’s embrace.

Lucy (Valerie Martire) is the consummate ingenue; and if Lucy is a bit more than a bit self-absorbed well, anyone with hair that perfect would be. Martire creates an eminently lovable spitfire, strong, independent, and quite naturally the center of everyone’s adoring attention. She sells the slap-stick scenes and excels in delivering the sardonic one-liners that break the fourth wall, winning hearts and laughter.

As Dr. Westfeldt and Renfield, Chris King demonstrates comic acumen, remarkable range and a compelling presence in all her roles. King is adeptly dry and severe as the conservative doctor, father of Lucy and the second favorite daughter, Mina. As Renfield, King is the polar opposite, larger-than-life in persona and physicality. King’s delivery is consistently spot-on, hitting every moment just right. In a particularly hilarious and transformative moment for Dr. Westfeldt, King manages a perfectly-placed voice crack that brought the audience to roaring.

Laura Michele Erle (Mina / Dr Van Helsing) is a powerhouse. As the untethered, sex-obsessed Mina, Erle takes on an over-the-top clowning style without losing touch of a core reality. Even in the midst of the campy fun we genuinely feel for Mina as she is continuously shunted aside – sometimes physically – by those seeking Lucy’s favor. In the role of Van Helsing Erle flips a switch and is all strength and confidence, effortlessly taking charge of those around her and commanding respect. She is delightful both as the quirky Mina and the intrepid doctor. Erle and King have an natural, potent energy when their doctor roles collide and connect.

The whining, almost insufferable cringe of Jonathan (Jacob Gage) is the perfect foil for his transformation in the final scenes of the play. Gage really shines playing up Jonathan’s super-sexy alternate self, stealing the stage entirely during his debut.

Among all the stellar performances in this jewel of a production, Connor Paulson still stands out in the title role. His Dracula is outrageously, gender-fluidly sexy, while not taking himself seriously at all. He is unceasingly self-confident in his seductive power over any and all in his vicinity. Paulson’s physical comedy is especially masterful. He alternates between vogueing in his fabulous and frequently revealing outfits, and collapsing into shocking paroxysms with hilarious recovery. Paulson makes the most out of virtually every comic opportunity, and is just as strong in the brief scene where the monster breaks through the vamping.

In Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors every other moment is a scene of seduction, or struggle – or quite frequently both – that manages to be simultaneously silly and steamy, thanks to the work of Fight and Intimacy Director Greta Geiser.

Costume Design by Holly Osborn weaves gorgeous visuals that highlight the seduction and the hilarity. Osborn’s sharp period silhouettes transform smoothly in multiple quick-changes, and when juxtaposed with the clown-like Mina dress or the very-much-not-period lingerie in the – ahem – climactic scene, the costuming wonderfully reflects the modern versus mock-Victorian dichotomy of the play.

The simple, evocative set by Jon Yawn (Scenic Designer) enhances the camp, especially the comically rendered stone. Yawn scores with a glam coffin and a set feature that allows Dracula to seemingly fly from the castle walls.

Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors is 90 minutes of unceasing entertainment and a perfect escape from monstrous reality.

HIGHLY Recommended

Reviewed by Soleil Rodrigue

Dracula: A Comedy of Terror presented by Lazy Susan Theatre Co. runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM with matinees Sundays at 2:30 PM through February 22. All shows are at the Greenhouse Theatre Center, 2257 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago

Tickets are $15 to $29 and may be purchased online at www.lazysusantheatreco.com or have your fun with Chicago Theatre Week and purchase tickets here https://hottix.org/shows/greenhouse-theater-center/dracula-a-comedy-of-terrors/.

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