A review--
Most of us already know the story of Dracula, so one might wonder if LATW’s radio play can hold the interest of its listeners, and my answer is yes, absolutely. Charles Morey’s serious yet family-friendly adaptation of Stoker’s novel is, at times, both chilling and thrilling. Morey used the novel’s reliance on letters, journals and ship logs to great advantage by having his characters instead do lots of narrating—a ploy that seems perfectly suited for a radio broadcast.
The production itself was breathtaking, and particularly impressive was how the cast mingled fluidly. LATW apparently had a ball with the Dracula theme, with goodies handed out to the audience (bat rings to the ladies and full fangs for the males). I loved the bats hanging at the exit doors during intermission that disappeared afterward. At the entrance to the theater, a sign read: No food, drink, or bags of blood allowed.
Big fans of the book might notice a few tweaks to the story. For example, the character of Quincey Morris was eliminated, or rather, absorbed into other characters. The ending of the book, unfortunately, had to be streamlined for the sake of the performance. There’s also a character credited as a “tart” that proves to be important to the climax of the story, but if she was in the novel then I’ve completely forgotten her. However, the actress playing her (Denise Carole) was quite memorable.
The entire cast, as with all LATW productions, is extremely talented. Simon Templeman as the Count was genuinely creepy, but I wish I could have seen more shades to his character—a trace of the character’s aristocracy, perhaps, not to mention sexual power. Oh, what Ben Cross could have done with the role! There’s a moment when Dracula lets out a blood-curdling howl (but thankfully, the snarling wasn’t overdone, a la the 1991 Barnabas).
David Selby, looking very handsome in a dark 3-piece suit and gold watch chain, narrates at the start and then shines as Van Helsing. His Dutch accent wasn’t always consistent, yet his intensity was. And John Glover was outstanding as Renfield. As you listen on KPCC or via the internet, picture him dressed in a nightshirt and robe despite the conservative dress on the rest of the cast. Selby, btw, once again graciously took the time to greet his fans after the show.
Since some actors played multiple roles, the actress who capably played Lucy Westenra’s mother also appeared as one of Dracula’s brides, but I felt her mature voice just did not suit the latter role. Otherwise, all the casting was perfection.
So, you’re going to tune in when it airs on NPR, right?
