Beware – Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors – Misses the Mark

Dec 7, 2023 by

By Sue Weston and Susie Rosenbluth, Two Sues on the Aisle

A spoof on the classic Bram Stoker story, Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors, now playing Off-Broadway at the intimate New World Theater, is a sophomoric play with punny lines that’s been given a gender-fluid performance. It might work on paper, but up close, in person…not so much.

The small cast, more often than not in drag, winks at the audiences as Jonathan, a meek real estate broker (Andrew Keenan-Bolger) tries to sign up the castle of the Count (James Daly) a tall, blonde, muscular rock star in leather pants that leave nothing to the imagination. They and the rest of the cast are much more Rocky Horror Picture Show farce than Bela Lagusi or Frank Langella ever imagined.

Running 90 minutes without an intermission, the show by Steve Rosen and Gordon Greenberg (who also directed) makes much of the benefits of a hard-working, run-of-the-mill stiff as husband material for Lucy (Jordan Boatman) over a flamboyant Transylvanian with a passion for fame, love—and blood.

 Two Sues on the Aisle were probably not the audience Rosen and Gordon had in mind for their campy, sexy twist on the classic, however, there can be no denying the breathtaking talent on display as the performers on stage take on multiple roles.

The staging is minimalistic, and the actors transition fluidly between roles, making no attempt to fool the audience as to who plays whom. This leads to a few funny moments, most notably when Arnie Burton (who plays Dracula’s nemesis, Dr. Van Helsing, as well as Lucy’s homely sister, Mina) whines, “I got all the recessive genes.”  The on-stage quick changes, back and forth, complete with accents and mannerisms, by Ellen Harvey (as Dracula’s little helper, Renfield, as well as the girls’ father, Dr. Wallace Westfeldt) left us–and her–dizzy.

What Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors lacks in plot is more than made up for with talent. The premise is still the simple tale: a lonely vampire, stalking his prey, is attracted by both Jonathan and Lucy until he’s hunted down. But is it his time? The last scene suggests not.

Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors is neither a comedy nor a terror; it’s an attempt at farce, although we did jump at some of the loud crashes of thunder.  The performance, scheduled to run until January 7, provides an opportunity to showcase some exceptionally talented performers. We hope to see them in other productions in the future.

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Two Sues on the Aisle bases its ratings on how many challahs (1-5) it pays to buy (rather than make) to see the play, show, film, book, or exhibit being reviewed. 

Dracula, Comedy of Terrors received a 1 Challah rating because it’s always fun to see live theater.

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