my dracula review

[showinoff]

Posted: 10/23/04 at 11:51am

So I broke down and saw the show. I was curious! I some ways I am so glad that I did, and in others well... Read on.

I will start with the cast:
Darren Ritchie jonathan Harker, I wanted to love this character, but the show simply did not allow it. I truly lost interest after he was attacked by dracula. I will say that he sang one of the most beautiful ballads of the show in the second act. He sang the poop out of that song. It was the second time in the show that I felt like I wanted to clap, and not obligated.

Tom Hewitt, dracula. He was good, but nothing special. I have seen him before he this was not his best work. I blame the dir. It was very hard to see him, and that helped me loose interest. I understand that they were using special lighting, but I was staining just to see his face, this annoyed me.

Melissa Errico, Mina Murray. What a beautiful actress, so elegant, yet daring. she sang like a lark, and had some great acting moments in act 2. I was sad that her huge ballads were completely overpowered bt the moving sets and flying vampires. I hope to see her again soon, in something else.

Kelli O'Hara, Lucy. This woman was a rock star. I loved her, wish I loved the show. She sang the act 1 fianle with dracula and it sounded outstanding. Her portrayal was supurb.

Out of the supporting cast, there was one guy who was a standout, he is Shonn Wiley, he plays the doctor. This guys voice is flawless. I truly enjoyed his songs, and character.

Now the bad news...
This show is like watching a screensaver on your PC. You know that it is going nowhere, but for some reason you have to stare! There were so many times I was just like.. what?? The lights were terrible, and that added to the confusion, great effects, but many missed cues. At one point in Mina big number the set started to move, quit moving, and went back to where it was supposed to be. She totally sold that she was confused, her eyes were in complete shock.
The flying vampires were great, I loved them, did not truly understand them, but I was entertained. Other things about the show were just so bad, I chose not to mention them, after all I have already written a term paper here. :)

My only fear is this. It was a full house, and I hope that there were not a lot of broadway virgins. If this was thier first show, they may not come back. Yea it was that bad. There is so much good theatre out there, I would have to loose more patrons in an already dying art.

Open to questions or thoughts. anyone else see it???

Posted: 10/23/04 at 3:28pm

Like your review! I think newcomers would like seeing this, because although it is not great, it has cool eyecandy and they really don't focus on the points that you, as a seasoned broadway goer, would look for.

Thanks for the review!

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 10/23/04 at 6:34pm

The song you're referring to that Darren Ritchie sings is "Before the Summer Ends" and it is the most beautiful song in the show and Frank Wildhorn agrees it's his favorite.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/23/04 at 6:56pm

This show is tops on my list when I return to New York. I just have to see it for myself! I think after everything I have rad here and in the reviews, my expectations will kind of be in the middle.

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 10/23/04 at 7:17pm

Sorry I have to disagree. I loved the show. I did not find all the flaws that you did. The special effects great and Tom Hewitt was mesmerizing!!!!!!!!!

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 10/23/04 at 11:40pm

i love the show, and i've seen it twice. i really don't think that tom hewitt was just alright at all, i think he was pretty amazing. but i agree with you about shon wiley. his voice is flawless and i love him! and of course "before the summer ends" is so beautiful, i wish i could hear shon sing it!! i bet it would be amazing!

[theatregirl2]

Posted: 10/24/04 at 10:54am

you should have watched The Dying God: A Vampire's Tale (A Dramatic Play in NYC).
It's not a typical show about vampires.
Dracula was good but not what i expected.
The Dying God: A Vampire's Tale(A Dramatic Play in NYC)

[Morning Star2]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 12:13am

Personally,I understand the flaws in the show...but do not find it cheesy or horrid like some. As a matter of fact, I have traveled from Florida three times to see Dracula and plan on seeing it again in December. I find that my best endorsement of such a beautiful interpetation of gothic literature is continued support. See it and get lost in the mist.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 12:22am

I was about to walk out during intermission but then I thought - wait. If half the show is this wretchedly awful, the second half has to be just as bad, if not worse. I should atleast stay so I can find some humor in it and actually look forward to it getting worse. So, I did that. And sure enough, just when you thought the show couldn't get an ounce worse, it does. Over and over. The sooner they close, the better - they'll same themselves from what little embarassment is left.

[bdwybelle]

Posted: 11/25/04 at 10:56am

I have to say that I disliked Dracula. I thought that the actors and their voices were amazing! The special effects were pretty good, but the story along with the special effects didn't fit. It was very confusing, and distracting. I didn't care about the characters, there was no time for them to be introduced. I hope that the actors in Dracula get more work, they were great, but the material wasn't.