For one of lit ’s most enduring deeds , Bram Stoker’sDraculadidn’t experience much of an hearing turnout when it was first adjust for the level . The classic 1897 novel was transmute into a bid by Stoker the same class it was published — and only two paying customers prove up to its entry .
In Stoker ’s defense , it was n’t suppose to be a august production ; it was a copyright reading of the script , which was slapped together by the author in a hurriedness so he could submit it to the Lord Chamberlain ’s Office for approval and licensing and retain the dramatic rights . The free rein , titledDracula : or The Un - Dead , was held on May 18 , 1897 — eight days before the novel was released — and was only advertise for a half - time of day before the performance begin . regard that the play had a prologue , five acts , and 40 view , it ’s unclear whether an consultation would have felt compel to stay for the entire matter anyway .
The dramatic reading asterisk actress and pioneer suffragette Edith Craig as Mina Murray . Stoker had in the first place wanted the thespian who helped inspired the character of Dracula — the coloured , mystical Henry Irving — to play alongside Murray . However , Irving reportedly refused to get involved , telling Stoker that the hand forDracula : or The Un - Deadwas " dreadful . "
The looseness faithfully stick to the novelDracula ’s plot , although many of the epistolary workplace ’s lush details were condense for clip purposes . A series of character monologues help oneself move the story forward ; Greg Buzwell , who serve as conservator for Printed Literary Sources , 1801–1914 at the British Library , point out that they might have fathom wooden because Stoker was better at scenic detail than straight - up dialogue .
A version of this story run in 2015 ; it has been update for 2021 .
