Vampires are scary, but the dark side of "Count Dracula" is offset by a bit of humor as the Averitt STARS present a comedic version of Bram Stoker's legendary vampire tale.
The spook factor is certainly there as Michael Porter, eerily sinister in his portrayal of Dracula, sets his sights on the ward of a local doctor whose home doubles as "Dr. Seward's Asylum for the Criminally Insane."
Seward (John Williamson) lends an air of seriousness to the tale, but his eccentric sister Sybil, portrayed by Susan Jackson, brings giggles shortly after the first scene opens with a scream.
Paired with a spectacular portrayal by Derek Joyce of mentally insane character Renfield, a resident of the home who eats flies and spiders, the play will capture viewers' attention and keep them on the edge of their seats as they switch from being frightened to laughing while watching Dracula's attempts to seduce frail and beautiful young Mina, portrayed by Anastasia James.
Brad Wells plays Mina's fiancé, a serious but dedicated Jonathan Harker, while Joe Morgan, as Dr. Heinrich Van Helsing, passionately tries to warn others that Mina's mysterious ailment is the work of the strange count who lives alone in a crumbling castle on a nearby hill.
Brooks Adams as butler Hennessy and J.J. Crawford as asylum assistant Wesley also bring a measure of humor to the scene as they work around the darker side of the story.
The Averitt Center website gives the following account of the story:
"... Things are more than unusually strange at Dr. Seward's Asylum for the Criminally Insane ever since the arrival of a mysterious nobleman from Transylvania. Sybil, the friendly sister of the director of the local mental institution, invites him to dinner at her family's home/insane asylum.
"There, Count Dracula meets Mina, Dr. Seward's beautiful and virtuous young ward. As quick as the flap of a bat's wing, the evil count sees Mina not only as a tasty morsel, but also as a potential bride. Count Dracula will evoke just enough laughter to keep the goose bumps at bay."
The three-act play runs Friday through Sunday at the Averitt Arts Center's Emma Kelly Theater, Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 for balcony and orchestra seating, $18 for box seats and $10 for youths, and are available at www.averittcenterforthearts.org.
Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.