‘Dracula’ to hit Valley stage
Ballet Spokane will dance two performances of the quintessential Halloween thriller “Dracula” this weekend.
This unique theatre piece, integrating members of the professional company with several local guest artists, was fashioned by the company’s artistic director and choreographer Janet Wilder.
The ballet will be introduced by local actor John Hart in the role of author Bram Stoker. Area theater veteran Michael Muzatko plays the vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing.
The story opens with Jonathan Harker, danced by Patrick DesRosiers, traveling to Transylvania. Upon his arrival on All Souls’ Night he is warned by the local villagers and a gypsy fortune teller that his life may be in danger.
In his travels to visit Count Dracula his life is indeed threatened. From the shadows come vampires, werewolves and skeletons, danced by Ballet Spokane company members. But the cross and garlic given to him by the villagers protect him.
Finally within the castle walls, Harker encounters the fascinating and terrifying vampire brides of Dracula, danced by Andrea Scott and Jaimi McGuire. Harker narrowly escapes their seduction and Dracula’s trap, but he must spend several months in a sanitarium to recover.
In act two, Harker appears at a party for Lucy, a young lady with many suitors who is portrayed by Ballet Spokane’s principal dancer, Kari Jensen. The festivities are interrupted by the arrival of Count Dracula, performed by local ballroom dancer Michael Wiley.
Dracula immobilizes all of the guests except Lucy, who is uncontrollably drawn to him. As Dracula leaves the party, the guests return to normal but Lucy falls unconscious. Later, in Lucy’s bedroom, Dracula appears again and again until Lucy’s body is bloodless and lifeless from his bites. As she is entombed, Dracula summons her as his bride.
In the final act, the men organize a plan to find and destroy the evil Count who preys on innocent young women. The journey leads them back to his Transylvanian castle where they must do battle with the brides of Dracula and the demons who guard Dracula’s crypt. In the final scene, good prevails over evil.
The costumes for the performance were designed by Marty Ray. Clothing for the human characters reflects the Victorian era in which the ballet is set, while the costumes for the vampires, werewolves, and demons reflect Ray’s imaginative vision of these creatures.
Because of the potentially frightening story line, this ballet is not recommended for young children, Wilder said.
“But,” she added, “it will be a delightful evening of entertainment for adults and adolescents.”