Young Irish Film Makers

Sherlock Holmes & The Curse Of Dracula
By John Morton

Based on characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker and Robert Louis Stevenson.
December 2003
Directed by Trev Anderson

The Story :

London, England November 1888. The evil Count Dracula has returned looking to create an army of vampires that he will lead into a vampire invasion of London. He is in pursuit of Mina Harker, who he wants to become his wife and mother to his cult.

She finds refuge with the resident of 221B Baker Street, the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes and his faithful chronicler Dr. John Watson, who are investigating murders perpetrated by a fiend calling himself Jack the Ripper.

The similarities between the cases lead our heroes into the dark London night, intent on preventing the spread of vampires. However, first they must locate Dracula….

The Facts :

This was the first Dreamstuff play that melded different literary sources, along with the real life serial killer Jack the Ripper.

Oscar Wilde’s immortal Dorian Gray featured in the script at one point but was removed as he featured in the movie LXG, released around the same time. However, he is referenced by Dr. Watson though as a pending case, as is the Loch Ness Monster, Phileas Fogg’s stolen loot and the whereabouts of the Greystoke heir, Tarzan.

The bloodsuckers in this play were killed by varying methods of vampire destruction such as holy water, silver bullets, stakes through the heart, sunlight and beheading.

This is regarded as being one of the darkest more adult Dreamstuff’s plays featuring amongst other things prostitute murder, lots of blood, removed organs, scantily clad vampire ladies and references to drug abuse.

In this play, not only does Sherlock Holmes use his renowned deductive skills but he also demonstrates his skill for boxing and disguise. Also like traditional images of Holmes, he uses a pipe, wears a nightgown and slippers at one stage and also wears the famous deerstalker hat throughout this play.

Strangely, all the traditionally brunette female characters of Stoker’s Dracula, Mina Harker and the Brides of Dracula were all played by blonde haired actresses in this play.

The chronology of Dracula was moved from its setting in 1898, ten years back to 1888 to match the historical date of the Ripper murders and also the decade that Holmes was at his peak in Conan Doyle’s stories.

The accent that Sean Hackett’s Dr. Watson comes out with whilst trying to put on a Cockney one is Dublin.

The three forms Dracula takes in this play are as a storm, a distinguished European gentleman and finally, the traditional black clad pale faced vampire. A fourth, elderley Dracula featured in the script but never made it to the stage.

This was the second out of three Dreamstuff plays that Rory – Fleck Byrne uttered the immortal line ‘It came like a fog, a fog from hell!’

In this play, the real identity of Jack the Ripper is Mr. Edward Hyde, from Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Memorable Scene :

Dr. Jekyll begins to freak out at Holmes before convulsing and falling behind the altar. With one ‘Boo’ later, the despicable Edward Hyde has emerged. Holmes readies himself in a fighting stance as Hyde makes for him. For the first time in the play, it’s no more Mr. Nice Detective. .

Choice Line :

Dracula: ‘The choice is not simple no? Drink from me and live forever.’

Sherlock Holmes: ‘Frankly I’d prefer a warm brandy by the fire and a cold grave at winter.

The Cast:

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