Bloody good time in TheatreWorks' 'Dracula)

 

 Harker (Nima Rakhshanifar, left) dines with Count Dracula (Scott Coopwood) in Transylvania. (Photo by Kevin Berne)

Just as the lights go down, loud bangs foreshadow what’s to come in TheatreWorks’ production of Steven Dietz’s stage adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 “Dracula.”

What follows is an intriguing story as well as lots of chills and of course – blood.

It’s 1897 in London where young Lucy (Emily Newsome) seems to be coming weaker. Her best friend, Mina (Maria Marquis) notices the changes, which came  after Lucy started wandering at night.

Mina summons Lucy’s fiancé, Jonathan Harker (Nima Rakhshanifar), but Lucy has focused her affections on John Seward (Vincent Randazzo), a psychologist.

Concerned about Lucy’s condition, especially after seeing marks on her neck, Seward asks Abraham Van Helsing (Adrian Roberts), his former professor. Van Helsing teaches philosophy and researches unexplainable and supernatural illnesses.

More complications ensue, especially when Count Dracula (Scott Coopwood) of Transylvania shows up.

Another principal character is a raving madman, Renfield (Max Tachis), who is confined to an insane asylum.

Director Giovanni Sardelli, TheatreWorks’ artistic director, keeps the action and thrills coming on thanks to a fine cast and production team, especially sound designer James Ard, who fills the theater with chilling howls and other effects.

Illusions consultant Jim Steinmeyer adds to the scary ambience, as does the lighting designed by Kurt Landisman.

Running just under two hours with a 15-minute intermission, “Dracula” will continue scaring its audiences through Nov. 1, the day after Halloween, in the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.

For tickets and more information, call (877) 662-8978 or visit www.TheatreWorks.org.