Dracula ballet

The Royal New Zealand Ballet's version of Dracula is receiving excellent reviews. If anyone has an extra ticket and wants to fly me to New Zealand for a few days, I'm more than willing to report back to The Mystery of the Haunted Vampire's audience my thoughts. However, since I won't probably be seeing it for myself, here's what others thought of it:

'Energy, effervescence and enthusiasm' The Christchurch Press, 29 July 2005, Reviewer: Greer Robertson As I am not normally known to swear, please pardon my forthcoming expletive in exclaiming that this production is bloody brilliant! Bram Stoker's 1897 novel explodes before your very eyes with believable sets, lighting and costumes and from the dark heart of Transylvania Count Dracula charts a devilishly bloodthirsty course. Nobody is safe from his desires. After a whirlwind of energy in the prologue the plot settles down and takes you on a truly memorable journey. 'Dancing with vampires' National Business Review, 22 July 2005, Reviewer: John Daly-Peoples The great strength of this Dracula is the outstanding dancing.... the company and the soloists present ballet at its most inspired. The dancers who use their dance techniques, their acting skills and their enthusiasm create an evening rich in emotional experience. 'A drop-dead stunning mix of dance and drama' The Dominion Post, 16 July 2005, Reviewer: Jennifer Shennan Dracula is a stunning work of theatre with choreography, dancing, set design, lighting, composition and orchestral performance all vying for top award. It is a production that suits the RNZ Ballet to the hilt, and the backstage crew delivers an equal match to those performing. The powerful staging includes drop-dead blackouts, smoking trapdoors, fireworks and spooky sound effects. But, for all those thrills, the production never loses tight rein on the themes and characterisation that the complex libretto offers to the dancers. These are layered and surprisingly nuanced... Altogether a smashing night at the ballet.