Know Before You Go To Dracula
DRACULA
October 26-30, 2016
Centennial Concert Hall
CENTENNIAL CONCERT HALL: Now with Shaw open wifi available to all patrons! All beverages purchased at the Concert Hall can now be consumed inside the theatre as well as the lobby. Food may be consumed in the lobby only.
RUN TIME: 2 hours 11 minutes (including 20 minute intermission)
DOORS OPEN: 60 minutes before curtain
Parking
There is a substantial amount of construction occurring around the Centennial Concert Hall, which effects access to the area as well as a few parking lots. Construction advisory can be found on the Concert Hall’s parking page HERE.
Intermission Performers
Friday, October 28
Holly Ruth (Piano, Vocals)
Saturday, October 29
Holly Ruth (Piano, Vocals)
Sunday, October 30
Tammy Schroeder and Jason Dyck (Piano, Vocals)
Pre-show Chats
Wednesday, October 26: 7:05-7:20 PM
HOST: Terry MacLeod, CBC Manitoba
GUEST: Tad Biernacki, RWB Music Director and Composer
Thursday, October 27: 7:05-7:20 PM
HOST: Tracy Koga, Shaw Communications
GUEST: Katie Bonnell, RWB Company Dancer; cast as main character Lucy
Friday, October 28: 7:05-7:20 PM
HOST: Doug Speirs, Winnipeg Free Press
GUEST: André Lewis, RWB Artistic Director
Saturday, October 29: 7:05-7:20 PM
HOST: Mandy Shew, Virgin Radio 103.1
GUEST: Tara Birtwhistle, Current RWB Ballet Master; former Lucy
Sunday, October 30: 1:35-1:50 PM
HOST: Colleen Bready, CTV News
GUEST: Vanessa Warne, University of Manitoba
Synopsis
ACT I
SCENE 1 - LUCY WESTENRA’S SEASIDE ESTATE IN ENGLAND, LATE 1800’S
Having already been inducted into Dracula’s world, Lucy collapses in her bedroom. Her nightmares and sleepwalking have the household staff concerned. Troubled by her erratic moods, Lucy’s three suitors and a medical specialist, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, are summoned to her bedside. Close to hysterical and seemingly paranoid, Lucy faints. Van Helsing determines Lucy to have unexplainable loss of blood. A transfusion is required. Suspicious that supernatural forces are at work, Van Helsing discovers two tiny holes in Lucy’s neck. Research material from the mansion library is brought to the doctor. Van Helsing abandons medical remedies and surrounds Lucy’s bedroom with garlic and crosses. Lucy appears dead to the doctor and her three suitors.
SCENE 2 - LUCY’S CRYPT
Holding her under his dark spell, Dracula claims his prize by initiating Lucy into the tomb. Van Helsing and the suitors, suspicious of Lucy’s death, break into the tomb. Armed with crosses and stakes they manage to free Lucy from Dracula’s evil empire.
ACT II
PANTOMIME - (PRESENT, LATE 1900’S)
The dancers step out of their roles to illustrate humorously a condensed narration of Bram Stoker’s famous novel, Dracula.
SCENE 1 - RED DANCE
This bacchanal is inspired by the traditions of classical dance along with elements of folklore and folk dance. The wolf and dancers reflect different aspects of Dracula and his world.
SCENE 2 - A CONVENT IN BUDAPEST, LATE 1800’S
Mina Murray (a friend of Lucy Westenra, who is unaware of the fate which has befallen her), travels to a convent in Budapest after being summoned to the side of her ill fiancé, Jonathan Harker. In order to advance his career, Jonathan has recently travelled to Transylvania to assist Count Dracula in buying real estate in England. Mina and Jonathan are together after a long absence when she chances upon his diary. Mina reads that Dracula had abandoned Jonathan in the castle where he encountered three vampire women. Though lured by their strange seduction, Jonathan has managed to escape. Mina is enticed by Jonathan’s experiences in the castle and part of her feels drawn to that world. Having no secrets from Jonathan, she divulges this desire. Jonathan is shocked by Mina’s behaviour, which is similar to that of the vampire women. Repressing these desires, Mina assures Jonathan of her love by sealing the diary’s secrets.
SCENE 3 - THE CRYPT AT DRACULA’S CASTLE IN TRANSYLVANIA, LATE 1800’S
Mina has been taken captive by Dracula who offers her a place to live in the world of the living dead, the
place she read about in Jonathan’s diary. Dracula leaves Mina drained of blood as he hears Van Helsing and
Lucy’s suitors inside the castle. Finding Mina alive, they hunt for Dracula. The daylight is fast approaching
and Dracula is forced to battle the men. With all enslaved, the Count tortures Jonathan by performing his
blood ritual on Mina. Witnessing Jonathan’s anguish, Mina manages to weaken Dracula by draining him
of his blood. Mina then seizes a cross and wakens the dazed men. They surround Dracula and, like Vlad of
Wallachia, kill him.