Randy Lucas
Highlands Cashiers Players represent community theatre at its finest, and their seasonally themed productions are especially anticipated and enjoyed. On October 15 through 18 and again from October 22 through 25, they’re putting a delightfully funny spin on one of literature’s most famous villains with a pair of one‑act comedies: Almost the Bride of Dracula and Mid‑Life Dracula.
If you think you know the Count, think again. Typically portrayed as a chilling, mysterious vampire lurking in the shadows, the Count appears here in a surprisingly relatable light. Who knew that even immortals must navigate family expectations, the challenges of dating, and the unmistakable signs of aging?
In Almost the Bride of Dracula, the Count finally gives in to his mother’s relentless pressure to settle down, marry, and provide her with grandchildren. What follows is a parade of potential brides and hilarious dating disasters that prove finding true love isn’t any easier even if you’ve lived for centuries.
Mid‑Life Dracula finds him facing the ‘Big 400,’ and suddenly, even immortality can’t protect him from aching joints, fading confidence, and the unsettling feeling that he’s lost his edge. Watching the usually self‑confident vampire navigate a very human midlife crisis makes for a hilarious romp as he searches for a way to reclaim his swagger.
Director Randy Lucas is stepping into his first role as director for this production. No stranger to the local stage, he has appeared in several productions for Highlands Cashiers Players and the North Georgia Players in recent years, most recently as Detective Trotter in HCP’s production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. Lucas is especially excited to direct these Halloween‑themed comedies because he loves the season and the way the community comes together to celebrate it.
The fun will begin long before the curtain rises. Audiences will be welcomed into a delightfully spooky theatre decorated for the season, where ghosts, ghouls, and perhaps even a vampire or two may greet them, help them find their seats, or serve refreshments. It’s an immersive experience designed to set the mood without sending anyone running for the exits.
Adding to the Halloween atmosphere, the production will also feature a dramatic reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven and The Tell‑Tale Heart performed by local students. It’s a fitting addition to an evening filled with laughter, lighthearted scares, and the unmistakable magic of live community theatre.
And don’t forget to join HCP again on October 30 when they will present a one‑night‑only recreation of Orson Welles’s classic 1938 radio drama, The War of the Worlds.
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