A video recording of a live performance on November 16, 1999 at the Avon Theatre, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Stratford, Ontario, Canada, shown on CBC March 16, 2000. A musical adaptation of Dracula, without the blood, fangs, and bats. A strong ensemble cast, which interacts well. The vocal talent is wonderful. Roger Honeywell's Harker, comes across strong and confident. Juan Chioran's Dracula is strong, virile, and vocally amazing. Carrying the major portion of vocalizing his voice is masterful in "The Blood is the Life" and "One More Night" reprise, and caressingly soft in "If You Love Me Now". You have no difficulty in accepting the women being drawn to his Count. Benedict Campbell is a marvelous Renfield, fascinatingly mad in "Said the Spider to the Fly", yet he draws our compassion as he sings of the man he once was. I would like to have seen the June Crowley have a song that would show the power of her voice we only get glimpses of in "One More Night" and the duet "I Will Shelter You". An enjoyable theatre experience. Well worth the viewing.
