Dracapella is a show that wears its heart on its sleeve - or rather, in its title. A capella singer Dan Patterson and Jez Bond's musical take on Bram Stoker's iconic vampire novel is as much about poking fun at the original material as it is about celebrating its campy charm.
The brainchild behind this spooky comedy romp comes courtesy of ABH Beatbox, whose beatboxing prowess sets the tone for a production that is equal parts music hall and cartoonish mayhem. Patterson and Bond's script is a sidesplitting sendup of storytelling cliches, with every joke, quip, and witty remark carefully calibrated to elicit groans and guffaws from the audience.
The show's central plot - a 400-year search for love that culminates in a power ballad or two - is merely a vehicle for the real stars: the cast. Ciarán Dowd, Philip Pope, and Keala Settle deliver performances that are at once ridiculous and endearing, their comedic chemistry impossible to resist.
The result is a show that is as much about the joy of absurdity as it is about the power of music. The arrangements of 80s classics like "Crazy" and "At Last" are sumptuously done, while ABH Beatbox's Looney Tunes-inspired beatboxing creates an immersive soundworld that transports the audience to a world of ghoulish good fun.
If there's a drawback to Dracapella, it's that the show can feel slightly effortful at times - with some songs and plot points feeling more like interludes than fully fleshed-out narrative strides. However, this is a minor quibble in what is otherwise a hilarious and irrepressible romp through the world of the undead.
The brainchild behind this spooky comedy romp comes courtesy of ABH Beatbox, whose beatboxing prowess sets the tone for a production that is equal parts music hall and cartoonish mayhem. Patterson and Bond's script is a sidesplitting sendup of storytelling cliches, with every joke, quip, and witty remark carefully calibrated to elicit groans and guffaws from the audience.
The show's central plot - a 400-year search for love that culminates in a power ballad or two - is merely a vehicle for the real stars: the cast. Ciarán Dowd, Philip Pope, and Keala Settle deliver performances that are at once ridiculous and endearing, their comedic chemistry impossible to resist.
The result is a show that is as much about the joy of absurdity as it is about the power of music. The arrangements of 80s classics like "Crazy" and "At Last" are sumptuously done, while ABH Beatbox's Looney Tunes-inspired beatboxing creates an immersive soundworld that transports the audience to a world of ghoulish good fun.
If there's a drawback to Dracapella, it's that the show can feel slightly effortful at times - with some songs and plot points feeling more like interludes than fully fleshed-out narrative strides. However, this is a minor quibble in what is otherwise a hilarious and irrepressible romp through the world of the undead.
The whole cast is amazing, especially Ciarán Dowd, he's like a vampire version of a stand-up comedian 
. And that beatboxing? Who knew it could be so funky? 
ABH Beatbox really outdid themselves. But what I love about this show is how it pokes fun at the original material without actually making fun of it. It's all in good spirits, and it's infectious! The music hall vibe is on point too, it's like a big ol' musical party 
. Just be prepared for some songs to feel a bit tacked on, but overall it's a wild ride from start to finish 
.
and I'm still trying to process all the weird foods I ate 
It's...an experience. Anyway, speaking of experiences, Dracapella sounds like so much fun! I love how they poke fun at vampire tropes and just go for a laugh 
Did you know that Tokyo has this amazing team sport called 'extreme ironing'? It's basically ironing clothes while doing crazy stunts like climbing mountains 
. Anyway, back to Dracapella... I need to get tickets ASAP 
I just saw Dracapella and I'm DYING 
- Ciarán Dowd, Philip Pope & Keala Settle are HILARIOUS 
and the beatboxing is EVERYTHING 
. But, tbh 
, it feels like some songs/pants are just filler 
. Minor quibble tho 
! Stats: 
(avg time between jokes)
. And can we talk about the cast? Ciarán Dowd, Philip Pope, and Keala Settle are absolute stars 
, it's like they took all the best bits of music hall and mashed them up with some modern magic 
. Only downside is that it can feel a bit disjointed at times, but overall Dracapella seems like an absolute blast 
. Still, overall it's a solid 8/10 and if you're into that sort of thing, you'll probably love it 
It's also really cool how they've incorporated 80s classics into the arrangements... it just adds to the whole absurdity and joy of the show. My only tiny gripe would be that some parts might feel a bit disjointed (e.g., those interludes), but overall, I'd say Dracapella is a hilarious and irrepressible romp that's not to be missed! 
The beatboxing parts had me LOLing out loud, I've never seen anyone make "crazy" sound like that before 
. I'd totally see this live, it sounds like it would be an absolute blast! 
And boy, does Dracapella deliver! It's like they took all the cheesy goodness from the original Bram Stoker novel and turned it into a sidesplitting comedy romp 
. the music arrangements are fire 
. Their chemistry on stage is electric and the beatboxing from ABH Beatbox is on another level 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good laugh with some spooky tunes? The only thing that bugged me was how sometimes it felt like they were just throwing songs in there for the sake of having songs 
! My only concern is that some bits feel a bit rushed or tacked on... but overall, it's a hilarious and irrepressible romp through the world of vampires 
. We need more shows like this to bring people together and have a good laugh 
!
.
. But overall, Dracapella is just so much fun to watch, it's like a big ol' belly laugh in a box of tricks 
.
and the cast was hilarious, especially those three actors who played a great trio. I did find some parts to feel like they were just there to pad out the show's length, but overall it was just pure joy