Show j J Dracula Dracula- The Dracula The Vampire Creeps into Desert Star By Eric Bresee Staff Writer the season for ghosts goblins goblins goblins gob gob- lins and vampires and Desert Star Playhouses Playhouse's new production The Dracula-The Vampire drives home this point Dracula production written by Peter van is a take off of Bram Stokers Stoker's Dracula with a bit of a twist The play was full of presidential innuendos and shots pot-shots at the Jazz and 15 1 con con- Once past the humor the plot line is typical of a vampire movie The bulk of the play takes place in England in the late century Scott Holman plays the lead role of Dracula and he plays it convincingly Holman dominated the presentation with his improvisation improvisation improvisation skills Numerous times Holman played to the crowd prompting even more laughter than the strategically scripted comedy planned For most of the play Holman is chasing Miss Lucy played by Julie Ann Christensen In many of satirical portions of the show Holman referred to Miss Lucy as Miss Lewinsky instantly pr provoking laughter and naturally countless jokes Christensen's role was diminished throughout the play playas as her part was reduced to being sick and past out r. r Miss Renfield Dracula's assistant assistant assistant assis assis- tant is portrayed by Gayle Hayes- Hayes Castleton Her portrayal of Renfield at times was more of an annoyance than an addition to per per- Hayes-Castleton Hayes seemed too dramatic at times which detracted from the overall presentation The play also includes the two simpletons Jonathon and Mina Seward Jonathon played by Paul Thomas Murphy seems obsessed with letting everyone know he is married to M Mina ina now At least until he kisses Miss Lucy Murphys Murphy's performance and costume depicts the typical older British male to perfection right down to his smoking jacket On the other hand Mina played by Holly Casper is reminiscent reminiscent reminiscent remi remi- of a modern-day modern American blonde Casper characterized characterized characterized charac charac- Mina as a half halfwit wit which at atthe atthe atthe the beginning was good for some laughs but became more of a nuisance nuisance nuisance nui nui- nui- nui sance as the performance contin contin- Ben E. E Millet personified Dr Van Helsing who aided in the tracking of Dracula The bumbling physician provided more than his share of laughs after imitating Ricky Ricardo and MC Hammer Millet gave perhaps the best performance performance performance per per- as a supporting actor in Dracula Dracula is one of the most entertaining play has per- per r t ty y t 9 a 4 c F Ak 9 S n e w p w F k 0 s Photo by Rolf Kay Scott Holman plays the lead role in The Dracula-The Vampire formed The cast is very adept at improvisation and delivering the expected puns with enough individuality individuality individuality indi indi- to evoke laughter any any- way If If plans are to see a dark suspenseful suspenseful suspenseful sus- sus drama this Halloween season it would be best to rent some horror flicks But if a fun entertaining time is desired the Dracula-the Vampire is is a great start |