Production Notes
DRACULA
Characters
(Flexible Cast of 14-18)
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COUNT DRACULA
JONATHAN HARKER RENFIELD QUINCEY MORRIS DR. JOHN SEWARD DR. VAN HELSING WILHELMINA MURRAY LUCY WESTENRA NURSE MAID SISTER AGATHA BUTLER FIRST SISTER SECOND SISTER THIRD SISTER PASSENGER CAPTAIN FIRST MATE SAILOR COOK JOURNALISTS TAVERNKEEPER GIRL GROUNDSKEEPER POLICEMAN SECOND NURSE |
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A Transylvanian aristocrat.
A young solicitor. A blood-thirsty lunatic. A Colorado cattle baron. (Jack) A doctor in an asylum. An expert in rare diseases. (Mina) Jonathan’s fiancée. A wealthy young woman. Dr. Seward’s assistant. Mina’s servant. A Hungarian nurse. A prig. The count’s concubines. The crew aboard the Demeter. |
PASSENGERS, SAILORS, SERVANTS, ATTENDANTS, NUNS, GYPSIES, etc.
Production NotesDURATION — The running time is approximately one-hundred minutes; an intermission between the first and second scenes of the third act would increase the duration.
CASTING — With doubling, the cast should range from fourteen to eighteen performers, evenly divided by gender. The part of Dr. Van Helsing is gender neutral; pronouns may be changed accordingly. STAGING — The monologues are intended to accompany action, especially in the forms of pantomime and tableau; in many instances, characters may take part in the wordless action while they are addressing the audience. SET — There is no need to construct a ship or any other extravagant location. Set pieces can be used sparingly. Several structures, including a stone wall, an archway, and a wallpapered interior, may be re-used in different arrangements. A free-standing door might be especially useful for several scenes. Rearrangement of properties may take place in full view of the audience. COSTUME — Costumers may cast aside the high-collared opera cape and any other recognizable looks; instead, they should rely on primary-source research and imagination. LIGHTS & SOUND — The creative opportunities for the lighting and sound designers are without number: the wolf is a sound cue; the rats are a lighting special. PROJECTIONS — In keeping with epistolary form of Stoker’s original novel, headlines, documents, photographs, etc., may be projected throughout. The novel may be mined for appropriate text; for instance, the opening monologue may be attributed to Jonathan’s journal. Images and words may also be used to establish locations. |
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