DRACULA :  A COMEDY OF TERRORS – Reviewed by Stephen Radosh

The Revolution Stage Company has launched the season with a very funny production of Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen’s DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS.

The play is a wildly entertaining theatrical experience that successfully mashes Bram Stoker’s classic gothic horror story with a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud comedy. The production combines sharp writing, physical comedy, rapid character changes, and clever contemporary humor while still maintaining an affection for the source material.

What makes the show particularly effective is its energetic ensemble cast under Nathan Wilson’s razor-sharp direction. Most of the performers have multiple roles and seamlessly switch between them with remarkable precision, creating a sense of controlled chaos that keeps the audience laughing from beginning to end. The comedy never feels forced; instead, it grows naturally out of the absurd situations, witty dialogue, and exaggerated theatrical style.  At the center of it all is Sean Timothy Brown’s rockstar-like Dracula.  Dressed in leather pants and moving with modern celebrity stature, Brown’s performance is at the core of this show’s success.  The ultimate hedonist, he seduces men and women with equal elan.  His good looks and reactive facial expressions unite to give a solid comedic performance.

Each cast member has moments of comedy gold resulting in solid laughter throughout the play’s 90-minute run time. Adam Hieter is a hoot as Mina, Van Helsing and the family housekeeper. Rebecca McWilliams as Westfeldt (father to Mina and Lucy), and Renfield (Dracula’s fly-eating, faithful attendant) gets strong laughs especially when changing from one character to another and back again in mid-scene. Jackson Tropp’s Jonathan Harker gets his share of laughs portraying Lucy’s cowardly fiancé who, thanks to Dracula’s encouragement, turns his machismo level up to eleven.  As Lucy, Danielle Vargas gets well deserved laughter and applause especially in the scene where Lucy fights off (but not too hard) Dracula’s advances.  

Additional bravos go to Duke Core for his highly effective lighting and Nathan Cox’s brilliant projection designs allowing carriage rides and horseback travel to convey a true sense of fluid motion.

The script smartly balances parody with genuine storytelling.  It celebrates the original novel through satire, making the show accessible both to longtime fans of Dracula and to audiences encountering the story for the first time. The result is a production that is imaginative, inclusive, and consistently funny.

DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS plays at the Revolution Stage Company through October 31, 2026.  For tickets or further information visit their website at www.revolutionstagecompany.com

Photos by Tara Howard