Dracula The Musical?

Review by Matt Smith

What do you get when you combine some of the best theatrical talent in Kenosha with a comedic horror musical? That’s a question I never thought I would ask (or get an answer to for that matter), but at Rhode Opera House, this hilarious interpretation of the horror classic is something worth seeing.

Descibed by director Ray Setzer as “a cross between Mel Brooks and Gilbert and Sullivan,” this play puts us in the middle of a family headed by Dr. Sam Seward (Philip Jaeger), a psychiatrist in charge of a mental facility. His wife Sophie (Brandi Schuld) is the typical doctor’s wife with high fashion sense and (at first) low impression of others. The daughter, Mina Seward (Meg Walsh), the somewhat typical “victim” who’s fiance goes to Transylvania in search of Count Dracula’s castle, only to not return. The Count (Joseph Cardamone III) takes an interest in her from the start, but is thwarted several times before stealing his prize.

The play begins with the Count coming to the Sewards’ for a formal dinner. Joining them will be Bubu Padoop (Amy-Louise Seyller), Mina’s best friend, and one of the Institution’s inmates, Boris Renfield (Vince Cook). When the maid Nelly Norton (Melissa Kelly Caramone) is surprised by the seemingly insane Dr. Van Helsing (Jay Rattle), trying to warn the family of the impending doom, hilarity and foolishness soon follow.

This mini-musical, featuring so much talent both vocal and theatrical, feels just like a show on Broadway . The comedy styling and musical arrangements remind me very much of other comedic musical masterpieces like Wicked and Nunsense.

Lakeside Players, Inc. Presents:
Dracula The Musical?
by Rick Abbot
Sponsored by: Murder By Design

October 19th-November 3rd, 2007
7:30 pm Fridays & Saturdays
2:00 pm Sundays
(tickets are available at the door, the box office is open one hour prior to performance)

Where:
The Rhode Center for the Arts
514 56th street
Downtown Kenosha, WI 53141

To reserve tickets call: (262) 657-PLAY (7529)
www.rhodeopera.org

Matt Smith lives right in the middle of Historic Downtown. Since moving to Kenosha in July, he has instantly fallen in love with this city.