Awesome Adaptations is a weekly bookish meme, hosted at Alisa Selene’s books blog, Picturemereading. Anyone can play along! Each week there is a new category of adaptation to blog about. Any format (television series, film, web series, etc.) is acceptable as long as it is based in some form on a book. If you’re playing along on your own blog, just mention Picturemereading in your post and include the banner above. Let them know which film you’d pick and why it is an awesome adaptation worth watching. Oh, and don’t forget to share the link to your own post in the comments for that week’s challenge so that everyone can read your thoughts!
An Awesomely Musical Adaptation
Adapted from: Dracula by Bram Stoker
Now that we've found where the enemy's lurking
Nothing can stand in our way.
Since we are facing the forces of darkness
We must be the cold light of day.
I haven't had the good fortune to see this musical live, so my thoughts really stem from my favorite recording of it - the recent Studio Cast Recording starring James Barbour. Though I feel like I would really enjoy the show as well!
Frank Wildhorn's musicals are usually catchy, pop or rock inspired and hugely entertaining. With Dracula there is a large dramatic feel to the music that, to me, fits the Gothic nature of the story and also gives it a cinematic, epic feel. Dracula is given a much more sympathetic, romantic role in this musical compared to the book, and the story of the musical focuses and enlarges on the romance of Dracula and Mina, while also being relatively faithful to the main plot points of the book.
Dracula is obviously a story that has had a huge affect on the genre of Gothic and vampire stories, and has been reinvented time and time again. Although this version doesn't shake up the usual interpretation of the book it brings all the sinister danger of the vampire, the now obligatory sensitive, brooding and troubled portrait of the Count, and combines it with lush orchestration, gorgeously powerful voices and stirring, emotional songs. I would love to see this musical live!
On another note, I'd like to recommend visiting Book Blog 411 (if you are a book blogger) and getting your blog listed! The Readingista is trying to put together a one-stop, up-to-date resource to find fellow book bloggers and also see a list of ongoing memes and challenges. I think it can be tremendously useful, especially to see all the memes and challenges in one place. Check it out and spread the word!
An Awesomely Musical Adaptation
Title: Dracula the Musical
Now that we've found where the enemy's lurking
Nothing can stand in our way.
Since we are facing the forces of darkness
We must be the cold light of day.
I haven't had the good fortune to see this musical live, so my thoughts really stem from my favorite recording of it - the recent Studio Cast Recording starring James Barbour. Though I feel like I would really enjoy the show as well!
Frank Wildhorn's musicals are usually catchy, pop or rock inspired and hugely entertaining. With Dracula there is a large dramatic feel to the music that, to me, fits the Gothic nature of the story and also gives it a cinematic, epic feel. Dracula is given a much more sympathetic, romantic role in this musical compared to the book, and the story of the musical focuses and enlarges on the romance of Dracula and Mina, while also being relatively faithful to the main plot points of the book.
Dracula is obviously a story that has had a huge affect on the genre of Gothic and vampire stories, and has been reinvented time and time again. Although this version doesn't shake up the usual interpretation of the book it brings all the sinister danger of the vampire, the now obligatory sensitive, brooding and troubled portrait of the Count, and combines it with lush orchestration, gorgeously powerful voices and stirring, emotional songs. I would love to see this musical live!
I have heard songs from this but I actually haven't listened to the entire soundtrack..James Barbour's voice is gorgeous as always!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree! Although I love all of James' songs, I think my favorite song is the one Van Helsing sings called "Deep In the Darkest Night". (That's where the quote in the post comes from) But the entire soundtrack is fun! And there is even another demo recording floating around with Douglas Sills singing as Dracula! :)
DeleteI had no idea that Dracula was made into a musical. Thanks for the heads up. I can't wait to check it out and to listen to some of the music. Awesome!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the mention. It is most appreciated.
Oh yes, it is very dark and dramatic so I think it goes well with the over the top emotional musical genre. :) I hope you enjoy the music! If you do, and you also check out Scarlet Pimpernel that Picture Me Reading posted about, you might like both since both musicals were written by the same composer!
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