On Nov. 19, the Issaquah High School Theatre Department’s production of “Dracula: A Comedy of Horrors” took place with a weekend-long showing. Weeks of hard work and dedication from the cast and crew finally paid off on stage as community members, family, and friends enjoyed the laugh-out-loud play. Directed by English teacher Jana White, “Dracula: A Comedy of Horrors” takes a swap from seriousness to smiles; this version of the famed vampire tale indulges in a seductive and extravagant take on the normally serious play, one that is popular among the crowd. From the peaks of Transylvania to the home of the Westfeldt sisters to meek real estate agent Jonathon Harker, there was much to see and love!
With cheers and applause, the crowd was intrigued by the play all night, including me. The play was a surreal, never-before-seen experience that deviated from Bram Stoker’s legendary character. This version of Dracula, played by junior Carter Underwood, was a self-centered, flamboyant character who only cared for himself. Armed with a wicked accent, Underwood was captivating and took on the character with full stride and swagger. One memorable moment from the play was a monologue between him and Lucy where he says to her, “I never thought I would ask this, but tell me more about yourself,” to then interrupt her before she even begins and launches into a spiel about himself. This certainly drew out laughs and chuckles from the audience.
Throughout the play, the actors’ performances were matched by thoughtful costume choices that suited each role perfectly. Behind the scenes, the crew kept the show running steadily, moving props and managing changes to where it made the play look seamless. A standout example was when the coffin was being moved around on stage: the person moving it around interacted with the actors and seemed like a part of the play itself, instead of a stagehand.
Overall, the cast acted with professionalism aside from a couple minimal and hard to notice accidents. Combined with a perfect ending, the audience gave a standing ovation illustrating the high quality production and emphasizing a heartwarming community feel to the play remembered by many.
The last chance to see this play is Nov. 22, at 7p.m. at the Longman Theatre. Come and support the crew and cast and grab yourself a rubber duck for three dollars before you go in; tickets are ten dollars for students and twelve dollars for adults. Make sure to support the theatre department with their other upcoming productions/musicals!
