Dracula Sucks

Ken AshfordPopular CultureLeave a Comment

Another Broadway musical about Dracula, the third vampire-based musical attempt in four years, is getting crucified by the critics.

This time it is "Lestat" — an Elton John-Bernie Taupin creation — based on the Anne Rice novels.

In a review headlined "Vampires, the musical kiss of death," The Washington Post’s Peter Marks said the fixation with singing vampires had to stop. "Give the bloodsucker a ballad, and it’s his show that joins the walking dead."

"The only thing distinguishing this musical from its late, unlamented predecessors is that the lead vampires play for the, er, other team," he said. "’Lestat’s’ contribution to art and equality is demonstrating that a gay vampire with a two-octave range can be just as dull as a straight one."

The New York Post’s verdict was "Bloody Awful" and Newark, New Jersey’s The Star-Ledger said it was "just deadly."

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Describing "Lestat" as a "musical sleeping pill," The New York Times critic Ben Brantley said: "The closest ‘Lestat’ comes to so-bad-it’s-good camp is in a subplot that might be called ‘Claudia Has Two Daddies."’

"Claudia is the little orphan girl brought home as a peace offering to the sulking Louis by Lestat, who turns her into a vampire after finding her destitute on the streets of New Orleans," he wrote.

In a review headlined "Undead ‘Lestat’ sucked of life," Newsday’s Linda Winer said: "The undead can’t catch a break on Broadway these days….. The curse continues with ‘Lestat."’

Yikes.  That’s harsh.

OTHER THEATRE NEWS:  Rent turns ten years old on Saturday.  The New York Times covers it.