Dracula Inquest

A familiar story is viewed through a new theatrical lens refocusing timeworn expectations in this homegrown Dracula horror yarn.

Count Dracula, for one thing, is missing from his own story. In Central Works' "Dracula Inquest," a detective from Scotland Yard has arrived at an asylum for the criminally insane in his search for the Transylvanian nobleman who has gone missing. Four of the characters still alive at the end of the Bram Stoker novel are now asylum inmates, and the question becomes whether they are vampire-hunting heroes or conspirators to a murder with a particularly gothic alibi.

Dracula Inquest is the 44th world premiere for Central Works, running July 12-Aug. 17 at Berkeley City Club. The company has its own "Central Works Method" for play development that starts off with just an idea and a distant opening date, as discussions, table reads, workshops, and other developmental activities bring forth a play from that seed of an idea. Playwright Gary Graves had the idea in this case, and director Jan Zvaifler helped shepherd it through its journey to stage.

For tickets, call (510) 558-1381 or go to centralworks.org