BLT's 'Dracula' chills and thrills audience

By CONNIE PILSTON SHOEMAKER Eagle Correspondent

October 11, 2004 Last Updated: January 06, 2005 12:14 PM Reviews

The Butler Little Theatre's 64th season opened with Steven Dietz's "Dracula."

A macabre production is not necessarily what audiences have come to expect from the group.

The departure into the horror-thriller genre, though unexpected, garnered much appreciation based on the standing ovation at the conclusion.

Dietz's "Dracula" is not about flying bats and vampires. His complex approach and the staging required the audience to have a good imagination.

The tale was less about evil and more about a group of people trying to unravel a mystery to save their lives.

Doug Anderson, who portrayed Dracula, described his character as "a complex creature who is wise, powerful and consumed by both lust and unimaginable rage and regret." Anderson adequately conveyed that to the audience.

"I don't think that my Dracula will fit people's preconceived notions - at least I hope not," he said. "I am hoping to bring both the natural and supernatural to life for the audience."

A new Dracula was born in the performance and it is one that won't disappoint.

All of the performances were surprisingly superb. Bill Geibel portrayed Renfield, the tortured soul in the insane asylum with uncanny knowledge and foreshadowing prophecies. His rants and rages were haunting.

He captured the mind of a man whose inner struggle was beyond human comprehension.

The tasty morsels on Dracula's menu, Mina (Heidi Lazor) and Lucy (Amy Evans) offered up some excellent portrayals of good women wrestling with an evil that is darker than they could imagine. The roles required us to love them one minute and fear them the next. They shifted gears with uncanny ease.

Patrick Erkman, who normally takes the stage belting ballads with the Musical Theatre Guild, made a bold leap to this theater group in the challenging role of Dr. Seward. He was the lovesick warden of the insane asylum who had to endure the demise of the object of his affection.

Wearing his heart on his sleeve and weaving the audience into his emotional turmoil seemed quite easy for him.

As always the incomparable Casey Bowser capably owned the role of Jonathan Harker, the betrothed to Mina who was the first victim lured into the web of the horrid beast, Dracula. Bowser donned the hat of a man possessed by fears and thoughts and visions of things seen and unseen.

He is the quintessential hero and protector of goodness and virtue.

Bowser's intensity as an actor lends credibility to each role he undertakes.

The discovery of the villain was credited to Professor Van Helsing who grasped the situation and took to securing a remedy. Played by Robert Meals, Van Helsing walked the fine line of comforter and caregiver to a man possessed to end the rampage of evil.

All the actors had to work within the confines of sparse sets and time travel using their talents and skills to bring the audience with them on the journey into the darkness and fear of Victorian London in 1897. They maintained an uncomfortable tension that was most gripping up until the end and beyond.

Gary Collar did a wonderful job as director in using the stage and sets and in bringing out the darkness and desperation in his cast.

Even if you is not a fan of the horror genre, there is no doubt that the appreciation of such fine performances far outweigh theatrical preferences.

It was surreal and seductive, chilling and terrifyingly tense.