Watching the 2004 blockbuster cheesefest 'Van Helsing' last night, I was suddenly reminded of an event from my youth. Aged about six, we watched a production of Dracula put on as a school play by the older children. This version, for reasons that I can only speculate on, was in the form of a musical. The only part of it that sticks in my mind is the sinister closing number sung by (presumably) Mina to Jonathan. The refrain was something like "Jonathan Harker, don't look at me so". The implication (to my six year old mind) was that although Harker had vanquished Dracula, it was possible that in the process he had been bitten and was now advancing on Mina with bloodlust in mind. I could be wrong. Maybe he was just randy.
But anyway, history (or at least the internet) offers no supporting evidence for any of this. And all of this was about two and a half decades ago, so some or all of it could be entirely wrong. But if anyone reading has any clue what I was actually witness too (perhaps it was actually a slapstick farce production of The Woman in White), then please make some effort to let me know.
11 comments:
Could it have been 'The Dracula Spectacular'?
My school put on a performance of that. It seems to be reasonably well known.
It certainly was Dracula Spectacular. I believe my sister was in it. I will have to ask her the next time I see her.
I seem to have missed this post, but I was in Dracula Spectacular at age 13. A very minor part; I don't think I had lines. My memory is hazy, but I don't think that it used Stoker's names, and at the end the revelation was that the woman had been turned, Dracula was still alive and the hero was about to be bitten.
I remember this!! The year 7s put it on at school in the 90's.
It went"Jonathan Harker don't look at me so...dracula's dead at last, hip hip hooray hooray.... dracula's dead at last ... [screams]"
Don't know what it was called :(
If you find out, let me know... I'm sure we ain't crazy.
I found it! Hope you're still reading ;)
No wonder I had memories of fingers in pies as well as dracula...
http://www.itrackmine.com/userarea/lists/products/productdetail.php?iProductUnq=6458520
Track 45 on http://www.amazon.com/Sweeney-Todd-Dracula-Carey-Blyton/dp/B000EMGFMG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1279726272&sr=8-1 definitely contains the line "Jonathan Harker, don't look at me so", which if nothing else demonstrates my ability to remember random lines of libretto for longer than is reasonable.
Well I think that's filled a gap in my life anyway ;)
Don't think it's Dracula Spectacular but could be wrong, we did this one in music class at middle school but I remember some more of the other songs like 'Ghost Ship, why do you come here, ghost ship, why do you bring fear, ghost ship what do you bring us from the depths of Hell-o, what was that dog, that monstrous hell hound, that left the ship with a mighty big bound, now it has gone among the tombstones, looking for its dinner (back to Ghost ship)'
Then Mina singing about Jonathan 'Jonathan dear where are you?, why do you not write?, is your little Mina, so out of mind 'cos so out of sight, I had a letter, but that was weeks ago, oh, oh, how could you be so cruel and treat your Mina so'
And finally 'Dracula's dead at last hip-hip hooray, Jonathan Harker your teeth look queer, Dracula's dead at last hip-hip hooray, Jonathan Harker *something something*,Dracula's dead at last hip-hip hooray, Jonathan Harker don't look at me so, Dracula's dead at last hip-hip hooray hooray, Jonathan stop that at once!!!!'
I've somehow got Ghost ship stuck in my head this morning and came across this thread in my search for the lyrics. Hope this jogs a few memories lol!
x Krow
Have just remembered another song which may have been from this same one, may have been something different but it was something to do with a person in a mental institute maybe, which does sort of tie into Dracula, could have been Igor singing lol!
'Weevils and lice on the menu, oh what a lovely surprise, weevils and lice, are very nice, especially when eaten with unsavoury rice, this is a most pleasant venue, I wish I had come here before, Excuse me a mo, I simply must go, I saw something move on the floor'
this is all entirely Kosher - it was going around prep' schools in the 1980s for sure, we did a performance on the headmaster's lawn adn the weevils and lice song was what brought me here - jonthan haker don't stand so near - jonathan harker your teeth look queer - jonathan harker don't look at me so - jonathan harker please please leave my neck alone - get away stop that at once!.,., (insert the Dracula's dead at last hiphip hooray bits as required i'm too lazy).,., I feel like the reason nobody can find it is to do with it being written maybe by some private school music teachers or something and that it wasnt' in general circulation but was going around the private schools, but that is only a dim theory.,.,.
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