Analysis of Dramatic Meaning in Dracula
Dracula, performed by Shake & Stir Theatre Company, examines the 1897 Gothic novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. This production follows Jonathan Harker as he travels to Castle Dracula where he is imprisoned. When Dracula is not satisfied with simply Jonathan, he pursues Jonathan’s love interest, Mina, in a quest for love, but most importantly blood. This production explored the theme of love utilising the gothic conventions of isolation and the ‘Other’. The dramatic elements of space and mood further enhance the dramatic meaning and helped to establish the overall meaning of the performance. Dramatic meaning was constructed throughout the play to communicate the central message that the power of the ‘Other’ can express emotion and lead to a feeling of isolation.
The theme of …show more content…
One example of this is when Jonathan is attacked by the two female vampires. Jonathan’s isolation is shown first when Jonathan is being circled by them, having them crawl around him. This utilises the space to show the isolation by confining him to the circle they were creating. He is then further isolated by the women running off when he turns around. This use of a large space with a singular actor on stage focuses the attention to only him while making the audience aware that he is alone. The actor then attempts to escape which further emphasises his sense of aloneness. His focus on the doors and windows, the only means of escape from the castle, shows that he uses the set to stress the feeling of isolation. These uses of space created by the actors’ movements and the use of set all contributed to a strong sense of isolation for Jonathan. This in turn helped to set the overall mood of the play and helped to relate to how Jonathan was feeling and how the space created tension between the relationships, expressing
Dracula, performed by Shake & Stir Theatre Company, examines the 1897 Gothic novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. This production follows Jonathan Harker as he travels to Castle Dracula where he is imprisoned. When Dracula is not satisfied with simply Jonathan, he pursues Jonathan’s love interest, Mina, in a quest for love, but most importantly blood. This production explored the theme of love utilising the gothic conventions of isolation and the ‘Other’. The dramatic elements of space and mood further enhance the dramatic meaning and helped to establish the overall meaning of the performance. Dramatic meaning was constructed throughout the play to communicate the central message that the power of the ‘Other’ can express emotion and lead to a feeling of isolation.
The theme of …show more content…
One example of this is when Jonathan is attacked by the two female vampires. Jonathan’s isolation is shown first when Jonathan is being circled by them, having them crawl around him. This utilises the space to show the isolation by confining him to the circle they were creating. He is then further isolated by the women running off when he turns around. This use of a large space with a singular actor on stage focuses the attention to only him while making the audience aware that he is alone. The actor then attempts to escape which further emphasises his sense of aloneness. His focus on the doors and windows, the only means of escape from the castle, shows that he uses the set to stress the feeling of isolation. These uses of space created by the actors’ movements and the use of set all contributed to a strong sense of isolation for Jonathan. This in turn helped to set the overall mood of the play and helped to relate to how Jonathan was feeling and how the space created tension between the relationships, expressing