by Terrance Mc Arthur

Hold on to your garlic! Vampires have taken over the Good Company Players’ 2nd Space Theatre! You’ll die laughing at Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, running through October 19.

Cast of GCP’s production of “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors”

Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen’s wild-and-crazy take on Bram Stoker’s classic horror novel injects elements of Mel Brooks, Monty Python, The Exorcist, and Rocky Horror into a madcap, sexy, and silly small-cast whirlwind that lampoons and honors the story of the Transylvanian bloodsucker as eight performers quick-change their way through nineteen characters. Geeky real-estate agent Jonathan Harker (Alexander Gonzalez) journeys through wolf-infested forests to sell Count Dracula (Joshua Shadle) some English property, but his client is more interested in the neck of a picture of Harker’s fiancée, Lucy (Cady Mejias), whose father, Dr. Westfeldt (Adrian Ammsso), runs an insane asylum which houses the bug-eating Renfield (Guinevere J. Thelin) and the kleptomaniac inmate/housemaid Kitty (Casey Ballard). Lucy’s sister, Mina (Shelby Guizar), is bitten by the vampire, and Westfeldt calls in a female specialist, Dr. Van Helsing (Renee Newlove), and unusual things happen as they try to defeat an undead monster.

The Count needs to be impressive and charismatic. Shadle fills the bill, whether sporting a gorgeous cape or stripped down for exercises that show off his impressive musculature. That coolness he demonstrated recently as Petruchio in GCP’s 2nd Space production of Taming of the Shrew serves him well in a comic vein (Get it?), with a sensuality that proves seductive to any available gender. Somehow, he manages to enunciate clearly with a mouth full of fangs.

Mejias exudes spunk and toughness as the fiancée who wants more but doesn’t want what Dracula has to offer. She has a take-charge attitude and lots of energy, a necessity for this show. She is clear and succinct, making the most of each moment.

Cast of GCP’s production of “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors”

Gonzalez is a Jekyll & Hyde chameleon as he turns from a naïve suitor reminiscent of Bud Cort in Harold & Maude to a wannabe lothario wearing Gary Oldman-ish Dracula glasses. He jumps around, frightened of most things that are new to him.

Guizar is tall, willowy, and hilarious as a victim of the vampire’s charms. So confident and commanding as Kate in Taming of the Shrew, she becomes flighty and fang-crazy here.

Ammsso is earnest as the asylum owner, concerned about his patients, worried about his daughter, and not aware of the dangers around him. By the way, Mejias, Ammsso, and Guizar make a menacing trio of man-eating wolves in one scene.

Newlove puts her heart into the Germanic Van Helsing, pushing her lines with power and conviction. Her turn as a wagon driver who considers man-eating wolves part of Transylvania’s charm is comic gold.
Ballard knows what she’s doing on the stage, whether facing a storm on a doomed ship, picking pockets, or clapping coconut shells as a galloping horse (Yes, it’s a Monty-Python reference, but she does it well).

Cast of GCP’s production of “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors”

Thelin also claps good coconut shells, as well as throwing her body to and fro in the storm, and stealing scenes as the loony-bin’s prize loony. Renfield is engulfed in Igor’s hand-me-downs from Young Frankenstein

GCP’s production of “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors”

. She’s petite, popping up in unexpected places on David Pierce’s atmospheric set.

Ginger Kay Lewis-Reed strikes again, clothing actors in character-defining costumes. Denise Graziani faced a herculean task, herding cats on this play without any ambulance-needing accidents on opening night.

(If you have read the original book, you might be confused that Mina and Lucy’s story arcs are reversed. Just roll with it). It’s not for kiddies, unless you want to do some awkward explaining when it’s over. At any rate, it’s rollicking fun with bite!

The 2nd Space Theatre is at 928 E. Olive Ave, Fresno. For tickets and further information, contact gcplayers.com, or call (559) 266-9494. Comic magic awaits you.

If you love local theatre, be sure to check out Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast, which features mysteries read by local actors. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and also on podbean.

Check out more theatre reviews & other local entertainment articles in our Arts & Entertainment section. You can also find more theatre coming up on KRL’s Local Theatre event page.

Terrance V. Mc Arthur worked for the Fresno County Public Library for three decades. He is retired, but not retiring. A storyteller, puppeteer, writer, actor, magician, basketmaker, and all-around interesting person, his goal is to make life more unusual for everyone he meets.