'Dracula' offers chills, laughs

Horrifying yet hilarious. Scary but sophisticated. Mary Kirkman of the Elgin Theatre Company uses all these words to describe the group's October production, "The House of Dracula."

"It's a comedy-horror-farce and we're hoping it will tickle everyone's funny bone to death," said Kirkman, Elgin Theatre Company's publicity coordinator and a "The House of Dracula" cast member.

"The House of Dracula" will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27 at Theatre 355, 355 E. Chicago St. in Elgin. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for youths and seniors and are available at www.elgin-theatre.org; by calling (847) 741-0532 or through the Radio Shopping Show on WRMN, 1410 AM, (847) 931-1410.

A 1990's-era British comedy by playwright Martin Downing, "The House of Dracula" is a spin-off of the classic horror film, "House of Frankenstein."

"It has a lot of the same characters," Kirkman said.

Baron and Baroness Von Frankenstein find their stay in a Transylvanian castle goes terribly wrong when they are greeted by a few of their worst dead and undead foes. The couple must match wits with Count and Countess Dracula, Dr. Jekyll, amorous minions and an Egyptian mummy.

Kirkman said the play is appropriate for adults and school-aged children.

"It's a sophisticated show in that there are a lot of references to history, so we hope the audience will listen carefully," she said.

Still, the production promises plenty of laughs as the cast members have already discovered.

"It's just hilarious, even the actors are cracking up in rehearsals," she said.

Kirkman said the stage will be set for spooky fun.

"It's going to be an eerie Transylvanian castle and we're going to have a sarcophagus for the Egyptian mummy. There are several chase scenes, so the set will have lots of room to move around," she said.

The play is directed by Elgin Theatre Company board president Jeff Small of Elgin; the assistant director is Stephen Fenstermacher of Elgin.

Cast members include Kim Downing and April Wende of South Elgin, Eric Stueur of Schaumburg, Rich Geiger and Cathleen Ann of Palatine, Dan O'Shea of Aurora, Katie Vittal of Roselle, Thom Reed, Larry Allen, Renee Merril, Bob Brooks and Kirkman, all of Elgin.

Kirkman portrays Frau Lurker, a straight-laced servant to the Frankensteins who undergoes a radical transformation after she samples Dr. Jekyll's love potion.

"They've got a really great costume for me," Kirkman said. "It's like Halloween for grown-ups."

The company was founded in 1952. It stages three productions each year and a children's show in the summer.

Scheduled for 2008 are "Run For Your Wife," running Feb. 29 through March 15 and "Nunsense II," running May 2 though 17. Productions are cast through open auditions usually held eight to 10 weeks before opening. Audition news is announced on the company's Web site, in local newspapers and on WRMN-AM.

"We're always looking for actors and volunteers," said Kirkman, adding that many opportunities are available to help out behind the scenes, with set design, props, make-up and costumes and in the theater itself, as ushers.

"Because we've been around for more than 50 years, we're recognized within the community. There's a lot of loyalty to the group and we see a lot of the same faces, because they so enjoy the experience," she said.

If you go

What: Elgin Theatre Company's production of "The House of Dracula"

When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27

Where: Theatre 355, 355 E. Chicago St., Elgin

Tickets: $15 for adults, $12 for youths 18 and younger and seniors

Info: Call (847) 741-0532 or visit www.elgin-theatre.org