Hillcrest put on a haunting performance of Dracula | Cappies

Dracula played by Mohamed Zreik (L), and Jonathan played by Spencer Pullin (R) during Hillcrest High School's Cappies production of Dracula, held on March 12, 2026 at Hillcrest High School. Photo by Katelyn Faragalli /Student

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Show #12

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Hillcrest High School

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Dracula

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Director: Sabrina Kayed

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Heidi Von-Microys, Critic
St. Joseph High School

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To overcome great danger and face their foes, people must lean on each other and fight together to save themselves and the ones they love . Hillcrest High School put on a haunting performance of the classic tale, Dracula, in which they showed how good conquers over evil even in the most trying times.

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Dracula is a Gothic horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. Originally written in 1897 and later adapted for stage in 1924 and revised in 1927, it depicts the story of a vampire named Dracula, who over the course of the production, terrorises the small English town of Whitby. As the people of Whitby start falling ill and receiving wicked dreams, Dracula, the latest arrival to the town, becomes the prime suspect. Now, Realtor Johnathan Harker, his wife, Mina, and friend, Dr. Van Helsing must cooperate together to rescue the town, as well as their friends Lucy and Renfield from Dracula’s grasp.

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Mohamed Zerik, as Dracula, brought to life the character of the Transylvanian count, with a thick accent and charismatic voice. Throughout the play Zerik was able to maintain a strong accent during all scenes, staying consistently on pitch with the deep voice of Dracula. Zerik used different vocal tones to switch between Dracula’s exterior appearance of a charming count and the blood chilling vampire underneath.

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Renfield played by Liam Hart (L), Dr. Van Helsing played by Gabriel Maloney (M), and Mina played by Emily Farley Ratcliffe (R). Photo by Katelyn Faragalli /Student

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Enhancing the play even further, was the supporting cast. Brianna Brooks plays Lucy, Mira’s sister, who is plagued by insane dreams and fits of insanity while sleeping and during her waking hours. Brooks did an excellent job at conveying the madness inside Lucy, and Brooks evolved with the character throughout Lucy’s drastic mood swings, as well, having delivered highly convincing hysterical screams during the darker emotional scenes. Another one of Dracula’s crazed victims is Renfield, friend of Johnathan and patient to Dr. Van Helsing. Liam Hart portrayed Renfield. Hart used an added sinister tone to the character’s voice to convey the idea that Renfield was already fully gone mentally, and there was nothing left to save. On top of that, Hart used a wide range of erratic hand gestures and movements to further the idea of Renfield’s mind being fully controlled by Dracula. Hart continued to uphold this crazed demeanour even when the focus was not on Renfield, adding much depth to the scenes.

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What truly added to the atmosphere of the production was the use of handcrafted Gothic inspired props. The props, created by Gabriel Maloney and team, included a syringe, Gothic cross, dagger, and a bat. Most of the items were made using a 3D printer, such as the cross, dagger, and syringe, the latter even had moving parts to make it appear functional. The flying bat was also hooked onto the end of a pole, with strings that the user could pull to flap the wings and make the bat move.

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Another element that contributed to the aesthetic of the play was the gaunt makeup looks used for those corrupted by Dracula, as well as the count himself. Maebh Brennan, Teagan McGuire, Maria Ntutumu Ayingono, and Zuena Ana Dah were in charge of the makeup looks, using black sunken eyes and dark sunken cheeks to show how Dracula’s influence drains his victims and himself.

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Overall, Hillcrest High School put on a terrifyingly good performance, where they used the actors amazing skill alongside period appropriate props and ghostly makeup to completely transform the atmosphere into that of a vampire infested town. Hillcrest High School’s production of Dracula depicted how even when you’re being hunted, killed, and in danger, you must lean on those you trust to persevere.

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Safya Khan, Lead Critic
Colonel By Secondary School

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“Because you see… I’ve let the darkness in too…”: lamentings of a tormented Mina Harker while on a crusade to vanquish a spectral darkness, and conquer the threat of evil innate in human nature. Revamped from Bram Stoker’s bloodcurdling Gothic classic by the same name, Hillcrest High School’s macabre rendition of Dracula shed light on humanity’s eternal struggle between virtue and vice.

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Solicitor Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania to consult with the enigmatic Count Dracula at his dwelling deep in the Carpathian Mountains, and is confronted by the gruesome and blood-soaked face of evil. After fleeing back to London, he discovers that Dracula’s beastly claws have begun to dig into everything he holds dear. Harker, his wife Mina, and vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing pursue the creature of the night, all while the darkness pursues them. The stakes are high as predator becomes prey; fingers crossed one of those stakes is aimed straight at Dracula’s heart.

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Embodying the primeval Lord of Darkness, Mohamed Zreik nailed Count Dracula’s duality, an infernally animalistic nature shrouded in noble charm, transforming from gentleman to maniacal sadist. Zreik’s outstanding vocal work, a gruff voice coupled with a consistent accent, anchored Dracula’s sinister dual-nature. Brianna Brooks characterised Lucy’s explosively histrionic temperament with cackling outbursts and piercing shrieks. Initially as a repressed young woman, and finally liberated as a bloodthirsty servant of the night, Brooks deftly guided Lucy’s corrupt psyche through life, death, and death again. Emily Farley Ratcliffe portrayed the morose and determined Mina Harker, a bride-to-be turned vampire hunter. Ratcliffe’s performance reinforced Mina as much more than Jonathan Harker’s vulnerable fiancee, but as a force of light to be reckoned with.

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Spencer Pullin personified the meek Jonathan Harker with convincing distress. Through agonised twitches and recoils, Pullin’s physical portrayal of Jonathan’s psychological transformation was haunting. Appearing as Dracula’s deranged servant Renfield, Liam Hart embodied Renfield’s unstable and fiendish qualities through unsettling physicality and raspy vocals. Nigel Thomas-Harvey’s performance of the Butler, though brief, was formal and refined. The Nosferatu ensemble emerged wretched and folkloric as an undead chorus of vampiric souls.

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Dr. Van Helsing played by Gabriel Maloney (L), Jonathan played by Spencer Pullin (2ndFL), Dracula played by Mohamed Zreik (3rdFL), Lucy played by Brianna Brooks (M), Butler played by Nigel Thomas-Harvey (R), and Mina played by Emily Farley Ratcliffe (2ndFR). Photo by Katelyn Faragalli /Student

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Through elegant phrasing and skillful musicianship, pianist Serena Hammoud laced the scenes together with short and ominous harmonies, foreshadowing the impending carnage. The sounds of thunderous rainstorms, smashed glass, and the cries of an infant, designed by Finn Moore and executed by Oliver Riedl and Derek Lagace, imbued the production with a stirring immersiveness. From Lucy’s blood-coated mouth to the skeletal contour of the Nosferatu, the makeup not only reflected each character, but acted as a reminder of the fragility of life. Mina’s reserved bun and Lucy’s windblown curls served as a physical manifestation of the contrast between the two women. An intricately handcrafted bat marionette, built by Gabriel Maloney, was adorned with realistic flapping wings, conveying the eerie illusion of flight.

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As dusk obscured the world in a veil of night, malevolent and appalling forces of darkness were breathed to life in Hillcrest High School’s chilling production of Dracula, unearthing the frightening possibility that evil lies dormant in each and every soul.

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Beatrice Tobin, Critic
St. Pius X High School

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Malignant, consuming, and bloodthirsty— a darkness is spreading across England, and its ruby red eyes are set on draining life to its last drop. Hillcrest High School’s chilling rendition of Dracula brought to stage the tumult and terror of the gothic classic.

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A strange illness has befallen the town of Whitby, one poisoning victims into a possessed insanity before succumbing to death. When a renowned doctor declares it to be the work of a vampire, suspicions arise around the recently installed Transylvanian named Count Dracula, whom solicitor Jonathan Harker has blindly agreed to help settle. Ultimately finding himself prey trapped in Dracula’s castle, Jonathan, his wife, and the doctor must kill the Count and break the curse before it leeches the life, and sanity, out of everyone they love.

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In this macabre production, the cast was full of energy and vitality, proving their immense range and unmistakable passion as the townsfolk struggled in the grip of vampirism. Brianna Brooks embodied hysteria in the role of Lucy, veering between a sickly sweet and giggly demeanour to full-blown manic outbursts. Brooks moved and interacted with expressive fluidity, demonstrating versatile intonation and a stark descent into madness with every bloodcurdling scream and chilling fit of laughter. As Renfield, Liam Hart established the unsettling presence of a far-gone victim of Dracula’s, expressing his hunger for blood and submission to his master with a dark chuckle and desperate bellows to the sky. Hart remained fully immersed in Renfield’s deranged fervour throughout every appearance and marked each scene with alarming zeal.

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Mohamed Zreik displayed an exceptionally thorough commitment to the role of Dracula. Maintaining a gravelly yet expressive Romanian accent with poised physicality, Zreik depicted the Count’s treacherous charm toward the humans, then morphed into the vampire’s true nature with menacing growls and sinister line delivery. Emily Farley Ratcliffe’s emotionally charged portrayal of Mina showcased a transition from fretful submission into confident defiance, defined by a growing intensity in voice and facial expressions. In contrast, Spencer Pullin depicted Jonathan with seamless transitions between a grounded, self-assured gait and cowering terror, balled up on the floor. As Abraham Van Helsing, Gabriel Maloney spoke with grave conviction, until expressing his love for Lucy with a tender gaze and tone.

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Lucy played by Brianna Brooks (L), Mina played by Emily Farley Ratcliffe (2ndFL), Dr. Van Helsing played by Gabriel Maloney (M), and Jonathan played by Spencer Pullin (R). Photo by Katelyn Faragalli /Student

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Bolstering the powerful performances were thoughtful technical elements and the meticulous coordination of the stage crew. Finn Moore’s sound design of eerie oceanic churning and howling wolves created a deep sense of foreboding, while the sound team’s precise execution of gunshots and grisly blood squelches captured the terrifying volatility within the town. Serena Hammoud’s melancholic piano accompaniment set the grim atmosphere between scenes, and the makeup team’s skillful execution of cadaverous pallor, sunken eyes and hollowed cheeks on the victims to Dracula’s curse made the transition all the more striking.

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From the first stab of fangs to a final stake through the heart, Hillcrest High School’s production of Dracula was morbidly delightful and brought the terror of the undead to life.

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Kirpa Singh, Critic
All Saints High School

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Sharpen your stakes and grab your garlic, because Hillcrest High School’s production of Dracula captivated even as the sun came up! The performance captured the stark reality of inherent human evil, while meaningfully paying homage to the classic tale loved for centuries.

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The production brought to life an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic Gothic horror novel. It follows the story of realtor Jonathan Harker, who sets out to Transylvania to assist a client with his move to London. His client? The infamous Count Dracula. Coincidentally, once the Count settles in England, tragedy falls upon the people of Whitby. Their minds are rid of goodness, plagued by their own evil–their thirst quenched only with blood. It is up to Jonathan and his fiancée, Mina Harker, along with the help of friend Dr. Van Helsing, to end Dracula’s reign. Will they give in to inner darkness, or will they lift the curse by fighting their own evil? Hillcrest High School’s production displayed meticulous attention to detail in sound, hair and makeup, as well as bewitching stage presences and character transformations.

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Mohamed Zreik put the fanged face to the name as the character of Dracula. Zreik’s strong, Transylvanian accent was impeccably accurate, making the character instantly recognizable. Zreik’s mastery of menacing, yet sometimes masked, facial expressions, as well as Dracula’s signature seductive yet sinister demeanour, moulded a magnetic stage presence. Zreik’s consistency in maintaining Dracula’s static personality until his final transformation was truly proficient.

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Dracula’s Brides played by Melody Babin (L), Madeline MacKinnon (2ndFL), Eliza Robertson (M), Dracula played by Mohamed Zreik (R), and Jonathan played by Spencer Pullin (2ndFR). Photo by Katelyn Faragalli /Student

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In a time when women could only dream of being the hero in their story, Emily Farley Ratcliffe as Mina Harker changed the narrative. Ratcliffe’s masterful portrayal of a shy and quiet wife-to-be into a symbol of strength in fighting evil was truly moving. From frantic speeches to commanding monologues, original and creative character development was prominent. Ratcliffe’s growing fear and loss of control as Dracula bites her, as well as the purity and innocence that Mina exudes, were truly tangible.

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To embody the character of Lucy, Brianna Brooks exhibited innocent, yet increasingly psychotic behaviour through masterfully crafted physical expression and emotional outbursts. Brooks flawlessly brought familiarity and an incrementally ominous atmosphere to each of Lucy’s scenes. Likewise, the first of Dracula’s victims, Renfield, played by Liam Hart, revealed the reality of human nature and Dracula’s role in it. “He hasn’t created anything new, you know,” the crazed lunatic enunciated. Using spine-chilling laughs, rough and raspy speech, and a range of insanity illustrated through body language, speech, and emotions, Hart meaningfully encapsulated the deranged character of Renfield.

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With over 70 intricate, personalized sound cues, Finn Moore, Oliver Riedl, and Derek Lagace crafted atmospheres and animated scenes with outstanding precision. Audios included shrieking when the Nosferatu ensemble entered and as other plot events occurred, squelching as Dracula bit each of his victims, and an eerie tune which played every time Dracula entered–evoking a persistent sense of fear.

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The intricate and proficient cosmetic skills of Maebh Brennan, Teagan McGuire, Maria Ntutumu Ayingono, and Zuena Ana Dah deepened the meaning of the play itself by enhancing facial features to illustrate the corrupting nature of evil. For example, Renfield’s makeup includes large, dark under-eye bags and a pale, white face. As Dracula’s influence corrupts him further, his makeup reflects his actions, symbolizing evil as an underlying force within him, manipulated by Dracula. Blood on Lucy’s face also signified a complete transformation into evil.

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Hillcrest High School’s production of Dracula was truly a spell-binding experience, with thoughtful attention to detail, a truly dedicated, honourable performance, and a lasting message on the dangers of innate evil in humanity.

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Alexis Gutierrez, Lead Critic
All Saints High School

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Through Hillcrest High School’s cryptic production of Dracula, although he embodies centuries of darkness seemingly capable of spoiling humanity, the human spirit will always carry the power to resist, confront evil, and return to the light.

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Based on Bram Stoker’s classic 1897 novel and adapted by Laramie Dean, Count Dracula’s centuries-old thirst for human blood and infectious darkness continue to threaten those who cross his path. After ensnaring realtor Jonathan Harker during a business visit to his Transylvanian castle, Dracula travels to England to expand his power, quickly disturbing the residents of Whitby. As corruption spreads, Mina Harker struggles to resist the vampire’s growing hold, while Jonathan, haunted by his ordeal in Dracula’s castle, seeks to protect Mina and stop the escalating menace.

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Transitioning between aristocratic composure and the reveal of sinister motives, Mohamed Zreik’s Dracula truly embodied the vampire archetype. Maintaining an ever-present sense of intimidation, Zreik’s commitment to a Transylvanian accent was delivered with deliberate pacing to convey absolute power, while threatening growls responded to defiance. Duality likewise appeared through varied physicality, like confident gestures that misled unsuspecting characters, while lurking movements and a cloak dramatically drawn across the face heightened an air of mystery. Attempting to resist Dracula’s oppression, Emily Farley Ratcliffe’s performance as Mina captured fortitude and growing concern through precise articulation of long monologues and expressive reactions of worry. As Dracula’s influence loomed, Ratcliffe adeptly depicted Mina’s escalating panic, collapsing helplessly in horror and surging into emotion-filled cries. As Mina’s husband, Spencer Pullin narrated Jonathan’s journal entries with pensive observation and measured diction. As Jonathan gradually gave way to mounting paranoia, Pullin demonstrated terror through restless pacing, clutching of the head, and a trembling voice as dread overwhelmed the character.

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Long ensnared by darkness and heavily worshiping Dracula, Liam Hart brought Renfield’s frenzied madness vividly to life. Reverent tones when speaking of the vampire abruptly shifted into manic outbursts and sudden, echoing laughter, creating an unnerving precision with incredible stage presence. Similarly, Brianna Brooks portrayed Lucy’s volatility with remarkable control, teetering between sweet, light-hearted cadence, furious shouting, and escalating into unpredictable, hysterical shrieks that captured the character’s emotional instability.

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Dracula played by Mohamed Zreik (L), and Lucy played by Brianna Brooks (R). Photo by Katelyn Faragalli /Student

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Technical elements complemented the cast while demonstrating exceptional creativity and craftsmanship in storytelling. With over 70 sound cues designed by Finn Moore, effects such as howling wolves, crashing waves, and a crying baby were executed with precision by Oliver Riedl and Derek Lagace. These carefully timed sounds greatly enhanced the atmosphere of each moment, creating a more immersive experience, which were particularly effective during combat sequences, where additional effects like gunshots and stabbing sounds heightened the tension on stage. Props likewise contributed to the production’s realism, with many being 3D printed by Gabriel Maloney, including a shaving razor, syringe, and cross necklaces. Furthermore, one of the most memorable technical features was a 3D printed bat puppet with wings that flapped smoothly and were accompanied by synchronized flapping sound effects, serving as a striking visual piece and showcased the collaborative effort of multiple technical departments.

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Live, elegant melodies performed by pianist Serena Hammoud accentuated the Gothic aesthetic of the production as well, underscoring pivotal moments to emphasize ominous atmospheres, or facilitate seamless scene transitions.

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With a cast and crew that showcased impeccable range, Hillcrest High School’s Dracula proved that even in the face of relentless darkness, the human spirit will always find its way back to the light.

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About the reviews:

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The  Hillcrest High School production was reviewed by 29 critics representing 6 schools. The critic discussions were mentored by teacher Wesley Scheer-Hennings of Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School and student reviews were edited and selected for publication by teacher Victoria Bennett of St. Pius X High School, who could see only the reviews, not the names or schools of the reviewers.

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Next review: St. Patrick’s High School’s production of In the Heights.

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About the Cappies:

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The Citizen and 21 local high schools are participating in Cappies, a Washington, D.C. based program that uses high school critics to review high school theatre. The program is a unique partnership between the Ottawa Citizen, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Two schools from other boards in the region and three private schools have also joined. The Canada’s Capital Cappies season culminates with an awards Gala in June graciously hosted by the National Arts Centre. Follow Canada’s Capital Cappies on Instagram @OttawaCappies.

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