Dracula

DRACULA...A VARIATION BY BO LIST **

ZOO SOUTHSIDE (VENUE 82)

THE prince of darkness is keeping himself busy with multiple appearances on the Fringe. Whatever the challenges are of staging the supernatural shenanigans of the Count of Transylvania, they obviously don't scare the young theatre companies who've plumped for productions of Dracula.

The two shows take entirely different approaches to their gothic source material. At Zoo Southside, the University of Kentucky's Chance Theatre ramp up the camp possibilities of the story, revelling in double entendres, repressed Victorian sexuality and schlock horror antics.

Dracula's brides are squealing, wild-haired banshees, Lucy and Mina heaving-bosomed Victorian ladies, who are slightly more knowing than their erstwhile fiances suspect. Dracula could do with a little more urbane charm and malevolent presence, but Van Helsing is suitably wild-eyed. The production may be basic, but the performances are winning. Mina, Lucy and Dr Seward in particular are played with the right kind of over-the-top commitment.

A hop down Nicolson Street to C venue and a much more earnest affair is underway in Black and White Rainbow's production. Going for something altogether more worthy, this is a sincere adaptation which doesn't quite live up to its hyperbolic billing.

It contains some decent performances (Van Helsing in particular) and there are some nice staging techniques, too, including mirrors carried around by a white-masked chorus and a rather impressive fight scene as Dracula is vanquished by his adversaries. But it's not blood-curdling or subtle enough, meaning, at times, they almost slip into camp parody without really meaning to.

Crucially, Dracula lacks the hypnotic appeal that usually ensures that the audience is rooting for him rather than the deadly dull goodies.

Dracula... A Variation by Bo List until August 11. Today at 8.15pm. Dracula until August 27. Today at 10.30pm