Retro Vampt

For over 30 years Dracula’s has been entertaining and feeding Melbourne locals and visitors. The latest offering Retro Vampt continues this tradition and takes us back to the funky 70’s. The action starts while you wait in line and there are not too many shows that require the audience to reach their seats by ghost train!

Their years of experience in feeding an audience of up to 300 each night before a show is evident as the food appears quickly and the empty plates vanish, courtesy of the suitable attired and fanged FOH staff.

Then we are plunged into a cabaret style performance including risqué jokes, songs, dancing, an homage to 70’s icons such as Charlie’s Angels, James Bond and Porn. A six-minute version of The Rocky Horror Show was well executed with a clever set piece. The cast of five displays a number of talents with vocals being strong and the performance tight. The stand out performance was a soaring rendition of Stairway to Heaven.

Technically Dracula’s punches well above its weight. In a relatively tiny space there are set pieces (and cast) flying in and out, a tiny revolve and a stage lift, bubble machines, fog machines and confetti cannon, a mirror ball, conventional and moving lights, followspots and an impressive sound system.

Dracula’s has their product well packaged and continue to attract an audience - the venue was well patronized on a Tuesday night. Suspend your disbelief, leave political correctness at the door and throw yourself into the vibe of Dracula’s for a good night out.

Shirley Jensen

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