Arvada Center puts up re-imagined, female-forward production of 'Dracula'

"Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really" is a new version of the "Dracula"story written by Kate Hamill and first performed in 2020. The play closely follows Bram Stoker's "Dracula" with a few key twists.

"I love how fun it is," said Annie Barbour, who plays Mina.

"I love how funny it is. I think it is hilarious," said Noelia Antweiler, who plays Lucy.

"Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really" has all the horror of the original "Dracula" tale, but it comes with some campy humor too.

"What an imagination you have. I do not have fangs. I do not sleep in a coffin. Do you believe if you spill a sack of corn I would be compelled to count every kernal? Ah… ah…ah," said Geoffrey Kent as Dracula during the play.

Just like in the original story, Mina's best friend, Lucy, becomes one of Dracula's first victims. She starts out as a young woman considering marriage and turns into a vampire.

"It's really fun to get to play the full spectrum, like giggling, silly girl around this man, then to be goofy and strong and a little more vulgar with her best friend, and then to turn into this creature," Antweiler explained.

In Hamill's version of the story, it's the women who fight back. Vampire slayer, Van Helsing, is played by a woman. Dracula's deranged, devoted servant, Renfield, is also played by a woman.

"Because these characters are switched and because Mina, who is pregnant, is the hero of the story, it takes a much more female focused turn and the messaging is different when you have a woman, or women in charge of how this story pans out," Antweiler added.

Feminist messaging is threaded throughout the play as Mina's husband becomes a victim of Dracula, and she is compelled to step up and save the day.

"I think the message is why not us? Why not women? And why not women working together? And don't ask for permission to make the move that is going to protect you and the people you love," Barbour told CBS News Colorado.

For all the twisting of tropes, this is still a horror story. One thing this production is not lacking is blood.

"It's a bloody good time!" Barbour said with a laugh.

LINK: For tickets & information for "Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really"

"Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really" is playing in the Black Box Theater at the Arvada Center through November 3, 2024.