The Great American Melodrama in Oceano is scaring up laughs with their latest show, BDrac in the Saddle Again,C by Steve Lovett.

Start with the famous vampire Count Dracula, place him in the Old West town of Tombstone, throw in pop culture references and one-liners, and you have an evening of comedy for the whole family.

Directed by Eric Hoit, the action starts with Dracula (Jay Campbell) coming to Tombstone, Ariz., searching for a young, new bride. In order to get closer to his new target, Fannie Farmer (Eleise Moore), he poses as her Uncle Norman.

The unsuspecting Fannie welcomes him into her home, but her new maid, Consuela (Hayley Galbraith) seems to recognize Dracula, perhaps from the Old Country. She is, after all, Consuela del Frankenstein.

When Drac decides to get rid of Fannie?s fiance, Buck (Ben Abbott), he encourages an old love triangle with Black Bart (Alexander Pearlman) that ends in Bart?s death. Or does it? With the famous Dr. Frankenstein?s daughter around, you can never be sure.

And when Buck confesses that he used to be known as BThe Guy With No Name,C a wanted gunslinger, the Sheriff (Chuck McLane) is forced to sort things out. He is aided by his cousin Hilde (Bree Murphy), the new town doc, who just happens to know how to detect and eliminate vampires.

Following BDrac in the Saddle AgainC each evening is the Melodrama?s famous vaudeville revue, filled with song and dance. Also directed by Eric Hoit, and accompanied on the piano by Jordan Richardson, the vaudeville pays tribute to (and pokes fun at) the Hollywood musical film.

With choreography by Michael Jenkinson, the Melodrama celebrates the movies with songs ranging from BChattanooga Choo Choo,C to BRazzle Dazzle.C

Performances are at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 4:30 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 6 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 12. (On Oct. 12 and 26, a 2 p.m. matinee will replace the 7 p.m. performance.) The Melodrama is on Highway 1 in Oceano, 3 miles south of Pismo Beach.

The Melodrama?s in-house snack bar features food and drinks served before the show and during intermissions, including such fare as chili dogs, cheesecake, beer and wine.

For more information or to make reservations, call the Melodrama Box Office at 489-2499.