Director Giovanna Sardelli envisions audiences pouring out of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s upcoming production of “Dracula” with visceral feelings of excitement, fear and victory.
“You have that feeling when you take a super fun ride, like a roller coaster, where you feel a little buzzy, a little alive,” Sardelli said. “I want (the audience) to feel like that. To have gone on a real journey, to have had a jump scare, rooting for Dracula’s demise, and left feeling buzzing.”
“Dracula” previews Oct. 7-9, opens Oct. 10 and runs through Nov. 1 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.
Adapted by Steven Dietz, the play is based on Bram Stoker’s famous vampire novel of the same name.
Scott Coopwood, who stars in the production as Dracula, said the role has fulfilled his childhood dream.
“When I was a child, for probably the first 10 or 12 trick-or-treating experiences of my life, I was Dracula,” Coopwood said. “My mom had this black skirt that I could put around my neck … and I’d get the fangs and get blood. I’ve kind of come full circle all these years later, that I get to play him.”
Like Coopwood, Sardelli also has ties to the magic of “Dracula.” Through her year as a magician’s assistant in Las Vegas, she dove into the art of stage illusions, which are the epitome of her “Dracula” rendition now.
“When you think about it, all of theater is an illusion,” Sardelli said. “And so having my entree be magic has always influenced how I direct. It’s how you can help people focus where you want them to and feel what you want them to feel. Being able to do that in ‘Dracula’ is really an homage to some great stage technique.”
Coopwood also said the technical elements, like illusions and costumes, will be a highlight of the show. According to Coopwood, audiences can expect disappearing acts, extravagant costume changes, and a lot of blood and fangs.
Beyond the tech, though, Coopwood said his version of the vampire hones in on the creepiness and mischief.
“I’m working against the stereotypical, comedic Dracula voice,” Coopwood said. “I don’t want people to hear that. This version is not campy, funny, silly Dracula. This is pretty dark and spooky, there’s a lot of fog and there’s a lot of blood and it’s going to be scary.”
Sardelli also said the playwright Steven Dietz’s original script reinforces Coopwood’s version of Dracula.
“Dracula needs blood, and to get blood, he seduces, he frightens, he manipulates … ,” Sardelli says. “There’s always been something human in this very scary monster, and I think Steven does a really good job of laying out some path work.”
And Coopwood said hopes audiences recognize this authentic version of Dracula, revisiting the original book and storyline.
“Everybody thinks they know the story, but my hope would be that we would excite them and frighten them just enough to stay in the theater, to have a really good time, especially during Halloween season, and then to maybe want to go back and read the novel for themselves,” Coopwood said.
Sardelli agreed, saying she is confident audiences will enjoy the dynamic endings of each act, falling in love with the original story.
“Nothing like the undead to remind all the rest of us that we’re alive,” she said.
For tickets ($54-$94), times and more information, see theatreworks.org.
