REVIEW by Anthony Chase
I had great anticipation for Dracula (a comedy of terrors) by Gordon Greenberg & Steve Rosen at the Irish Classical Theatre Company. Director Chris Kelly is known for his camp reinterpretations of classics from his years at Buffalo United Artists, where his takes on shows like Rebecca, The Bad Seed, and yes, Dracula, are legendary. In addition, the production affords us the pleasure of seeing the new Irish Classical Theatre Company Artistic Director Keelie Sheridan and her husband Jorge Luna on stage in Buffalo for the first time. I am delighted to report that Kelly once again delivers the goods with this production, his signature style evident in every scene, and that Luna and Sheridan totally live up to our hopes. They are first-class zanies, performing farcical comedy with pure-hearted conviction. Obviously shameless in their pursuit of laughs and exhibiting palpable stage chemistry together, they are poised to become the Lunt and Fontanne of Buffalo.
The script takes on the classic Bram Stoker story of Dracula and turns it on its head, exploiting every gender-bending, norm-disrupting opportunity. The production qualities support this daft aesthetic which we might describe as Mel Brooks meets Charles Busch.
The simple yet brilliant set by David Butler allows the in-the-round space to do what an in-the-round space does best as it handily facilitates numerous shifts in location smoothly. Visually, it's a riff on Edward Gorey's 1977 sets for Dracula on Broadway, with the deliberate look of hand-painting, adding another layer of whimsy to this already fantastical production.
Lighting by Matt DiVita is excellent. As we enter the theater, moving lights give us the sensation of clouds drifting past a full moon.
The over-the-top costumes, hair, and make-up by Cassie Cameron perfectly complement the exaggerated performances and campy tone of the production. The exaggerated accents, coached by Jennifer Tooney, totally tickled me.
The full cast is a stellar roster of Buffalo theater's best clowns. Charmagne Chi, a pioneering Buffalo comedian and longtime Artie Awards co-host, brings her wealth of comedic experience to her characterizations of Dr. Westfeldt, Renfield, and the Captain. Her impeccable timing and delivery shine as she alternates between characters with whiplashingly hilarious precision.
Brendan Didio, recent D'Youville MFA graduate and go-to romantic lead, showcases his range by diving headfirst into this comedic role. His exaggerated Liverpudlian accent, coached by Jennifer Tooney, Buffalo's foremost dialect coach, is itself a comic highlight, as it signals his deranged fluctuation between repressed Harken and sexy leatherboy Harken.
The irrepressible Daniel Lendzian, who is all the more spectacular in drag for being totally wrong for it, fully commits to his role with admirable gusto. The juxtaposition of his masculine physicality with the feminine attire is irresistibly delicious. His emphatic presence drives much of the action. I particularly loved the scenes he plays with himself as both Mina and Dr. Van Helsing.
In short, Dracula (a comedy of terrors) is a tour de force of comedic talent, showcasing some of Buffalo's finest clowns at the top of their game. Under Chris Kelly's direction, the cast brings new life to this classic tale, creating a hilarious evening of theater. The production continues through September 29th. Saturday nights are pay-what-you-can. https://irishclassical.com/