The October People’s Choice Award goes to…

The people have spoken… The October People’s Choice Award goes to Tanuja Devi Jagernauth for her short play, Therapy with the Vampire, presented as a staged reading Simulcast & On-Demand via Vimeo Live on October 30th. Congratulations, Tanuja!

Courtesy of Tanuja, we’re pleased to share the first few pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!

THERAPY WITH THE VAMPIRE
by Tanuja Devi Jagernauth

CHARACTERS:
Dracula: THE legendary vampire created by Bram Stoker
Meghna Choudry: Dracula’s brand new therapist

SETTING:
Meghna’s office. Present day.

MEGHNA perches on a chair perpendicular to a couch on which DRACULA sits,
dejected.

MEGHNA
I want to start by saying that I am grateful you chose to invest in your mental health, Mr.
Dracula.

DRACULA
I’m grateful to you for meeting me this late in the evening and you can just call me
Dracula.

MEGHNA
You got it.

MEGHNA makes a note in her chart.

So, for our first session I normally do a full intake and ask you some questions about
your background, life history, that sort of thing, but given your – eh – rather long
history, I—

DRACULA
We’d be here all year if we began at the beginning, and yet, that is precisely where I need
to go, Doctor.

MEGHNA
Oh, you can call me Meghna.

DRACULA
Very well. Meghna. I like the feel of that in my mouth.

MEGHNA shifts in her seat.

MEGHNA
So, why don’t we begin where you want to begin. Do you remember your beginning as
you put it?

DRACULA
That’s the problem. I do not… But. I’ve been doing some research and…

MEGHNA
Yes?

DRACULA
Turns out I’m an interpretation – and adaptation. The imposition of a white man’s will
on a concept he chose to reduce, to twist, and inflame into…me.

MEGHNA
Your father then. What was he like?

DRACULA
My creator was…a writer. Most knew him as the manager of a theater or the assistant to
Henry Irving, but he lived to write.

MEGHNA
That’s lovely then. Do you have a favorite memory of him?

DRACULA
That’s just it – I never met him.

MEGHNA
I’m so sorry.

DRACULA
All I have are his notes. Fountain pen scribbles on cream parchment about who he
wanted me to be.

MEGHNA
It sounds like he was very excited for you to enter the world. Not many children can say
that.

DRACULA
Yes, but – WHERE did I come from? Some say he was inspired by Irish lore – some say
Indian. No one can agree on where I trace my actual roots.

MEGHNA
Your roots then. You want to understand them. Can you say more about that?

DRACULA
I want to know who I am. WHAT I am. I mean, of course I know what I am – I am a
legendary and fearsome vampire – but…why?

Join us for the inaugural Best of PlayGround-Chicago Gala, live and in-person, on Monday, May 1 at 7pm CT at Theater Wit and simulcast! Click here for more info and tickets.