Performance of ballet 'Dracula' at Capitol Theatre is bloody good

Thick fog filled the air, which weighed heavy with mystery. A scrim depicting the lifeless face of the victim hung from the proscenium and spilled onto the stage floor. A sold-out audience looked on with great anticipation. It could be none other then the opening night of BalletMet’s “Dracula” at Capitol Theatre.

Hang on to your capes and fake fangs, this isn’t your grandma’s ballet. Complete with emerging coffins, descending madmen and elaborate dance, “Dracula,” which ran Oct. 11-21, was not to be missed.

“‘Dracula,’ or ‘of the dragon,’ has been an American icon since the 1897 novel written by Bram Stoker,” said Daniel Collins, associate professor and chair of Ohio State’s Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Literature. Collins, who attended opening night, held a short lecture on the history of Dracula.

“The image of Dracula is everywhere,” he said.

Collins explained how from the highest form of culture to the lowest, each could share in this timeless character, symbolizing both love and death. His talk set the stage for the performance, highlighting how each culture’s Dracula reflected the “fears, desire and anxiety” of its people.

The performance itself was captivating. California native Jimmy Orrante as Dracula and Jamie Brianne Dee as Mina brilliantly play out the terribly tragic yet beautifully romantic escapade between vampire and mortal. The intensity and difficulty of their moves seemed effortless as both did an amazing job of portraying lovers separated by cultures and norms. Carrie West, playing the role of Lucy, also contributed a stand-out performance.

For those unfamiliar with the story, Lucy, friend of Mina, falls victim to Dracula’s thirst for blood in the first act. The vampire-poisoned Lucy embarks into a hectic ballet at her engagement ball as the poison in her veins takes control of her conscious thought. West does a superb job of recklessly yet beautifully losing her sanity until her final moments when Dracula returns to finish her off. The entire company did well to aesthetically appease the audience while at the same time retell Stoker’s story without words.

For more information on upcoming shows and ticket prices, contact the BalletMet box office at (614) 229-4848.

Natalie Sessor can be reached at [email protected].