October is a time of long nights and Halloween frights, but for the Pascack Hills Players, it’s also full of blood and bites, because this year the group’s fall drama production is Bram Stoker’s famous play, Dracula. The show tells the story of the legendary character, while also including mystery, lost love, and quite a bit of stage blood.
To better understand the play, we spoke to the director of the Pascack Hills Players, Mr. Ed Bialkin:
Trailblazer: How did you choose this particular show compared to the shows you’ve done in the past?
EB: It’s slightly smaller show than we’ve done in the past, but it’s also one that is extremely popular and more recognizable to students here at Pascack Hills. By putting on this show, more people will understand what it’s about and be more interested in coming to see it.
T: What can the audience expect when they come to see the show?
EB: They can expect an amazing show that will really keep them on edge.
Of course, there is also someone behind the scenes making sure everything is runs smoothly, the stage manager senior Bianca Canosa:
T: What kinds of things need to happen back stage for this show to work?
BC: Well, there are a lot of things. Costumes need to be made specifically for the characters according to the time period of the story, and different sets needs to be built. We have students handling lights, sound effects, hair, makeup, props, and scene changes. For this show in particular, certain switches and effects will be tough due to the limited amount of time we have, but because of all the hard work and energy of all those involved, the show will look realistic and well presented.
Finally, we sat down with the junior Keith Gliksman, who plays the role of Dracula.
T: How does it feel to be playing one of the world’s most famous literary and stage characters?
KG: There is, of course, a decent amount of pressure with so many people relying on you, and of course it’s a little intimidating to be playing a character that’s been played by so many amazing actors. It’s like playing the role of the Joker in another Batman film. After Heath Ledger did such an amazing job playing the role of the Joker, many actors feel they’d have a difficult time following him. That’s how I feel about playing Dracula. But it’s a tremendous honor to portray the role and represent such a legendary character.
The players are performing next month on November 21st, 22nd, and 23rd in the Pascack Hills auditorium at 7pm. They hope to see you all there, and they promise they won’t bite!
