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ARVIAT
Fangs will flash and stakes will fly when Dracula appears on stage in Arviat later this month.

Dracula (Jonathan Kigusiutnak) terrorizes the town bailiff (Shelton Nipisar) during rehearsal antics for John Arnalukjuak High School's upcoming play, The Nemesis of Dracula, in Arviat this past week. - photo courtesy of JAHS Drama Club

The John Arnalukjuak High School (JAHS) Drama Club will be performing The Nemesis of Dracula on Oct. 23 and 24.

The play was written more than 34 years ago by Arviat director Gord Billard's former English teacher and drama director, Alistair Rice.

Billard said he found the original handwritten script this past summer while clearing out some old boxes.

He said when he read the script, he found synapses starting to fire that have been dormant for than 30 years.

"What a trip down memory lane," exclaimed Billard.

"I played the role of Dracula in high school and remember it clearly.

"If I still have a clear memory of that experience 34 years later, it's a good chance my young theatre buffs will clearly remember their time on the stage for a very long time.

"I decided I would give Mr. Rice's play a go with the JAHS students and they really liked it."

Featuring a cast that could surpass 20, The Nemesis of Dracula is the first gothic horror tale the JAHS Drama Club has tackled.

Billard said several of the core actors from 20112012 have returned, and some Grade 9 students have joined, so he's excited to have so many new faces, personalities and talents to work with this year.

He said it's interesting to have Jonathan Kigusiutnak in the lead role of Dracula.

"Jonathan spent the past few years behind the scenes as lighting technician and stage manager.

"He's appeared on stage, but as a dog both times when, while in middle school, he found his way to our stage and liked what he saw.

"He was Snoopy in our Peanuts Christmas show and Max the Dog in our second Grinch production.

"He's doing an exceptional job in his role as Dracula in our first serious attempt at the horror genre."

The story is a typical vampire plot set in late 1800s to early 1900s Transylvania.

The deaths of the village lamplighter and an unknown man near the old cemetery strikes fear into the residents of a small town.

Their fear is justified, as Dracula has returned from a long hiatus that had him referred to as a legend.

Billard said when the townsfolk realize there are puncture marks on the neck of both victims, visiting vampire hunters Rudolph and Nicholas Meyer inform all that Dracula still lives.

"There are two more deaths and a powerful moment when one of Dracula's female disciples meets her demise at the end of a scene.

"They're determined to put an end to the scourge and find Dracula's tomb.

"They tilt the coffin up and pierce the vampire's heart in a spectacular slow-motion death scene that will shock everyone.

"Dracula has been defeated and the townsfolk can relax and get back to fearfree living - or can they?"

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