Review: Dracula by Serendipity Productions

Working on my dissertation nonstop certainly makes me feel undead, so it was a relief to take a night off in the middle of the week to see my first show at the Michael Pilch Studio: a modern version of Dracula, which follows a group of novice vampire hunters and their encounter with the infamous Transylvanian. The small studio theatre was the perfect space for this show: an intimate setting where the audience could consider the psychology of the characters. Writer and director Leah O’Grady presented a new, feminist take on Bram Stoker’s classic novel of mystery and murder, replacing the notorious count with a countess.

This production featured a talented cast, simple yet effective production design, and profound themes focusing on the struggles of women. However, it was sometimes difficult to keep up with the plot and it took a long time for the audience to understand what point the show is trying to make. Why retell Dracula? Why place it in a modern setting? Why have a countess instead of a count? O’Grady used the basic story of Dracula as a setting to discuss the oppression and invisibility of women.