Theatre Review: Dracula

 The Production: Dracula

The Company: Sydney Theatre Company

The Theatre: Ros Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay, Sydney

Stars: 4.5

Until 4 August (Yes, tomorrow)

Mix together a classic novel, one of Australia's most talented actors and a heap of very cool elements of stage craft and camera work and you get the Sydney Theatre Company's Dracula. 

Wow.

Zahra Newman is incredible in everything I've seen her in, from The Book of Mormon, to last years Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill with the Melbourne Theatre Company. 

But she really owns Dracula, where she plays a cast of many, from Jonathan Harker, the storyteller who bring Dracula to life, the Lucy Westernra, to Mina Murray, Jonathan's fiance, to the vampire hunter Van Helsing, to Dracula and the demons he creates. Oh, and don't forget Renfield. Love Renfield. 

Directed by Kip Williams, who as directed A Picture of Dorian Gray last year, playing to full houses and an extended season last year, this is just as good. 

As with Dorian Gray, Dracula takes one actress and uses her to the best avail. With the influx of camera operators, properties runners and a wardrobe assistant or two, Newman flows from character to character re-telling this classic tale. The actress and the tech crew work seamlessly together. It's incredible. 

Kip Williams direction is brilliant, bringing light, shade and humour to what could be a bleak take.

This has been one of my favourite productions of this year. If it wasn't closing tomorrow (to a sold-out crowd) and it was in Melbourne, I'd be back). With any luck they will bring this down to Melbourne. This is theatre at its best. 

One thing I will say - if it does come to Melbourne, before you see this, read the book. It's not that long, but it will put you in really good stead to see this and bring extra layers to what is already a superlative production. 

This is Zahra Newman's show. 

I'm so glad I got to see this. 

Today's song: