Truckee Meadows Community College Theater presents in October the chilling account of “Dracula” in the spirit of Bram Stoker’s unforgettable thriller.
Many productions of “Dracula” have interpreted the plot as a horror story, but the original book was told from the perspective of people’s diaries about mysterious events. They worried about the secretive central character. Rather than blood and gore, a more faithful telling involves sudden edge-of-your-seat plot turns, astonishment and surprise much like an Agatha Christie whodunit.
“It’s about a good person who gets completely twisted by tragedy and goes deeper into it, becoming a predator,” said Eric Bullis, Ph.D., theater professor. “The play will bring chills to audiences of all ages as the mystery unfolds, although small children are not recommended.”
He adds that the Nell J. Redfield Foundation Performing Arts Center is an exceptional venue for the play because it is a three-quarter, or thrust-type, theater floorplan instead of the usual forward-facing proscenium layouts.
“Sandra Brunell Neace is a skilled director and the show will be further enhanced by moody special effects created by technical director Ty Hagar,” he said. Performances of “Dracula” will take place on the following show dates:
When: Oct. 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Matinee show: Sunday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m.
Where: RPAC Theater, 505 Keystone Blvd., (next to Save Mart) in Reno
Tickets: General admission at door $17, Veterans and seniors $15, Students $10.
Discounted pre-sale tickets: www.showtix4u.com or 775-673-7291
“The action mounts faster and faster — there is a lot of suspense in it and tension,” Bullis said. “It’s better to let the audience’s imagination take over. The mind fills in those gaps and what you don’t know is actually scarier.”
Bullis and Neace have together adapted the script to be truer to Bram Stoker’s novel. They are also leading discussions with the 20 student and community cast members about historical foundations for the story. Stoker based his novel on Prince Vlad the Impaler, an infamous warrior in the 1400s. All cast members are enrolled in a theater class at TMCC, and many of the students are theater majors.
“The students are surprised that the characters aren’t shallow, but are deep, well-crafted and experience real fear,” Bullis said. “The book is partially a love story, where his wife dies and in deep sadness he makes a deal with the devil.” For more information about the TMCC Theater production of “Dracula,” please call 775-673-7291.
