Dracula A Comedy of Terrors

By Joseph Cervelli

In the delightfully silly and infectious "Dracula A Comedy of Terrors" at the New World Stages you will find that "terror"does not apply in any way. What it is will provide is  a lot of laughter which we most certainly need at this juncture of current conditions. After laughing myself into a near stupor at the wonderful revival of "Spamalot" it was a pleasure to head into another show that provided enough good humored laughs. 

When we think of Count Dracula a young man with the body and looks of a Chippendale dancer does not immediately come to mind but that is what James Daly playing the title role certainly resembles. But he is not just eye candy. He is quite funny and bumbling. His looks with a smirky aside to the audience just when he is about to aim for the jugular of some unsuspecting character is on target.  

His entrance while in Transylvania has the other cast members using aerosol cans portraying fog, of course,  to greet him while he beams while dressed (the terrific costume design is by Tristan Raines). He has a broker the quiet (but just wait until later) Jonathan (an always welcome Andrew Keenan-Bolger) who shows Dracula  the photo his fiancee the beautiful Lucy (an excellent Jordan Boatman). Well, that clinches that. He knows where he will be setting those fangs of his.

They travel to England via a ship and when they come into a storm water appears thanks to the spray bottles. Writers Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen are at not loss for clever antics here. 

In England we meet an array of different characters. There is the crazed bug eating Renfield (Ellen Harvey) who plays Dr. Westfeldt (Lucy's dad) among others. Harvey is an expert at making so many costume changes and split second moves from one area behind the stage to another. While the entire cast is a joy I am almost reluctant but need to say that Arnie Burton practically steals the show playing several roles. The major one is the not so attractive Mina (Lucy's sister) who is sex craved and in lust with Dracula who wants nothing to do with her. Burton is a hoot to say the least. With his blondish red curly wig designedly Ashely Rae Callahan he reminds one of a Baby Jane. His lascivious characteristics (loved the finger in his mouth) caused me to laugh out loud on a number occasions. And instead of having a male Dr. Van Helsing, she is now a Gestapo like female played to the hilt by Burton. 

There are a number of sight gags including a re-creation of the Abbey Road cover. 

Greenberg who directed knows how to keep the pace going for a very fast moving 90 minutes. You almost wish that the show would have run longer. 

If there is ever another revival of the rollicking "Rocky Horror Show " Daly would be a perfect Frank-N-Furter.

I urge to you get to see this daffy show before it closes on January 7.

PHOTOS: Michael Murphy

Tickets are available at New World Stages 340 West 50th Street.