Dracula Takes A Bite Out Of Pottstown

By Roy Keeler

On Sunday, October 11th, I had the pleasure of attending my third Village Productions play at the Tri-County Performing Arts Center in downtown Pottstown.

I was pleasantly surprised when I walked into the Main Stage area and realized it has been totally reconfigured and everything is black.  This time, the seats are in one large row, stadium style, and the stage area is much smaller than it was for Miracle on 34th Street and The Wiz.  The set is appropriately Gothic.  We were seated in the fourth row and center stage for optimum viewing.

After a quick introduction and some housekeeping items, Marta Kiesling relayed to us that the role of Dr. Seward was being filled by her husband Bill.  The actor who was playing Dr. Seward was unable to continue in the role after Wednesday night’s dress rehearsal.  Her husband stepped in the day before opening night and took over the role.  Talk about saving the day!  Without further delay, the production began.

The room was pitch black, there was some thunder, lightening, fog and music began to play (Camille Saint-Saëns: Dance Macabre) which was extremely appropriate!  Great mood setter!

Act I takes place in the library of Dr. Seward’s sanatorium in England.  This is the longest segment and a fifteen minute intermission takes place at the end of the act.  Act II takes place in Lucy’s boudoir and is followed by a five minute “stretch”.  Act III has two scenes: back in Dr. Seward’s library and in a crypt.

This production has a strong cast and I was impressed with the acting!  There are some special effects, which are well done, but the high caliber acting by the cast draws you into the story.  Elizabeth Hennessey and Scott Minor are back for another “Village Production” after appearing in Miracle on 34th Street.  I became a fan of both actors after seeing them in Miracle on 34th Street and in this production of Dracula their acting skills are showcased even further. Scott has the role of R.M. Renfield, a bug eating lunatic in Dr. Seward’s sanatorium.  Not exactly an easy role to pull off.  Elizabeth is the female lead, Lucy Seward (Dr. Seward’s daughter) who becomes Count Dracula’s love interest/victim.  Both Scott and Elizabeth delivered superb performances.

Michael Shoeman plays John Harker, Lucy Seward’s love interest.  Michael delivers another strong performance as his character desperately struggles to save the woman he loves.  You feel the intensity and raw emotion of Michael’s performance.

Paul Dake was cast as Abraham Van Helsing.  Van Helsing is a strong character in need of a strong actor to due justice to the role.  The pivotal role as Dracula’s nemesis was skillfully executed by Paul.

As I mentioned earlier, Bill Kiesling was thrust into the role of Dr. Seward on opening night.  It is a performance using the script as there was no time to memorize hundreds of lines.  However, the script in concealed in a book that he carries at all times.  Personally, I was not bothered by it.  Several of the people who were with me felt it was distracting, although they completely understood there was no other option.  I think Bill does an amazing job with this role.  It is a main character.  The emotion and depth of feeling put into the role is excellent, especially considering he had 24 hours to ready himself.  There was no awkwardness or missed cues that I noticed.

Diane Davis as Miss Wells (maid) and Eamon Goebel as Butterworth (butler) delivered wonderful performances.  They added some comic relief which is necessary in a drama as intense as Dracula!

Last and certainly not least is Jerome Neville as Count Dracula.  In my humble opinion Jerome rocks the house as Dracula!  He has all the right moves, even down to the hissing when crosses, garlic, mirrors, Wolf’s-bane and the Blessed Sacrament are used against him.  Think Bela Lugosi!  The classic Dracula of my childhood; creepy, charming and everything in between!  Great performance!

The play runs about 2 1/2 hours including the intermissions.  Excellent costumes, sound, lighting, sets etc… It may be a little scary for small children but is otherwise great entertainment for all ages.  The special effects are excellent and I thought the ending was “killer”.  I give Dracula two fangs up!

Dracula runs through October 25th. Performances are Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  For more information about tickets sales, performance times and dates visit their website at http://www.tripac.org. The Tri Country Performing Arts Center is located at 245 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464.  They can also be reached by telephone at (610) 970-1199.

Raven’s Rage, Order Of The Claw Available October 13th!

Philadelphia author Kerry L. Marzock’s second novel, Raven’s Rage, Order Of The Claw will be available starting Tuesday, October 13th.  You can order her novel from http://www.soulasylumpoetry.com.   Get this awesome horror novel just in time for Halloween!  For more information on Kerry, see my interview under the Literature Category.

Grab The Garlic! Dracula Comes To Pottstown!!

Tri-County Performing Arts Center
245 East High Street Pottstown,  PA  19464

Presents Dracula

Thriller by Deane and Balderston
Presented by arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
Not recommended for young children due to potentially frightening situations and suggestion of mature themes

Get ready for Halloween thrills and chills with the play based on the novel by Bram Stoker! A young friend of beautiful Lucy Seward dies unexpectedly, supposedly of anemia. Now Lucy is ill too, and her well-meaning father (Dr. Seward) and fiancé (Jonathan Harker) consult with the specialist, Van Helsing, to seek a cure. Their mysterious new neighbor, Count Dracula, appears to be unusually attracted to Lucy’s predicament. Meanwhile Dr. Seward’s mental patient, Renfield, is exhibiting increasingly bizarre behavior, torn between embracing the Count’s promise of immortality and saving his own soul. Dr. Seward’s attendant, Butterworth, can’t contain Renfield, and both he and Lucy’s maid observe increasingly odd disturbances within the household. Van Helsing is the first to realize the Count’s true nature, and together with Dr. Seward and Jonathan Harker, seek to destroy Dracula to save Lucy.

CAST
Count Dracula – Jerome Neville
Van Helsing – Paul Dake
Renfield – Scott Minor
Lucy Seward – Elizabeth Karpinski
Dr. Seward – Stephen Blumenthal
John Harker – Michael Shoeman
Miss Wells – Diane Davis
Attendant – Eamon Goebel

Directed by – Geoffrey Berwind

DRACULA (October 8 – 25, 2009)
Thursday October 8,15, 22 – 7:30 pm
Friday October 9, 16, 23 – 8:00 pm
Saturday October 10, 17, 24 – 8:00 pm
Sunday October 11, 18, 25 – 3:00 pm

ADULT: Thurs $17; Fri, Sat & Sun $21
STUDENT/SR (65+): Thurs $15; Fri, Sat & Sun $19
CHILD (12 & under): Thurs $13; Fri, Sat & Sun $15
$2 off per ticket for groups of 10 or more!

One On One With Philadelphia Novelist Kerry L. Marzock

By Roy Keeler

I had the pleasure to break bread with and interview author Kerry L. Marzock recently.  Kerry is a novelist in the horror genre and poet extraordinaire.  We sat down to talk about where she has been, where she is headed and all things in between.

Kerry’s second novel, Raven’s Rage, Order of the Claw is due to be released on or around October 13th.  This is the sequel to Raven’s Way and prequel to Raven Unleashed.  The trilogy takes place in Philadelphia and the surrounding Delaware Valley in familiar places like Valley Forge Park, Eastern State Penitentiary and the Wissahickon Valley.  You can read the series in order or you can read the books individually.  Each novel stands alone but there are recurring characters who have “survived” the previous tales.

What can you expect from a Kerry L. Marzock novel?  Crisp dialogue, strong characters, great action and romance (but don’t expect Jane Austin, think Rocky Horror).  Her writing contains all the key elements of a great story which will hold your interest from the first page until the last.

Kerry’s first novel, Raven’s Way, was published in 2006 after 6 months of writing and 3-4 months of editing.  Her current book, Raven’s Rage, Order of the Claw took far longer to complete and has been her most challenging creative effort to date.  Sheer determination made Kerry stick
with this book until it was completed including several detours and taking an extended break to recapture her muse.

Kerry started out writing poetry.  She joined the Soul Asylum Poetry and Publishing family in 2004.  Prior to joining the team at Soul Asylum, Kerry published a book of poetry titled Sea of Emotion under the Publish America label.  As Kerry’s poems became longer, she decided it was time write her first novel.

Pennsylvania born and raised, Kerry started writing stories at the tender age of 5 about Disney characters and super heroes.  A voracious reader, Kerry is a big horror and science fiction fan.  She described herself as a kid who liked to get lost in a good book.  Kerry also has a collection of over one hundred werewolf novels!

Kerry took a long break from writing due to a lack of confidence.  She resumed writing while recuperating from a serious medical condition.  Kerry decided it was time to do the things she always wanted to do!  Writing was at the top of the list.  Bolstered by good feedback from posting her poetry online, Kerry has moved forward and never looked back.  Kerry has been greatly inspired by author Laurell K. Hamilton and particularly her New York Times best selling Anita Blake series.  Anita Blake gave Kerry the push to do the Raven trilogy.

Kerry has several chapters written for Raven Unleashed (book 3).  She also has another book in the works called Scrolls of Sorrow.  Instead of traditional chapters, Scrolls of Sorrow is divided into scrolls.  Each scroll includes a poem.  Kerry is hoping for a summer 2010 release date according to her blog!  She also has an unreleased book of poetry and short stories called Along A Burning Highway.  The poetry is light to dark.  My personal favorite is her dark poetry!  Kerry works full time so all this prolific writing takes place on nights and weekends.

I asked Kerry what her greatest reward has been as an author.  She quickly answered holding a copy of Raven’s Way in her hand.

Kerry is a fascinating person and an incredible writer.  I encourage you to check out her books!

You can learn more about Kerry L. Marzock and order her books from http://www.soulasylumpoetry.com. 

Kerry has a blog which you can find at http://www.kmarzock714.wordpress.com

Exciting day at Birdland Studios In Lansdale

Spent the afternoon at a recording for broadcast of a two hour radio show featuring live musicians and a poet/novelist.  4+ hours of work go into a two hour show.  Met some amazingly talented people and learned alot.  Took some great pictures which I will be sharing with all of you along with a write up in the next few days when I get everything together! Made some new friends too!

Birdland Studios In Lansdale

I have been invited to attend a taping for broadcast at Birdland Studios in Lansdale for Soul Asylum Publishing and DK Records tomorrow afternoon.  How cool is that!

Roxborough horror novelist Kerry Marzock will be interviewed about her October 13th release of Raven’s Rage and a number of bands will be performing some songs to be taped for broadcast as well.  This will be a first for me.  I will also get to meet the owner of Soul Asylum and DK Records!  Taking the camera!!

Look for coverage , pictures and maybe an interview if time permits. 

Exciting!!!!