Dracula is a timeless tale, spanning centuries not just in its story, but in its legacy. As one of my favorite of the monster tales, I was excited when I heard there would be a staging of the story during this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival. This version, called The Rise and Fall of Dracula, comes from Cadame Co., and is one of the most intriguing adaptations I have ever seen.

Though the story begins familiarly, with Jonathan Harker meeting the titular character in order for her to sign some legal documents for the land she had purchased.

Wait? Why did I say ‘she’? Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that in this re-telling, the title role is actually played by a woman…and the story is so much better for it. This production tells the story in a new way, with familiar faces and brand new ones, weaving the thread between the story we know with new aspects added in. From there, we learn more of Madam Draculus’ origin; how she became the creature we all know, and how her choices affect her through the rest of her life.

Infusing contemporary dance and original music into the production gives it new life, showcasing how the characters feel and interact through the movement of their bodies. While I have not had much experience with interpretive dance, it was powerful to see in motion in this show. While the somewhat sensual nature of Dracula’s powers has always been bubbling beneath the surface, this show has them on full display.

In addition, you are not merely seated for the performance. Immersive in its own way, you follow the characters from room to room, with the action happening right in front of your face for the entire performance. At moments, the characters will seem to almost reach out and grab you, pulling you in further. Staging the show in such a way made it a living, breathing thing, allowing us to move through Dracula’s story much like she was herself.

The cast overall was great, but there were a few standouts that really made the show overall. For starters, Cassandra Ambe’s Dracula was incredible. She commanded the room with her presence, and truly embodied the character in an incredible way. I found that the audience could not take their eyes off of her, as if we were under the same spell that she put her children of the night under. She really made the show. As of note was Tamara Burgess as Mina. Here, Burgess brought the character life almost as a Buffy-esque avenger, taking the tragedy of her past and using it as fuel to change her future. Watching her Mina evolve over the course of the show was really great.

The show has already sold out some of their performances, but you can still catch it on select nights during the Hollywood Fringe Festival. For more information, and to purchase tickets, find them online at: http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/4437