BRAVO to the cast and crew of Dracula

Craig Godfrey | Nov 13, 2024

(Editors note – Craig Godfrey submitted a critique of the acting in last week's North Frontenac Little Theatre (NFLT) production of Dracula, in Sharbot Lake. Godfrey is an actor and playwright, and his insights into ensemble acting were insightful. With some editing, his submission is reprinted below. A short piece on the production by myself about the production, follows. JG)

This play is a company play, an ensemble play. It works or doesn't work depending on how well every single actor, and crew does their job. The title suggests that Dracula must be the star but in fact, there are no individual leads, just an intricate weaving together of individuals.

That being said, Greg Morris delivered a fine piece of acting. In his scenes as the Count he was completely in the acting zone. His timing, his facial movements and eyes were worthy of an award. Greg Morris delivered an acting class in his performance as the Count.

The cameo by Lily Legacy as the “lunatic Hanna Renfield" was incredible acting. Her makeup and costume, coupled with the insane look in her eyes, along with her movement, came together in one of the most powerful, impressive and creepy pieces of acting in a monologue I have experienced, on any stage. What a legacy to leave for others to follow. For new actors, this is an example of how one small part is just as important to a show as a lead. The performances of Lily Legacy-Zierer and Greg Morris is worth the ticket price alone.

As an audience member, it is fun to sometimes focus on the actors that are on the periphery in scenes. Hope Andrew, as the dark crazed, creepy minion or vampirette, reminded me of those actors' names that show up in amateur theatre productions with an asterisk beside their name. It denotes they are professional actors playing an ensemble part with permission of the actor union. The performance by Andrew in those scenes were so real they made me afraid. And all she did was hiss. I also really enjoyed the scenes with Marcie Webster, also a strong performance, and Taylor Trussel.

Blake Cryer is a young actor who played the role of Dr.Seward, and I am confident we will be seeing more of him in the future. He is a high school student, and yet was able to create a believable older adult character with poise, and controlled timing. Welcome to “company theatre” and NFLT. You did the job required with skill and confidence.

A Big salute to another student even younger, and in fact; it is hard to believe Alder Legacy-Zierer, is only fourteen. The role of Harker is as close as it gets to a lead in this play. Alder spent the most time on stage, had the most lines and carried the story from scene to scene. He delivered his lines with various emotions depending on the scene and he did it with skill and grace. He was also able at his young age to pull off a variety of personas and temperaments from quiet lover to crazed maniac.

I have watched Joelle Parr evolve into one the best and strongest actors in the NFLT. Starting as a student actor, and progressing as she has become an adult, Parr just keeps getting better, and her presence on stage is perfect. She carried the show last night with a steady performance. Joelle Parr, has arrived as an all round performer, she can act, she can sing, she can play any age and likely any role going.

Sara Deline, also a strong, competent and versatile actor, is another student playing with the big kids. Deline wandered through the play in complete control of her lines, her timing and her gestures.

Every play needs an ensemble, a company of players. This play worked because the whole company delivered. Taylor Trussel, Johnathon Wisteard, John Stephen, Erik Zeirer, Pam Giroux, (the grande dame of NFLT) and Marcie Webster, were all strong in their roles. Their delivery of lines, gestures and expressions are all spokes on the wheel that kept the show rolling along.

I went to Dracula on opening night, and was in a front row seat, and there were only a few times when a line prompt was needed. Well Done!

Craig Godfrey

A note about the production

by Jeff Green

“Dracula” was a passion project by writer-director Jeff Siamon, who has been a stalwart for NFLT for over a decade. This was his second original production, having written and directed the Boy Wonder in 2019. He also adapted, directed, and filmed a virtual production of Scrooge during the pandemic.

His vision for “Dracula” was to faithfully reproduce the 1897 Bram Stoker novel that introduced the character to the mainstream, and has been the source material for a never ending sub genre of plays, movies, books, and tv series ever since. Using blackouts between scenes, Siamon engaged the NFLT set design and backstage team to create backdrops suggesting a number of locations. The sets were very well handled, and the technique was effective, to a point.

With about 40 scenes, and scene changes, “Dracula” was always going to be a very long show. It ran over 3 hours. This required an extraordinary amount of effort from the cast and crew to carry off. Unfortunately, from an audience perspective, it was difficult to follow the action due to the number blackouts and the sheer amount of time spent sitting on folding chairs not designed for comfort. And the audience should have been informed that the play was going to run that long, before it got underway.

Some judicious editing, early in the planning stages, would have served the production well, and helped the audience appreciate the performances by a strong crew of actors, and the vision that Jeff Siamon brought to the project.