Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors

Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors opens at the Neptune Theatre on Tuesday, September 29, and runs through October 25. It's a 90-minute comedy that takes the gothic horror of Bram Stoker's novel and turns it on its head with wordplay, rapid-fire pop culture references and a good deal of laugh-out-loud humour. The production is directed by Jeremy Webb, with the script written by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen.

The story starts with a meek English real estate agent who travels through the treacherous mountains of Transylvania to meet a mysterious client, who turns out to be Dracula himself. From there, the vampire hunter Jean Van Helsing and her company chase him across Transylvania, the British countryside and London. It's a reimagining of the classic tale that leans into the ridiculous rather than the dread, and the reviews reflect that: critics have called it 'a 90-minute rollercoaster of comedic chaos', 'gloriously ridiculous and utterly entertaining' and 'fresh, frantically paced and bloody good fun'.

What makes this one worth watching is the cast. Five actors take on a huge number of roles, so you'll see them switching characters throughout the show. Allie MacDonald plays Dracula, while Ryan Rogerson doubles as Mina and Van Helsing. Becca Guilderson covers Lucy, Kitty and the Driver; Stephanie MacDonald takes on Dr. Westfeld, Renfield and the Captain; and Hugh Ritchie handles Harker, the Suitors, the Bosun and the Gravedigger. With that many roles to go around, the energy stays high.

It's playing at Neptune's Fountain Hall Stage, 1593 Argyle Street, with performances at 7:30 p.m. and a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday, October 11. Tickets range from C$35 to C$70.