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Matt W. Cody as Nosferatu in Stanton Wood’s adaptation of “The Night of Nosferatu.” |
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Once bitten, twice warned
By Melora B. North
Banner Staff
When the lights go down at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater this month, beware, there’s a definite scare in the air. “The Night of Nosferatu,” now on stage at the harbor theater, is no light selection, in fact, it’s a heavy dish of ghoul that sends chills up the spine to tingle and titillate the imagination, which in the case of this production is a key ingredient.
In “Nosferatu” there is no elaborate set, rather a stage framed by a few modest benches and a cast dressed in understated street clothes coordinated by Edward Elefterion. In act one all members of the visiting Brooklyn-based Rabbit Hole Ensemble are clothed in basic, dreary black, a suitable choice of couture given this is a Halloween offering that features, of course, a Transylvanian count who coincidentally is also a vampire. Matt W. Cody, who plays this devilish role, breaks the costume code for the run in a black suit, an alarmingly white face, the requisite fang teeth and gloves that create the illusion of monstrously long digits with extended and threatening bloody nails, all the better to claw you vith.
In the second act the gears switch and the cast appears on stage in white, but not your typical, virginal white; this white attire is sinister in its pureness on the austere stage, where lighting is the key component when it comes to setting the mood. With no decoration, lighting for this show takes on an important role and the way Kevin Hardy has deftly directed this feature is clever indeed. Rather then rely solely on the canister stage lights in the rafters, the cast uses hand-held units to illuminate and accent the action where the unexpected quickly becomes the expected as the story unfolds.
Based on F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent film, “Nosferatu,” a rip-off of Bram Stoker’s popular book “Dracula,” this production is the story of Count Nosferatu’s plot to seduce the fragile Mina Harker (Tatiana Gomberg), wife of ambitious Jonathan Harker (Paul Daily) who knows what goes on in the mind of the evil count.
In order to carry out his plan the count lures Jonathan to his castle, leading him to believe there is a real estate transaction in the works that could change his life. Greedy to be sure, Jonathan falls for the deal and into the hands of the count’s alleged sister Morana (Emily Hartford), who is at odds with her deranged brother. The count can’t wait to head off to London to get his claws into the elusive Mina, who has captured his heart, or what passes as a heart in this case. However, before the count gets to Mina, he seduces her friend Lucy (also played by Hartford), thus destroying her virtue and reputation. To the rescue is Lucy’s husband (Ned Massey) and Renfield (Danny Ashkenasi), Jonathan’s weird employer, who has a screw or two loose. Assisted by Jonathan and Mina, the four pull out all stops to ensure that Lucy is redeemed and the shenanigans of the nasty Nosferatu are put to rest. Havoc ensues, and all the clichés when it comes to vampires and their prey are enlisted.
In this production it is not so much the story that is gripping, it is the telling. Under the direction of Edward Elefterion, the actors not only recite their lines with passion and professionalism, they enhance them with explanations, unique sound affects and facial expressions that carry the audience on an eerie trip down Spooky Lane.
Those of you wanting a Halloween treat will do yourselves a favor by checking out this thriller, it is indeed a fine production guaranteed to give you the creeps, in a good kind of way. But be warned: the count has some mighty choppers, so ladies, wear a scarf and men, get out that old turtle neck — you don’t vant to succumb to evil with one simple bite of mortality.
“The Night of Nosferatu” plays at 7:30 p.m. Wed.-Sun. and 3:30 pm Sat., Oct. 27 at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (Harbor Stage), 1 Kendrick Ave., next to Wellfleet town pier, through Oct. 31. Tickets are $29. For reservations call (508) 349-WHAT.
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Cosmic comedy and musical madness
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Oct 25th, 2007