The musical “Vampire Ball” or the aesthetics of evil and sin. "The Vampire's Ball": what do we know about the musical based on the film by Roman Polanski

Full text of the St. Petersburg production of the musical "Ball of the Vampires". The download link via VKontakte is in the comments.
Many thanks to my best friend, as well as Sergei Sorokin and Anna Lukoyanova for their help in sorting out the incomprehensible. :)
Song titles are listed according to the following principle: Common in the fandom (Original, Listed in the theatrical program)/Alternative.
Lyrics may vary depending on actor/running time/other reasons.

Overture (Ouvertüre, Overture)

(musical number)

Hey-ho-hey! (He, Ho, He, Hey, where are you, professor)

ALFRED:
Professor?.. Professor!
Hey-ho-hey! Answer me, professor!
Hey-ho-hey! I've lost my way.

Surely he sat down somewhere again to write down his observations in a notebook. If Professor Abronsius takes his notes, then the whole world is dead for him... Unless he himself is dead!

Hey-ho-hey! Give me a sign, professor.
Hey-ho-hey! How can I find you?

Professor!!!

I have to find him, otherwise he will freeze! There is no sadder end for a man like him. The newspapers will write: “The death of a scientist in Transylvania.” But no one will remember me... No one will grieve for poor Alfred!

Hey-ho-hey! Don't be silent, professor.
Your precious one is lost,
precious
assistant!

(ALFRED sees the frozen PROFESSOR.)

Professor!..

(ALFRED lifts the PROFESSOR onto his back and carries him away.)

Garlic (Knoblauch, Garlic)

(The tavern from the inside.)

PEASANTS:
Spicy, hot,
Our best friend!

Let's wave a glass of vodka,
Let's pull the tobacco pipe,
To the violin with a young girl
Let's have a nice sleep in the evening!
We will slurp over the bowl,
We won't get enough yet!
Even all thoughts are saturated
The aroma of garlic!
The aroma of garlic!

Burning, savory -
Everyone knows him!
Our best doctor
It's called garlic!
Those who were small will become giants.
It will be soft and harder than steel!
He who crawled will run,
He who lies down will get up!

MAGDA:
The youngsters would only like to squeeze
Well, let's chat with the old ones...

CHAGALL:
But garlic will help quickly
You will become an ardent Romeo!

REBECCA:
The fact that there is nothing more useful,
You can see for yourself!

PEASANTS:
He works wonders!
He works wonders!
He works wonders!
He works wonders!

Burning, savory,
Our best doctor!

(ALFRED enters, carrying the PROFESSOR.)

And who is this?
-Not local!
-Yes!
-Two!..
-Wow...
-I'm frozen!
-Frozen!
-I'm frozen!
-And it seems like forever...

CHAGALL:
Will guests here at the hotel be able to
Find shelter.

REBECCA:
Magda, give me a chair!

CHAGALL:
Believe me, you are welcome here!

REBECCA:
The water is hotter!
I can stop the attack.

CHAGALL:
We'll rub his nose with vodka...

Mustard!
- Pepper!
-Garlic!
Smelling, spicy, savory, fiery...

REBECCA:
Give me hot water!

MAGDA:
Here!

PEASANTS:
Woosha, busha, woosha, busha,
God's magician, God's magician...

(PROFESSOR and ALFRED come to their senses. PROFESSOR notices garlic hanging everywhere. ALFRED looks at MAGDA's neckline.)

PROFESSOR: My boy, what do you think about these little round things?
ALFRED: Small ones?.. They're just huge!
PROFESSOR: Not these ones, fool! Those over there.
ALFRED: Are you feeling better, Professor?
PROFESSOR: It's garlic! Garlic!
ALFRED: Do you think?..
PROFESSOR: Our mission is close to the goal! Kind..!
CHAGALL: Chagall is my name. At your service.
PROFESSOR: Tell me, is there any castle nearby?
CHAGALL: Castle?! No no. No castle, no... Windmill! Hey! Has anyone seen a castle or a windmill here?..

(THE VILLAGE FOOL tries to point towards the castle.)

Do you see? No windmill, no castle - we have a local fool...
PROFESSOR: Why does everyone here wear garlic around their neck?!

CHAGALL:
Garlic?..

I will answer your question!

Furuncle...
-I have an ulcer...
-And diarrhea...

PEASANTS:
Heals spicy, savory, burning
Our almighty friend garlic!
He has helped us more than once!

Burning, savory -
Everyone knows him!
Our best doctor
It's called garlic!
And every single evening
Scabies, flu and liver
We treat with garlic!

CHAGALL:
Now let me show you the room...

PEASANTS:
Spicy, juicy -
He gives us strength!
We know for sure -
He will return our youth!
Eases suffering
And the blood cleanses us!
He who crawled will run,
He who lies down will get up!

So let it last forever
He heals us all
Our great doctor -
Garlic!

Bitte, meine Herren (not specified)

(The inn is outside. CHAGAL, ​​ALFRED, THE PROFESSOR look out of the windows. SARAH hums.)

PROFESSOR: Are you listening?
ALFRED: Great...
PROFESSOR: What is this?
CHAGALL: What - what is this?
PROFESSOR: Well, this is “ah-ah”?
CHAGALL: This?.. This is the wind.
ALFRED: Divine...
PROFESSOR: Yeah. Wind.

(The tavern turns from the inside.)

CHAGALL: Gentlemen, we are almost there.
PROFESSOR: Wind, yeah!...

(The tavern from the inside.)

CHAGALL: Please, come in. Our most luxurious room! Look at these luxurious beds. But, but, but, you won’t find better anywhere! And behind that door, gentlemen, something magnificent awaits you: a state-of-the-art bathroom.

(CHAGAL opens the bathroom door and sees SARAH.)

Sarah!.. I told you a thousand times!.. Come on, get out of here!

(SARA rises from the bath.)

(CHAGAL slams the door. SARAH goes to her room.)

Sarah, my daughter... The bathroom will be free immediately...

(CHAGAL leaves and returns with a hammer and nails.)

A beautiful daughter is a blessing (Eine schöne Tochter ist ein Segen, Beautiful daughter)

(CHAGAL blocks the door of SARAH's room.)

CHAGALL:
God sent a daughter to daddy's joy,
Endowed the little one with beauty...
But my meek little angel has grown up,
And dad lost his peace!
Your precious innocence
I, like Cerberus, will protect.
All men are pigs by nature, -
Well, take me, for example!

Bye-bye, kitten!
You're still a child!

Do not be afraid of anything,
Cover your head.
You don't need anyone
Stay close to dad...

Being a father is dangerous and difficult!
Day and night I stand on duty,
So that some pathetic bastard
Didn't steal a girl's purity!
Where does the heart awaken the beast?
Even the thought itself is terrible.
I'll hammer into the bedroom door,
So that you don't go crazy the next morning.

Sleep well, baby!
Shutters on the windows,
There are locks on the doors,
They won't penetrate... Thieves!
You don't need anyone
Stay close to dad.

God sent a daughter to daddy's joy...
Eh! For joy...

I can’t sleep this night/Tenderer than a girl’s smile (Nie geseh’n/Ein Mädchen das so lächeln kann, The girl who knows how to laugh like that)

(Night. The inhabitants of the inn go to bed.)

ALFRED:
More tender than a girl's smile
I didn't have to see...

SARAH:
How shy he is
This dear young guest!..

ALFRED, SARAH:
I can't sleep for a long night,
I'm dreaming in reality
And only dreams in silence
I live -
I dream about you in the moonlight...

SARAH:
And I'm calling...

ALFRED:
Such a lovely girl...

SARAH:
After all, young men are more wonderful...

ALFRED:
...In the whole world...

SARAH:
...Before...

ALFRED, SARAH:
I have never met you in reality!

(CHAGAL sneaks into MAGDA's room. THE PROFESSOR wakes up.)

PROFESSOR:
What's that noise, my friend?
What's that strange sound?
Perhaps I'll figure it out myself,
Who's sneaking around there?

CHAGALL:
What are you doing at night?

MAGDA:
Sew!

CHAGALL:
Well, sit with me!
Such a diligent girl
I haven't met any.

SARAH, ALFRED, CHAGALL:
I can't sleep this night,
I'm burning like I'm on fire!
When will you cling to me
In silence?
The soul waits without breathing,
When you come to me...

REBECCA:
You know my fierce temper!
I'll get even with you!
The depraved gray-haired scoundrel!

MAGDA:
Lover of female flesh!

ALFRED:
You in the world, my angel...

SARAH:
Handsome man with a gentle soul!

CHAGALL:
There is not a single maid in the world...

ALFRED, CHAGALL:
There are no prettier ones

MAGDA, REBECCA:
Vile!

MAGDA, REBECCA, ALFRED, CHAGALL, SARAH:
There is nothing like it on earth!

REBECCA:
My husband is playing with fire!
Doesn't miss a skirt,
Shame and shame!
Who sleeps in other people's beds,
To hell with the claws!

ALFRED, SARAH:
What I dream about under the moon,
Do you know or not?
The day will come
And you will come to me!

MAGDA:
Tomorrow you will come to me again!

ALFRED, SARAH:
You are the embodiment of a dream come true,
My ideal is you...

VAMPIRES:
The time has come...
The time has come...

(REBECCA, MAGDA, CHAGAL, ​​PROFESSOR fall asleep.)

ALFRED, SARAH:
...And if love is destined for me in life,
That's with you!
And this meeting will become our destiny:
I know only with you
I will find peace
And I will know love!
Only with you...

God is dead (Gott ist tot, God is dead)

(The inn is outside. VON KROLOK sings, SARAH and ALFRED look out of the windows.)

BACKGROUND:
My shadow appeared to you in a dream,
And under the moon you secretly dreamed of me.
To meet fate, my angel, hurry up:
The dark passion of a lonely soul

(VAMPIRES):
The time has come...
The time has come...

BACKGROUND:
Your God is dead, his name is forgotten!

The limit of our wanderings is unattainable -

(The hour has come...)

Know: you must die
To comprehend infinity,
For only death can
Become the guarantee of eternal life.
So say goodbye to the vanity of the world


In the darkness of the universe...

BACKGROUND:
Don't be afraid...

(The hour has come...)

Hurry to meet me, my angel:
The dark passion of a lonely soul
I call you in the silence of midnight.

VAMPIRES:
God died, his name was forgotten,
And there is nothing sacred on earth anymore.
The limit of our wanderings is unattainable,
Not knowing peace, we run from the light.
Our curse is eternal life...

Clear morning (Alles ist Hell, Clear day)

(Morning. CHAGAL, ​​MAGDA, REBECCA are working near the house.)

REBECCA:
The earth was enveloped in a gentle canopy of snow.

MAGDA:
Everything is going great in the cold!

CHAGALL:
The saw dances under the quick hand.

REBECCA:
Snow flakes are flying towards us in a whirlwind!

TOGETHER:
The icicles on the roofs sparkle like diamonds.
Nowadays work seems like a holiday to us!

MAGDA:
The knife trembles willfully in the palm of your hand...

TOGETHER:
This day will be glorious, of course!

(A DOLL appears, the women leave.)

CHAGALL: Mr. Kukol!.. At your service. How can I help this wonderful morning?

(The DOLL makes a mooing noise.)

CHAGALL: What?

(The PUPPET growls.)

CHAGALL: Ah! Candles! Things are bad with this - we don’t have much left: it’s a long winter, you know...

(KOLKOL swings at CHAGALL.)

CHAGALL: Mr. Kukol, don’t worry so much!.. Did I say that I don’t have candles? Let's find a couple of pieces... Wait here.

(CHAGAL leaves. SARAH looks out the window, KUKOL gestures to invite her into the castle. CHAGAL returns, and SARAH closes the window.)

CHAGALL: Here, Mr. Kukol. Twenty pieces of excellent candles. My respect to his lordship! Do you happen to remember an open account?..

(The DOLL takes a swing at CHAGALL and leaves. MAGDA, REBECCA, THE PROFESSOR and ALFRED appear.)

Facts (Wahrheit, unspecified)

PROFESSOR:
Who is this strange gentleman - I don’t understand, I must admit!

CHAGALL:
Cripple, I was passing by!

PROFESSOR:
But everyone is afraid of him!
Facts, facts, -
Everything is based on facts!
I want to know who he is
How did he manage to disturb your peace,
Who attempted at night
To pierce my most precious skull?!

In the midst of general madness, I am calm and reasonable.
Checking it many times, I trust only the facts.
Impartial. I think clearly and clearly.
To achieve the truth, I will have to work hard
Deep and promising; studying the positive
It’s not in vain, that’s clear to me.
I do not accept the secret, the truth is dearer to me!
The desire for knowledge torments and gnaws at me.
What, and where, and how, and why?
Who, when, why, where, to whom?

CHAGALL, MAGDA, REBECCA:
Forget all your worries for a moment!
Today is not the time for stupid questions, but
You, no doubt, know yourself
It's no use arguing with donkeys!

PROFESSOR:
I immediately check any suspicion.
And I form an opinion and find out the truth.
I tried to analyze the world from the cradle:
Dissected toys
Striving for a great goal since childhood.

And I won't let anyone deceive me,
Although it is common for all people to lie, I learned this at school.
Let it be difficult for me to find answers to questions,
But I will find them in the future, because I always think positively.

Down with empty phrases: only logic and reason,
Only logic and reason will reveal everything at once,
But emotions are contagious, and we have no control over them,
Reason conquers feelings - I am convinced of this once and for all!

CHAGALL, MAGDA, REBECCA, ALFRED:
How he thinks progressively, broadly and positively!
Only facts and motives are undeniable for him!
Existing in a positive way, he will glorify his name!
Positive nature
Created for culture, created for culture...

PROFESSOR, (CHAGAL, ​​MAGDA, REBECCA, ALFRED):
My nature, my nature
Created for progress and culture!

My nature, my nature
Created for progress and culture!

Created for culture!!!

If the goose is plucked, it means it will be roast.
Where there is roar and noise, there is no sleep, no peace.
Green grass will not break through the ice.
The hunchback announces the appearance of the count!
Those who are not alien to logic will compare the facts.
I bet Nobel that the hunchback serves the count!
Facts, facts, -
Everything is based on facts!
Someone, somewhere, with someone, somehow...

Yes, I think progressively, broadly and forward-looking,
(Created for culture, created for culture.)
Only facts and motives are indisputable for me.
(Created for culture, created for culture.)
By existing in a positive way, I will glorify my name.
(Created for culture, created for culture...)
A positive nature for progress and culture has been created!
My nature, my nature for progress and culture was created...

TOGETHER:
Given by fate!

Bathroom scene (Du bist wirklich sehr nett, You are really very cute)

(Evening. SARAH hums while sitting in her room. ALFRED fills the bath. SARAH listens, then takes a sponge and goes into the bathroom. ALFRED, peeking through the keyhole, does not notice her appearance.)

SARAH: I'm sorry!
ALFRED: Good evening!..
SARAH: Were you going to take a bath? Did I bother you?
ALFRED: Not at all...

SARAH:
Do not be angry with me.
My life is so boring!..
With garlic at the head,
Always alone in a cold bedroom...

ALFRED:
Your strict dad keeps his daughter locked up...

SARAH:
Locked up, even though I’m almost eighteen!..

(SARA drops the sponge. Together with ALFRED, they bend down to pick it up.)

ALFRED: ...Sponge...
SARAH: Yes... She's so soft... I love her.
ALFRED: Yes, it's a wonderful sponge!..
SARAH: I'm giving it to you! I have two of them!
ALFRED: Thank you, thank you very much!.. Can I give you something too?..
SARAH: Yes, I have one wish...
ALFRED: Which one?

SARAH:
I beg you, promise me
Guess my whim...
For people's health
Needed once a day
If you're not lazy,
Very quickly before bed,
Fifteen minutes...

ALFRED:
You want..?

SARAH:
It's so nice to relax for a while!

ALFRED:
Father will come running!

SARAH:
He's been sleeping for a long time!

ALFRED:
Has he been sleeping for a long time?..

SARAH:
I'm shaking all over
I won’t say why...
And my desire cannot be appeased -
Take a bubble bath!

(SARAH leads ALFRED out of the room and, humming, plunges into the bath. VON KROLOK appears on the roof.)

Invitation to the Ball (Einladung zum Ball, Invitation to the Ball)

BACKGROUND:
Good evening! Don't be scared of me.
The guardian angel has appeared at your call, child!
I will be glad to invite you to the ball.
This ball lasts every year until the morning -
He will make all your dreams come true a hundredfold!

If you don’t want to leave your hateful home, -
Won't you regret it later?
Your purpose is different!
You will pray for a century, exhausting your flesh with fasting,
But you yourself know about it -
Your purpose is different!

It was instilled in you from childhood: “Don’t sin,
Otherwise you won’t get to heaven.”
But you knew for sure in your heart,
That the salvation of the soul is only a sweet lie.
If you trust me recklessly,
I will make all your dreams come true!

This night will carry us away on its wings,
We'll take flight
Only the clock will ring out,
The midnight ball will forever wed you and me.

I've been waiting for you for a long time!..
I have been looking for you for three centuries.
I was given to you by fate
So accept this priceless gift,
Salvation from despondency is an invitation to a ball,
To the ball!

Chaos im Badezimmer (unspecified)

ALFRED: Professor! Professor! He is here!
PROFESSOR: Who?
ALFRED (pretending to show fangs): Him! I saw him!

(ALFRED and PROFESSOR burst into the bathroom.)

PROFESSOR: What nonsense are you talking about, my boy? Is this your fantasy or what?

(CHAGAL and REBECCA come running.)

CHAGALL: Sarah!.. My God, now we're going to have trouble! I told you a thousand times to stay in your room! Said?!
SARAH: No, dad!..

(CHAGAL takes SARAH to her room.)

PROFESSOR: Do you smell decay? He was here, but didn't bite her.
ALFRED: Thank God I didn't bite!
PROFESSOR: He wants to seduce, what a scoundrel! They probably prefer the blood of volunteers...

CHAGALL: You want trouble, right?! It’s okay, I’ll teach you how to obey your dad!
REBECCA: Yoni, what are you doing!.. Sarochka!.. Damn this gang!
CHAGALL: Will you be a good girl?!
SARAH: Yes, dad, I will never take a bath again!..
CHAGALL: Sarah!.. Magician of God!..

(The inn is outside. DOLL appears and leaves boots and a shawl in front of him.)

Beyond the horizon (Draußen ist Freiheit, Outside the home - freedom)

(SARA leaves the house and picks up her shawl and boots. ALFRED appears.)

ALFRED:
The stars look down...
Oh darling, wake up
I want to be alone with you!
Sarah, show up
Answer my call!
Will you really refuse me on a night like this?..

SARAH:
What kind of sighs under the moon?
Finally shut up.
Be on the lookout father!

ALFRED: I love you!..

SARAH: Shut up, please...

ALFRED: Together we are forever!

SARAH: What kind of person...

ALFRED: Well, understand!..

SARAH: Dad will hear!

ALFRED: Sarah, listen!..

SARAH: It's so stuffy in here!

Beyond the horizon I will become free forever.
Over the horizon my dream will come true...

ALFRED:
The wall between us will collapse,
Sarah, you're the only one I need!
And we will fly higher than the birds -
There are no boundaries for my love...

A completely different life awaits us beyond the horizon.

ALFRED, SARAH:
A world of freedom, a world of happiness...

SARAH:
...It's romantic to dream under the moon
It's good if you have nothing to do.
But it was already accepted by me
The invitation is different, I must admit.

ALFRED:
I spend!

SARAH:
I'm in a terrible hurry!

ALFRED:
It's too dark!

SARAH:
I'll go anyway!

ALFRED:
But where should we go?

SARAH:
I don't know the way...

ALFRED:
A wolf howl can be heard behind the forest!

SARAH:
Everything is in the hands of the Almighty!

ALFRED:
The wind moans in the night!

SARAH:
I have to!.. I want to believe that...

ALFRED, SARAH:
Beyond the horizon lies an endless land.
A completely different life awaits us beyond the horizon,
A world of freedom, a world of happiness...

SARAH: Oh! I think I forgot my sponge!
ALFRED: A sponge?.. But why do you need a sponge?
SARAH: Can you bring it to me? Please? Please!

(ALFRED goes into the house.)

Red Boots (Die roten Stiefel, Red Boots)

SARAH (putting on her boots):
Is it possible or not - I can’t find the answer.
I'm so tired of living according to someone else's orders!
Everything is in my hands, and no one can prove it to me,
That accepting a gift means sinning!

The path is not short, so be it:
I'll be back in the morning
I'll get a good night's sleep,
I'll pray to God
And I’ll hug my dad.
Goodbye, former sadness!
It's nice to let go of this burden,
And, incomprehensible
Embraced by the feeling
I'm heading somewhere!

I am weightless, like a bright angel in the clouds.
And neither remorse nor fear are unfamiliar to me...

BACKGROUND:
Only the heart knows the answer.
Remember - you shouldn't regret anything, no.

SARAH:
Although I don’t dare, I’m full of doubts,
Give in to temptation
But there is something stronger than me, yes!

VON KROLOK, SARAH:
This call is eternal
The mind is powerless in front of him!
The path is endless
And our lot is inevitable.
And we're flying
We're flying into the darkness!

Prayer (Das Gebet, Prayer)

(The tavern from the inside.)

REBECCA:
If the music is sometimes
Involves the soul into dancing,
The name of God will save everyone:
Pray and everything will pass.

REBECCA, MAGDA:
Help me calm down, Lord,
Sinful thoughts and flesh.
We hasten to pray
About the salvation of the soul!

Forgive us for our sins,
Protect from temptations,
We send you our prayers,
For we are weak in spirit.

REBECCA, MAGDA, ALFRED:
And rejoicing and mourning
We remember You.
We are all by Your will
Let's become cleaner and brighter.

REBECCA, MAGDA, ALFRED, CHAGALL, PEASANTS, (SARA):
If the Beast awakens in us,
Do not leave even at this hour -
And he will retreat before You
Spawn of darkness at night!

(This call is eternal,
The mind is powerless in front of him!
The path is endless, and our lot is inevitable...)

We all pray for one thing:
Don't let us fall to the bottom,
Help us this night
Overcome the temptation!

Sent down upon the human race
Enlightenment and peace,
After all, each of us keeps
Only in Your name!

SARAH, VON KROLOK:
Towards happiness,
Forgetting about the past, we fly!

Sarahs Flucht (unspecified)

(The inn is outside. ALFRED looks out the window.)

ALFRED: Sarah, I can't find the sponge...
SARAH: It's not scary!..

(SARA runs away.)

ALFRED: Sarah!..

(ALFRED runs out, then REBECCA and CHAGAL.)

ALFRED: Sarah!!!
CHAGALL: What?! What's happened?! Where is she?!
ALFRED: I don't know...

CHAGALL:
Her shoes!.. What a villain!
What did he do to her?!
I warned!

REBECCA:
He took her!..

CHAGALL:
I'll hit the road!

ALFRED:
How can I get her back?!

CHAGALL:
Even in the hell I will find my daughter!

REBECCA:
I won't let go!..
The devil never sleeps!

CHAGALL:
To the castle immediately!

REBECCA: Yoni!.. What are you up to? Yoni, be careful!
CHAGALL: Sarah! Sarah!

(CHAGAL goes in search of SARAH. ALFRED and REBECCA go into the house.)

Trauer um Chagal/Wuscha Buscha, Garlic - reprise

(The tavern from the inside.)

PEASANTS:
Hot, spicy,
It's good in any food.
Let's say it straight -
Garlic is honored everywhere!
It strengthens the stomach
Tempers the spirit and body,
In porridge and cottage cheese
We put garlic!
Nothing better than smelly
Spicy, hot...

(The door opens, two people carry in and place the frozen CHAGALL on the table.)

ALFRED: Hot water, quick!..
PROFESSOR: Hot water won't help here. He is dead. Here they are, bite marks - such cute little holes. That’s how they did it: one, two, and they sucked it out!

PEASANTS:
In winter, wolves bite everyone
And go right down your throat
They certainly strive...

PROFESSOR:
All of you know very well -
The wolf is not to blame for anything!
If you don’t admit the truth, it will be a hundred times worse!
It will be a hundred times worse!

Let's face it, you cowards!

I have described these strange symptoms many times:
The criminal sucked all the blood from the lifeless body
Every drop. I'm right, aren't I?

(PEASANTS hastily leave the tavern.)

ALFRED:
Wait, where are you going?!
This is not the time to leave!
Very important questions...

PROFESSOR:
...We managed to accumulate!

ALFRED, PROFESSOR:
What, and where, and how, and why,
Who, when, why, where,

PROFESSOR:
To whom?..

There is no point in delaying any longer.
We will have to work hard -
Or he will transform
And he will be reborn as a vampire.

The right remedy -
We drive a stake right into the heart...

REBECCA: What?! You want...

PROFESSOR: Take heart, Madame Chagall. Your spouse’s body cannot be resurrected, but we can still save his soul.

Van Helsing's theory coincides with mine:
Punctures help us against viral diseases.
Science doesn't know a better way...

REBECCA:
Punctures? What are you going to pierce?

PROFESSOR: His heart. With one blow. Just like that - bam! (depicts)

REBECCA:
Old goat, you're out of your mind!
I'll pierce your heart myself!
Go away, you ungrateful pig,
Until I called for help!..

(PROFESSOR and ALFRED leave.)

I will not allow a stake to be driven into my heart,
May your end be worthy.
You've broken a lot of hearts, Yoni.
And now you are faithful only to me...

Sleep, sleep forever...
I'm alone in the world...

(REBECCA leaves. MAGDA comes down from the top floor.)

How funny it is to be dead (Tot zu sein ist komisch, It's so funny to be dead)

MAGDA:
Eyes closed
Hands are like ice...
He was vicious -
And now the poor guy is dead...
How funny it is to be dead...

The jokes are over
Old satyr!
Was so noisy
And now it's quiet.
How funny it is to be dead.
How funny it is to be dead!

Although it looks decent,
But the deceased was a beast!
Red tape and impudence,
He didn’t let me pass!

Pious as ever.
And silent, well, just a disaster!
How funny it is to be dead.
How funny it is to be dead.

How funny it is to be dead.
How funny it is to be dead!

Thank God this night
He won't come to me for sure!
He was a terrible womanizer
Only his ardor died down!

The look is harmless -
There are no words.
As you can see, he
It wasn't that...

CHAGALL: Well, this is completely useless... It won’t help! I'm a Jewish vampire. Boo!

(CHAGAL bites MAGDA. Realizing that she is dead, he places her body on the table. PROFESSOR and ALFRED appear on the upper floor.)

PROFESSOR (creaking floorboards): Shh!.. Stop creaking!

(CHAGAL hides. PROFESSOR and ALFRED go downstairs and prepare to put the man lying on the table to rest.)

PROFESSOR: A bag.
ALFRED: Bag...
PROFESSOR: So, when should you strike?
ALFRED: On the count of three...
PROFESSOR: On the count of three. Where is the heart?

PROFESSOR: Edge-on!

(The PROFESSOR throws back the blanket and sees the dead MAGDA.)

PROFESSOR: Bite! It's Chagall! I explained - it was necessary to pierce his heart right away!

(CHAGAL tries to escape, ALFRED and PROFESSOR catch him. PROFESSOR puts a stake to CHAGALL's chest, ALFRED swings a hammer.)

PROFESSOR: One, two, three!

(ALFRED cannot hit.)

Three! Three!..

CHAGALL:
Don't ruin it, brothers! I'm safe.
And I also want to swear that I will become a vegetarian.

ALFRED:
But professor...

CHAGALL:
I'm telling you for sure!

ALFRED:
He will show us the way to it!

PROFESSOR:
Speak more clearly.

ALFRED:
To the runaway daughter!

CHAGALL:
Yes!.. Forward, friends, follow me, quickly!

ALFRED:
Let's have mercy on him for now - he will be useful to us.
And together we will surely find our way to the castle!

(The three go to the castle.)

In front of the castle/Sink with me to the bottom (Vor dem Schloß, Finale of the first act)

VAMPIRES:
The hour has come!
The unusual guests are almost at the castle gates.
The hour has come!
Not pathetic beggars, but a couple of educated gentlemen!
The hour has come!
All prayers were heard, we were looking forward to this kind of luck!
The hour has come
And we will crown this ball with a magnificent meal...

BACKGROUND:
Gentlemen,
Praise the road that brought you here!
As always,
The darkness of the night gives me welcome guests.

I give my master my word at this hour:
Happy is Count von Krolock to see you here!

The castle is mine
Covered from prying eyes in pitch darkness.
Darkness of the night -
My abode and my sacred shelter.
With all my soul
I encourage you to follow me.

But know: only those who are worthy of knowing the secret
Whoever voluntarily enters my chambers,
And my world will open, and he will find a friend in me...

I have been living as a recluse for many years.
I am damned in the present, but there is no future...

There's no escape to be found
From my sadness and boredom.
My paths are endless
My separations are inevitable...

PROFESSOR: Nothing urgent, Your Excellency... We wandered here quite by accident and want to just take a peek at your luxurious home. The end of the 13th century, if I'm not mistaken?...
VON KROLOK: Oh! You, I see, are an educated person. With whom do I have the honor?
PROFESSOR: Professor Abronsius from Königsberg.
VON KROLOK: That same Professor Abronsius?!
PROFESSOR: Have you heard about me?

BACKGROUND:
I read your opus about the bat with delight!

PROFESSOR:
I’m flattered, because no one in my homeland has heard of him!
Facts, facts! Facts are not in fashion these days...

BACKGROUND:
I ask you to give an autograph and be a guest of honor!

PROFESSOR:
Your abode is a blessing for true scientists!..

BACKGROUND:
And your young companion is probably a student?

PROFESSOR:
My assistant, Alfred.

BACKGROUND:
Ah, Alfred! Compliment to you...

(HERBERT exits.)

Here is my son Herbert - you will become friends with him...
We are sincerely glad to see you.

HERBERT:
That's right... Today
The two of us won't be bored!

(All four enter the castle.)

VON KROLOCK: Welcome, gentlemen. Make yourself at home. Kukol!

(A DOLL appears.)

VON KROLOK: Kukol will show you your apartment.

(HERBERT, PROFESSOR, DOLL leave.)

Alfred, have you lost anything?

(VON KROLOK hands ALFRED a sponge.)

ALFRED: My sponge!..

BACKGROUND:
Buddy, you are young and smart,
Why did you get involved with this old stump?
You and I will quickly find a common language.

I will generously repay your trust.
And I’ll be happy to teach you everything I know...
Trust me - and you will know
Sweet oblivion in the arms of darkness...

Get down to the bottom with me
Where time has no power over us.
It's given to you to try
Endless pleasure.
And the mysterious Grail
Together we can find it!
If the spirit oppresses morality -
So we must end it!

From now on it will come true
And it will come true forever
Your dream!

(ALFRED runs away. VON KROLOK follows and slams the doors.)

Total darkness/The hour has come (Totale Finsternis, All-consuming darkness)

(Castle. SARAH enters the portrait gallery.)

(PORTRAITS):
Clear eyes, become gentle!
Only beauty is fragile and perishable
Alive.
The Lord gave her an innocent appearance,
But this flesh is vulnerable and perishable,
Alas!

The time has come...

(The hour has come.)

Awakening dark desires in me,
He beckons me and draws me along with him.

(The hour has come.)

Sweet and beautiful is this ghostly dream,
And I am in the grip of temptation in a dream.

(The hour has come.)

I'm waiting at midnight,
What an unknown call from the depths of centuries
Will be heard in the darkness...

(The hour has come, Sarah.)

I'm delirious with a forbidden dream!

(The hour has come, Sarah.)

BACKGROUND:
A short moment of mortal life
Will turn into infinity
And the world will fall at your feet,
And love will last forever.

And in return you will gain immortality -
Just trust me, fly with me
Over the abyss, over the abyss,
Between light and darkness!

Through time and space, over the sinful earth!..

SARAH:
With all my heart I obey only one passion!

VON KROLOK, SARAH:
False doubts go away!
The Universe, and us, and the night!
The Universe and we...

BACKGROUND:
And night...

SARAH:

Far from everything of the past.
Darkness reigns over the world,
And the land is no longer visible...

Sweet dope beckons temptation -
How to resist him?
Darkness reigns over the world,
And I'm falling into darkness...

(The hour has come.)

SARAH:
I'm flying in the night, and this night has opened up a whole world to me:
There is another life!

(The hour has come.)

And nothing in the world can stop my flight -
I'm falling like a star!..

(The hour has come.)

Without hesitation, I will throw myself into the fire of madness after you,
And may I burn in hell

(The hour has come.)

Let the dream last - so Providence decided,
At least I’ll go into the inferno!

(The hour has come, Sarah.)

I'm delirious with a forbidden dream!

(The hour has come, Sarah.)

What’s wrong with me is not clear to me!

VON KROLOK, SARAH:
The globe will spin
In the stormy whirlwind of our passion!
And the light of day will fade,
Submitting to our authority.

So say goodbye to the vanity of the world,
And in return you will find
Immortality! Obeying only one passion,
Fly with me over the abyss between light and darkness!

BACKGROUND:
Through time and space, over the sinful earth!..

SARAH:
Having broken all the prohibitions, I will follow you!

VON KROLOK, SARAH:
False doubts go away!
The Universe, and us, and the night.
The Universe and we...

BACKGROUND:
And night.

SARAH:
I know the price of death and love myself -
Far from everything of the past!

VON KROLOK, SARAH:
Darkness reigns over the world,
And the land is no longer visible...

SARAH:

BACKGROUND:
How to resist him?..

VON KROLOK, SARAH:
Darkness reigns over the world,
And I'm falling into darkness...

SARAH:
Darkness reigns over the world,
And I'm falling into darkness...

Darkness reigns over the world,
And the soul rushes into this darkness!

BACKGROUND:
So let the wait be an hour
It will be sweet for us:
The power of the moment is intoxicating.
The heat of impatience consumed our souls.
This ghostly ball will give us oblivion,
And we will perform the initiation ritual...

(VON KROLOK covers SARAH with a cloak and leads her away.)

Carpe noctem (Carpe noctem, Carpe noctem (Catch the night))

(The guest room where ALFRED and PROFESSOR are sleeping. Vampires appear, including MAGDA and HERBERT.)

Take a step towards me into the darkness,
Surrendering to free passion.

He has no power over you anymore!

Feel the night with all your soul,
Join her dark secret!
Drive away doubts

The bell will ring,
And, leaving my shelter,
All the devils will be released,
Angels will fall before them!

And the longing for fresh blood
Stronger day by day
After all, this thirst cannot be quenched,
And our destiny is to kill!

Cursed be the day
He takes away our peace!

Gives us a feeling of universal emptiness
Darkness of the night,
Darkness of the night...

Darkness of the night -
Feel it with all your soul.
Darkness of the night -
To see clearly, close your eyes.
Darkness of the night
It gives freedom and peace.
Darkness of the night -
May he always be with you!
Darkness of the night, darkness of the night...

Exultate Kyrie! Pie Agne, Domine!
Dies irae Kyrie. Sanctus, Sanctus exultate!
Dies irae Kyrie. Libera me, Domine!
Dies irae Kyrie. Requiem da Domine!

The darkness of the night is with you!

The dead will rise from the grave,
Instilling fear into all living things.
Hopes will turn to dust
And eternal darkness will reign!
Our order is chaos
We are predators in the dark.
And we have shelter at the bottom,
There is no other choice!

May the day be damned -
He takes away our peace!
Feel the infinity and grandeur of darkness!
Gives us a feeling of universal emptiness
Darkness of the night, darkness of the night...

Carpe Noctem la mia!
Decet diem exsecari.
Sanquim suga, belua!
Debet pravum exsequari.
Inquiem perpetuum
Dona nobis, Satanas.
Bestia diaboli,
Dona nobis damnationem.
Carpe Noctem la mia!

Darkness of the night -
Feel it with all your soul.
Darkness of the night -
To see clearly, close your eyes.
Darkness of the night -
It gives freedom and peace.
Darkness of the night -
May he always be with you!

Take a step towards me into the darkness,
Surrendering to free passion.
Daylight is your worst enemy,
He no longer has power over you.
Feel the night with all your soul,
Join her dark secret.
Drive away doubts
And believe that dreams are real...

Ein perfect Tag/Ein guter Tag, Good day

(Morning comes. DOLL enters the room with a breakfast cart and opens the curtains. ALFRED wakes up.)

ALFRED:
An ominous dream, a terrible dream!
I had a terrible dream...
He rushed by, damned dream,
But it's still unclear -
What, and where, and how, and why,
Who, when, why, where, to whom...

Find her, save her from trouble, -
The main goal of my journey!

And I'm quite sure -
We will be happy with you.
And yesterday it seemed to me
How powerless I am before fate!

Someone brought us breakfast!..
Well of course it's Sarah!
I hear her steps!..

(ALFRED sees the DOLL and tries to drive him away with a crucifix. The DOLL, having spit in the guests' breakfast, leaves the room. THE PROFESSOR wakes up.)

PROFESSOR:
Healthy sleep and strong tea
Invigorates both spirit and body!
I'll eat some oatmeal now -
And I'll get to work again!
Facts, facts, -
Everything is based on facts!

ALFRED: Mr. Professor, the Count said it clearly: follow your dreams. So Sarah is still here in the castle!
PROFESSOR: This guy is too experienced.
ALFRED: Who?
PROFESSOR: Count.
ALFRED: Count?..

PROFESSOR:
He’s trying to fool us, but he himself almost revealed his incognito identity!

He is a “bird of the night”, and his shelter is darkness...
I swear I will find out where his sarcophagus is!

ALFRED: His sarcophagus?..
PROFESSOR: Well, I mean, the coffin in which he sleeps during the day.
ALFRED: You mean the grave?
PROFESSOR: Not a grave, my boy, but a crypt. And every castle has something like this! We immediately set off in search of the crypt.
ALFRED: Right now?..

PROFESSOR:
Of course. This day is simply made for searching!

We will fulfill our important mission.

ALFRED:
Only heroes are capable of feats.

TOGETHER:
We will cope with this impossible task!
This day will be extremely successful!

PROFESSOR: But we shouldn’t rush. The search for the crypt must be planned at the highest strategic level.
ALFRED: You're right, professor, we can't take risks.
PROFESSOR: Yes, we will need the appropriate tools. So for now, you pack your bag, and I’ll go and scout out the situation.

(The PROFESSOR leaves. ALFRED begins to pack his bag and stumbles upon a sponge - a gift from SARAH.)

Sarah/To Sarah (Für Sarah, not specified)

ALFRED:
How can I break my fear?
After all, you alone reign in my dreams,
Oh Sarah...

The shadows of evil are gliding here,
And the pitch-black look of the night,
But love is so sweet!..

I'll curse my fear
And believe that I love you alone,
Oh Sarah!
I'm not a hero at all
But love will save me
Anyone in trouble...

A terrible dream, a terrible delirium...
But after the darkness the dawn will come,
Oh Sarah!
I'll go nowhere
Without hesitation - through space,
Cities and years...

I believe he will win
Only the one in whom the fire of love burns,
Oh Sarah!
I will come for you,
I will accept an unequal battle with evil fate...

The world of shadows will fade away.
I know that this night will not last forever,
Oh Sarah!
There will be a day, a new day!
You alone will rise for the heart,
Like a star, forever!

I swear at this hour
That no one can separate us,
Oh Sarah!
I'm wandering at random
For my beloved - straight to hell, and there are no barriers to me,
Sarah!

PROFESSOR: My boy, where are you stuck?! Hurry up!

(ALFRED runs out of the room. Together with the PROFESSOR, they go to the crypt.)

On Days Like This/In the Crypt (Die Gruft, Crypt)

PROFESSOR:
On days like this -

ALFRED:
On days like this...

PROFESSOR:
Newton's law was created!
On days like this -

ALFRED:
On days like this...

PROFESSOR:
Columbus discovered America!

ALFRED:
On days like this...

PROFESSOR:
In a fit of love
Our Mozart composed “Flute”!

ALFRED:
Napoleon got the crown.

PROFESSOR:
Perseus destroyed the Gorgon Medusa!

ALFRED:
If in this dungeon
It would be brighter
I would accept the fight with honor,
Like a hero.

Dusty, grave moldy
Smells too much...
How can you fulfill your duty?
What happened with me?!
There is icy horror in the heart!

PROFESSOR:
Look: there are three coffins in a row.
I'm sure the answer is there!
To achieve the goal and comprehend the mystery,
We'll have to go downstairs.

ALFRED:
What will happen now?!

PROFESSOR:
What will happen now -

TOGETHER:
Depends entirely on us!

ALFRED:
Much more reliable -
Be careful!..

PROFESSOR:
Close, perhaps
My finest hour!

ALFRED: But professor!..
PROFESSOR: Shh! Everything is going great. We'll go down now...
ALFRED: Down there?..
PROFESSOR: Yes. There, down, and immediately... First - you!
ALFRED: How - me?
PROFESSOR: Yes, you. A bag!
ALFRED: Bag...
PROFESSOR: Down.
ALFRED: Down?!
PROFESSOR: Down, down, down!

(The PROFESSOR throws his bag down.)

Well, be quiet down there! Do you want this hunchback to hear us?! Okay, attention... Now me.
ALFRED: No, professor! No!..

(The PROFESSOR jumps and, stuck, hangs in the air.)

PROFESSOR: It seems I'm stuck... Well, my boy, help your teacher!

(ALFRED pulls the PROFESSOR's foot and pulls off his shoe.)

Not like that!.. It won’t work like that. You'll have to act on your own.
ALFRED: By yourself?..
PROFESSOR: Yes. You have to pierce their hearts.
ALFRED: Pierce hearts?! I beg you, professor, anything but this!
PROFESSOR: Well, don't be a wuss! Open the coffins.
ALFRED: Coffins?..
PROFESSOR: Think about Chagall's daughter! Well! Lids off!

(ALFRED opens the first coffin.)

PROFESSOR: Who lies there?
ALFRED: It's the Count!
PROFESSOR: Great. Next!

(ALFRED opens the second coffin.)

PROFESSOR: Who?!
ALFRED: This is the son...
PROFESSOR: Great! Well done. Now grab your bag...
ALFRED: Bag...
PROFESSOR: Take out a hammer and one peg.
ALFRED: Hammer... Peg...
PROFESSOR: First - Count.
ALFRED: Count...
PROFESSOR: You have to stick a peg...
ALFRED: Between the sixth... And the seventh...
PROFESSOR: Edge-on!
ALFRED: Edge-on!..

(ALFRED raises the stake over the vampire with the back side.)

PROFESSOR: Not like that, on the contrary, if you were more careful! Well!.. One, two, three!

(ALFRED swings his arms, but cannot hit.)

Three! Three!..

(ALFRED drops the hammer and stake.)

ALFRED: I can't!
PROFESSOR: This... This is a riot!!!
And aren't you ashamed?
ALFRED: Shame on you, Mr. Professor! But I really can't!

(The PROFESSOR clutches his heart.)

Professor?!
PROFESSOR: You're no use. Okay, go upstairs...

(ALFRED climbs up.)

Damn it. Well, you have to do everything yourself. It’s just a problem with these young people today: some are insecure, some are lethargic, they have no courage! They are unable to sacrifice little to achieve a higher goal! ...My boy, where are you stuck?! Do you think I enjoy hanging out here? Help me...

(ALFRED helps the PROFESSOR to his feet.)

My friend, I must tell you: although in theory you have become more experienced, in practice it is still very, very raw. Help me at least get up. And in general, my boy, you haven’t eaten enough porridge today to cope with such a simple task. You still have a lot to learn to follow in my footsteps. And today you suffered a complete defeat - I would even say a fiasco...

(The PROFESSOR and ALFRED leave. CHAGAL emerges from the third coffin.)

CHAGALL:
It's time for everyone to wake up!

(CHAGAL knocks on the coffin. MAGDA wakes up.)

MAGDA:
Could you please shut up?!

CHAGALL:
Have you forgotten about the ball? It's time to get up.

MAGDA:
Ball?! And don’t dream about it, you won’t get there!

CHAGALL:
And why is that?

MAGDA:
Face control!

CHAGALL:
Damn it... Well, in that case, let's sleep a little more together!

MAGDA:
Shame on you, Chagall!

CHAGALL:
Why did it happen?!

MAGDA:
Bite, drink my blood...

CHAGALL:
So what?

Really, it’s too late for me to be ashamed!
I don't see any crime here.
Since this world was created,
People suck each other's blood.
Who has tasted this pleasure,
The sweet experience will be repeated more than once -
Thirst for blood, like thirst for money,
Completely subjugates us.

Everyone knows this eternal law for certain:
He becomes a hunter who does not want to be a victim.
Don't complain about fate -
Taste the blood!
After all, a breath of hot blood
So good for your health.

MAGDA:
How irritating was your lust!
But now, perhaps, I’m not at all against it.
It's sweeter for us, believe me,
Lust after death!
I'm in power now
Insatiable fierce passion!
I thirst for your love
Well, at least three times a day!..

(KUKOL appears and drives MAGDA away from CHAGAL.)

CHAGALL:
This is the law -


And someone voluptuously drinks someone else's blood!

(The DOLL drives MAGDA and SHAGAL into their coffin.)

CHAGALL, MAGDA:
This is the law -
Everyone takes from their neighbors what they need!
Title, honor, wealth, faith, hope, love...
And someone voluptuously drinks someone else's blood...

(KOLKOL lowers the coffin of CHAGAL and MAGDA down the stairs and leaves.)

Books (Bücher, Books)

(PROFESSOR and ALFRED enter the castle library.)

PROFESSOR:
Books, books -
God, what books!

ALFRED:
But Professor, we have to find Sarah...

PROFESSOR:
Aristotle, Parmenides,
And Diogenes and Maimonides,
Geometry of Euclid,
Iliad with Aeneid...
Great!
I love antiquity!

ALFRED:
She's somewhere nearby...

PROFESSOR:
Marcus Aurelius and Cato
Also Tacitus and Cicero,
Behind him is a rare volume of Homer,
Tibullus, and Caesar, and Plato...
Romans, Greeks
Will be immortal forever!

ALFRED:
He keeps her under lock and key!

PROFESSOR:
Kant's ideal
We learn to think
And moral values
We draw from Hegel.
German philosophers
Unsurpassed minds
Diamond placers
These shelves are stacked in a row!

ALFRED:
We have little time...

PROFESSOR:
Spinoza and Copernicus,
The humanist creed,
Paracelsius and Crusius,
Idols of occultists,
Realists, moralists,
Classicists, casuists, -
Rare publications
They keep all the secrets of the universe!

ALFRED:
It's going to get dark soon!

PROFESSOR:
Here's Shakespeare and Machiavelli,
Ekkehard and Kierkegaard,
Also Moliere and Mary Shelley,
Lafontaine, Marlowe, Tagore,
Here is Leonardo, Botticelli,
Edgar Poe, Marquis de Sade,
And Nostradamus and Avicenna,
And a whole series of other priceless volumes...

(The PROFESSOR hides in the library. SARAH's voice is heard from afar.)

ALFRED:
Sarah?..

Castle Bathroom Scene (Badezimmer, unspecified)

ALFRED:
Sarah!

SARAH:
And it's you...

ALFRED:
My head is spinning!..
Thank God you're alive!
I am with you, and we are no longer afraid of the count!

SARAH:
Unnecessary words!
Please explain to me first:
How dare you burst into the lady’s room without knocking?

ALFRED:
Sarah, I was in a hurry to see you
With all my might.
I'm not late?..

SARAH:
There will be a ball at night!

ALFRED:
It's time for us to run!

SARAH:
Dancing until the morning!

ALFRED:
It is time...

SARAH:
You're probably guessing -

ALFRED:
It's very bad here...

SARAH:
Who is my gentleman?

ALFRED:
You're delusional, right!

SARAH (showing dress and sponge):
I'll go to the ball in this dress!
This is also a gift from the Count!
So no one spoiled me.
How surprised dad will be!

ALFRED:
We must run!

SARAH:
I want to dance!

ALFRED:
No time!

SARAH:
Stay, Alfred!

ALFRED:
Come back home!

SARAH:
The Count is so gentle with me...

ALFRED:
Come to your senses, I pray again!..

SARAH:
But I gave my word to the count!

ALFRED:
This whim of yours is strange -

SARAH:
You turn away, I will stand up.

(ALFRED leaves.)

Books - reprise (Noch mehr Bücher/Bücher Reprise, Books)

(ALFRED returns to the library. THE PROFESSOR exits.)

PROFESSOR:
Elegies, cantatas,
Letters, chronicles and dates,
Plagiarism, surrogates,
Aphorisms, abstracts,
Odes, fables, and pamphlets,
And frivolous stories -
In silk, velvet and leather
They seem to have been preserved here for hundreds of years!

ALFRED:
Professor, I found Sarah...

PROFESSOR:
Robespierre, Da Vinci, Lessing,
And Boccaccio and Dante together,
Dickens, Darwin, Goethe, Heine
And Rostand is an ardent genius,
Thomas More, Diderot and Byron
In perfect condition,
Both Cervantes and Seneca -
There is no such library in the world!

ALFRED:
But she doesn't want to be saved at all...

PROFESSOR:
For future generations
Inheritance bequeathed,
Otherwise, without a doubt,
We would remain ignorant.
Who feeds on wisdom
In this the mind awakens,
And morals improve
And the truth is born!

Well, did you remember all this well, my boy?

Aristotle, Parmenides,
Diogenes, Maimonides,
Geometry of Euclid,
Iliad with Aeneid,
Marcus Aurelius and Cato
Also Tacitus and Cicero...

(The PROFESSOR hides in the library. ALFRED approaches the bookcases.)

When love is in you/Dance with Herbert (Wenn Liebe in Dir ist, When love fills you)

ALFRED (pulling out a book at random):

“A collection of advice for lovers. How to win the heart of your beloved!

Like a gentle violin
Love sings in the soul.
But happiness is so fragile -
It is afraid of words.
And sometimes the eyes
Are able to say
What are we silent about?
With you in the night -
The world becomes silent when love sounds...

Sometimes one kiss says more than a thousand words.

ALFRED: Sarah?

(HERBERT hums.)

ALFRED: Sarah!

(ALFRED approaches the bathroom and sees HERBERT.)

I'm sorry!

HERBERT: Wait! I want to chat with you. Father - he is delighted with you. And it seems to me that you and I will become friends...
ALFRED: But I have to...

HERBERT:
You must stay. Well, stop shaking.
Looks like you're sick, Alfred...

ALFRED:
Am I sick? Not at all!

HERBERT:
Hurry up and go to bed!
You are terribly pale, and probably timid.
Come with me, my friend.

ALFRED:
I feel good here too!..

HERBERT:
Too timid and very bashful...

ALFRED:
...There must be a ball here somewhere, I heard.

HERBERT:
How lovely is your ass!

ALFRED:
But the ball!..

HERBERT:
Oh, your eyes!

ALFRED:
What - eyes?..

HERBERT:
Your eyelashes are thick, like in a fairy tale!

Oh yeah! The ball will take place that night.
Music, candles and wine, -
So romantic,
I personally
I invite you to have fun with me all night!

(HERBERT dances with ALFRED, then takes the book from his hands.)

Oh, what's in this book?

ALFRED:
Poetry...

HERBERT:
Oh, mon cheri!..
Yes, you're obviously in love, I bet!
No, I'm not surprised - I'm in love too.
Guess who?
In you, just know...

I'm full of love!
Fly with me to heaven!

(ALFRED shoves the book into HERBERT's teeth and runs away, then returns to the same place. HERBERT comes up from behind.)

HERBERT: Running around?

(ALFRED tries to run away, HERBERT knocks him to the floor.)

ALFRED: Professor! Professor, help!

(The PROFESSOR appears and drives HERBERT away.)

PROFESSOR: Well, well! And what am I supposed to look at here?! Shame on you! Damn you, thunder strike you!..
And you! How could you, aspiring scientist! It was you who provoked him!
ALFRED: Provoked?! Yes, that's all him!
PROFESSOR: He?.. Okay, let's go!
ALFRED: Where?
PROFESSOR: Up to the roof of the castle.

(PROFESSOR and ALFRED climb onto the castle roof.)

ALFRED: Mr. Professor, Alibori's theory is correct. The one about mirror reflection.
PROFESSOR: That's not his theory! It was I who developed the theory of reflection, and Alibori stole it!
ALFRED: When we danced there, I only saw myself in the reflection, and never him...
PROFESSOR: It’s a pity that it wasn’t me who danced with him!
ALFRED: Professor, I'm tired... I'm cold, and anyway, we have to find Sarah!
PROFESSOR: This is Orion. More beautiful than the starry sky above us is only the universe of logic within us.
ALFRED: Do you think it's safe here?
PROFESSOR: Absolutely!

Hey-ho-hey - reprise (Sie irren, Professor/He ho he Reprise, Hey, where are you, Professor)

(VON KROLOK appears on the roof.)

BACKGROUND:
Hey-ho-hey!
It will destroy you, professor,
Curiosity is forbidden!
You have your facts, professor,
I recommend checking it out!

PROFESSOR:
You underestimate science, von Krolock! I will trap you in alcohol and add you to my collection as proof.

(VON KROLOK laughs and disappears.)

Soon people like you will only be left to rampage in horror films...

BACKGROUND:
Don't let the unknown scare you:
Here, Alfred, you will find peace.

PROFESSOR:
It's disgusting!

BACKGROUND:
Calm down, professor!
He has been with me in spirit for a long time...

ALFRED:
God Almighty!..

PROFESSOR:
Interesting!

Eternal Life (Ewigkeit, Eternity)

(Cemetery. The graves begin to move: VAMPIRES, guests of the ball, are chosen from them.)

VAMPIRES:
Eternal life is just fatigue and boredom,
And there is no beginning to it, and there is no end to it!
There is nothing in it - neither delight, nor torment.
Everything will happen again
For it lasts forever without end.
And the skies are dark
Immortality has neither a heart nor a face!

We were born to dominate the world
We were born to help the world!
So let vampires reign on earth!
Soon, without a doubt, in the universe
Night will come!

Fear, terrible fear - a curse to all living things!
The poison penetrates people's consciousness.
And darkness, eternal darkness
Opens his arms:
Souls, we will destroy your souls -
Only eternity is your destiny!
Destiny, destiny, destiny...

(VAMPIRES leave the cemetery.)

The Unquenchable Thirst (Die unstillbare Gier, The Unquenchable Thirst)

(VON KROLOK comes to the cemetery.)

BACKGROUND:
Silence and darkness of the night,
The moon disappeared from me behind the clouds.
She trembles before me with horror.
I'm alone with my sadness
After all, in this world I am an outcast...

July evening, golden sunset -
It was exactly three hundred years ago:
I whispered tender words,
And the grass rustled in the field above us...

We've gone crazy from lovemaking,
This was the first time for both of us.
I can't forget her dying cry
In my arms.

I am a product of dark power,
I'm running the show at midnight.
Cursed by fate from birth
I knew no peace!
And in the darkness it is inconsolable
The soul wanders for hundreds of years.
And there is no faith, and there is no hope in me -
I am a sinful, rebellious spirit,
Obsessed with eternal thirst,
And there is no way out!..

I was aiming for nowhere.
Can't be happy forever
The one who is damned forever...

Alas, I did not know the danger
Catholic Pastor's Daughter -
She sighed quietly at the hour of death,
And her gaze faded.

Bonaparte's page was so careless and young,
He stood guard of honor at the palace.
About how cruel his lot was,
I cried and mourned...

Oh, how painful the wanderings are
Lost soul!
But I don't feel remorse
For what he did!..
I pay bloody tribute
To quench your melancholy!
I am a sinful angel in the darkness of the universe,
I'm a victim of insatiable desire
I'm doomed to suffer
I'm destroying everything I love!..

I tried to achieve the impossible
I was aiming for nowhere!
You just can't be happy
The one who is damned forever...

Somebody's praying to Jesus
The Koran is dearer to another -
Everyone is free to choose a deity and a temple according to their taste.
For some, wealth is above all,
And someone only honors the devil,
Someone is ready to believe that love reigns in the world!..
Despising the pitiful earthly world,
I am submissive to the highest power -
Insatiable burning Passion,
What will rule me forever!

From now on and hereafter, I am a judge and I am a prophet.
And I predict to all those living today:
A cruel god will ascend the throne,
God of bloodlust!

(VON KROLOK leaves.)

Dance hall (Tanzsaal, Ballroom)

(Preparations for the ball. DOLL places candelabra in the ballroom, ALFRED and PROFESSOR hide. When the VAMPIRE guests appear, ALFRED and PROFESSOR stun the two and change into their costumes. VON KROLOK comes out.)

BACKGROUND:
I am glad, brothers, to welcome you again!
The dinner will now be served to the table!
That time the peasant was our meal -
Pale and frail
But I prayed to fate
May the coming year satisfy our hunger!

The smell of fresh blood will awaken the eternal hunger.
Who will satisfy this hunger?!

VAMPIRES:

BACKGROUND:
The time has come for a new sacrifice, let's perform the ritual!

VON KROLOCK, HERBERT:
Who will satisfy this hunger?!

VAMPIRES:
None of us will ever be full!

Let the world tremble in horror -
This bloody feast will not end!
The vampire will not satisfy his furious hunger...

BACKGROUND:
Don't lose hope! By order of the stars
The long-awaited sinless guest came to us.

The prediction came true!
The doors to the dark hall will open,
And a moment later
Star child
Our midnight ball will be bewitched by beauty.

I predicted this!
And in tireless care for you
I'll be generous this time:
So that your ardor does not fade away,
Two mortals are meant to be sacrificed by me now
For you!

(SARA exits.)

VAMPIRES:
God has died, his name is forgotten!
And there is nothing sacred on earth anymore!
The limit of our wanderings is unattainable:
Knowing no peace, we run from the light,
Our curse is eternal life...

(VON KROLOK bites SARAH.)

False doubts go away!
We and the night are united forever.
We and the night are united forever...

BACKGROUND:
You will know the price of death and love yourself -
Far from everything of the past.

VON KROLOK, SARAH:
Darkness reigns over the world,
And the land is no longer visible.

SARAH:
Sweet dope beckons temptation...

BACKGROUND:
How to resist him?

VON KROLOK, SARAH:
Darkness reigns over the world, and the soul is rushing into this darkness!

(Ball. The dancers change partners; ALFRED, SARAH and PROFESSOR talk when they are next to each other.)

ALFRED: Sarah, I will save you!

PROFESSOR: Even though he bit her, she's still alive!
ALFRED: Still alive!..

PROFESSOR: A small blood transfusion, my child, a couple of days of rest, and you are again as fresh as a morning rose.

ALFRED: Sarah, we'll be together soon!

PROFESSOR: As soon as I count to three, let's run!

(HERBERT notices the presence of mortals at the ball and informs VON KROLOK. All the vampires stand aside and watch the PROFESSOR, SARAH and ALFRED dance in front of the mirrored wall.)

VON KROLOCK: Is everyone ready?
VAMPIRES: Yes!

PROFESSOR: One, two, three! Three! Three!..

(ALFRED and SARAH do not move.)

VON KROLOK: Drink them down!

(ALFRED grabs the candelabra and rushes at the vampires.)

VON KROLOK: Boo!

(ALFRED fades away, PROFESSOR takes the second candelabra and connects it to the first, forming a cross. The vampires panic. ALFRED, SARAH and PROFESSOR run away.)

VON KROLOK: Kukol, put it away! In the name of fire and blood, catch up!!!

Beyond the horizon - reprise (Draußen ist Freiheit - Reprise, Freedom beyond the horizon)

(PROFESSOR, ALFRED and SARAH stop in the forest.)

ALFRED:
Oh my love,
You and I are together again!
Rest, my friend, because you are still weak.
There will be a new day
And nightmare shadows
They will disappear without a trace and will never return!

ALFRED, SARAH:
The world will change now
Just trust me!
We can do everything...

SARAH:
Do what I want!

ALFRED:
Don't hide your feelings!

SARAH:
Take a bath!..

ALFRED, SARAH:
All our worries are in vain,
Life is so wonderful!
Everything is in our power
Here it is, happiness!

Over the horizon
I will be free forever.
Over the horizon
My dream will come true!

ALFRED:
I will warm your soul
Sarah,
Because as long as I breathe, I love!
And we'll take off
higher than the birds

(SARA turns into a vampire, ALFRED does not notice.)

ALFRED, SARAH:
There are no boundaries for my love
There are no boundaries for love!

Over the horizon
The endless land lies!
Over the horizon…

(SARA bites ALFRED.)

ALFRED (seeing the blood on his hands):
What is this?..

SARAH:
Blood, honey. Lick it!

ALFRED (licking blood):
Well, not bad at all...

PROFESSOR (not noticing what happened):
My bright mind did not fail, and this time
Saved humanity from destruction.
When the Nobel is rightfully awarded to me,
My spiteful critics will be silent!
And in Königsberg all the scientists are blind
They will be able to appreciate my sorrowful work:
It proves that the dead
Rising from the grave, they suck human blood.

We are unusually reasonable and practical,
Educated and enlightened.
We are faithful to science, our thoughts are clear,
Our goals are always pure!
We were able to open a new world -
Progress cannot be stopped!

(During the PROFESSOR's monologue, ALFRED turns into a vampire and escapes with SARAH.)

Alfred? Alfred! Hey-ho!.. Alfred!..

(The PROFESSOR leaves. VON KROLOK appears and, laughing, disappears.)

Dance of the Vampires/Finale of the second act (Der Tanz der Vampire/Finale zweiter Akt, Here and Now)

You can easily defeat everyone in this life,
If you understand the simple truth:
Have no mercy and walk over the corpses,
Otherwise, you won’t be lost for a penny!

The strongest wins in every battle,
These are not empty words at all!
Hit right on target, don't spare anyone,
Know that only power will always be right!

We emerge from the darkness of the night,
The hour of our power is approaching!
Our souls are dark, we are creatures of darkness,
Each of you will become a new victim for us.

We're coming!
Even though our souls are dead,
But we are more alive than the living,
And our food is you!
Now -
The world has recognized our strength!
From U.S -
Everyone has known the taste of blood,
And you -
Vampires invite you to a ball!
Vampires invite you to a ball!

Lay flowers on Lucifer's throne,
Destroy God's temple and set the sky on fire!
This death race will never end
The whole world belongs to murderers and scum!

We are who we are, and no one can tell us!
We invite this crazy world to dance now!
Vampires invite you to a ball!
The world has recognized our strength!

Don't feel sorry for the old ways!
Drink blood and spit on morality,

Yes - drink blood and spit on morality,
Your souls will become cold as steel!

There is a cruel beast slumbering in each of us,
And nothing will stop us now!

Vampires are calling the world to the ball!
Ball!!!

At the Moscow Youth Palace, the musical "The Vampire's Ball" replaced "The Phantom of the Opera". He migrated to Moscow from St. Petersburg, where he had been performing for several years and received three Golden Masks. And the Moscow public, despite the first snowfall, rushed along the snow-dusted red carpet to the premiere to see what theater professionals rated so highly.

Everyone left the musical scratching their necks. Some are the backs of their heads. Because the huge teeth depicted on the curtain clicked at the beginning and did not let go throughout the entire performance. Young viewers thought it was stronger than The Phantom of the Opera. Philip Kirkorov looked upset - the role of Count von Krolock (some people also call him Dracula), as it was written for him. Apparently he regretted that it was not he who performed it. Those wise with experience tried to understand what they saw: the meaning shocked them slightly. A Jewish vampire, an Asian vampire, a transvestite vampire, a homosexual vampire... Also an unequivocal promise and prophecy to “everyone living” that a bloody vampire will soon ascend the throne (were the American elections meant)?

Roman Polanski's production is very politically correct. And tolerant. The vampire in it can sing, for example, “My angel, unearthly,” and constantly cry out to God, starting with the first aria “God is forgotten, his name is forgotten...”. These nonhumans, tired of eternal life, spend almost the entire performance in dialogue with the Almighty. But we should not forget that the musical, which has already been watched by more than 7.5 million spectators in 12 countries (Russia is 13th), is conceived as a comedy, irony, and ridicule. Nothing serious.

However, in Russia everything is serious. And the main problem of the new - capital - production is that the genre has not yet been completely decided. The performance “tosses” between drama and comedy. And the viewer doesn’t fully understand whether to cry or laugh. As soon as he begins to empathize with the main vampire, who, for example, performs the “Pechorin” aria in the cemetery (how many destinies have I ruined, but I cannot repent - that’s its meaning. Quote: “Alas, the daughter of a Catholic shepherd did not know the danger...”), how immediately a Jewish vampire named Chagall will give such a “toothed” freylax on stage that you can at least crawl under the red seat.

The uncertainty manifests itself mainly in the performance of the artists. After all, if we praise this domestic production, then first of all for the excellent Russian translation (Susanna Tsiryuk) and choreography (Dennis Callahan). The lyrics and libretto by Mikhail Kunze, the historical production by Roman Polanski and its modern incarnation by Cornelius Balthus are at their best, otherwise the audience would not be flocking to the musical. As for Jim Steinman's music, you're always waiting for Bonnie Tyler to appear on stage. At least as the guest of honor at the premiere. Let us remind you that the main theme and the most beautiful duet of the musical is the composition Total Eclipse, which was performed by the star, for which she received a Grammy.

Head and shoulders above all other performers (in every sense) is Count von Krolock. He is also Ivan Ozhogin. For his role as a vampire, he was awarded the “Golden Mask” and, as what he saw shows, it was not in vain. He seduces, tempts, leads. Such a vampire cannot be resisted. There is a scene in the play that is not in Roman Polanski’s famous film “The Vampire’s Ball,” when Krolock tries to tempt not only young Sarah, but also the professor’s young assistant, Alfred. And, if we develop this line, we get a very interesting twist: the struggle for the young mind - in which direction to direct it. To serve good or evil? However, many comic films are devoted to this. And about Ivan Ozhogin, it must be said that he is the only “vampire” who was invited to sing this role in the Berlin production. He performs it in two countries and in two languages. And he feels so at ease in it, bathes, improvises, “allows” tragedy where necessary, comedy where necessary, that I want to say: he has already outgrown both the Vampire and the Phantom (the actor also played “The Phantom of the Opera”). Let him grow up to the operatic Mephistopheles in Faust by Charles Gounod. Ripe!

But the vampire is played by his retinue. And in the Moscow production, the St. Petersburg and capital teams are “mixed”. And now they still have to play. First of all, the wonderful and gifted Alfred and Sarah (Alexander Kazmin and Irina Vershkova) need to “strengthen” their roles. But the three artists are very pleasing with their accurate interpretation of the irony and humor that Polanski incorporated into the musical (an interview with him was published earlier in RG, fragments were included in the program booklet of the musical). First of all, this is the son of Count von Krolock - Herbert. The character in the musical turned out to be even more interesting than in the film. Kirill Gordeev also played in the St. Petersburg production. With his first appearance on stage, the very necessary comedic mood is created. Alexander Sukhanov, playing the role of the Jewish vampire Chagall, hits the right tone. And, of course, Professor Abronsius is the main character of the musical, no less than the Vampire King. Andrei Birin, who talentedly plays this role, is always in search of the necessary “note” - and it shows. At the same time, his professor is very original. And when the artist finally decides (after all, the premiere is a special occasion), it will be unique. Although the professor, he is also always looking for something.

Despite all the criticism, the artists should be given their due - try dancing and especially singing with huge false teeth in your mouth. Who said being a vampire is easy? But what everyone who took part in the creation of the play managed to show: how vampires are tormented every new evening and night, what lengths ghouls go to in order to diversify the heavy burden and time in which “only death can become the guarantee of eternal life ". They even look like zombies, these vampires. This search and selection of a new victim, the confusion of seducing her and the highest creativity is to figure out exactly how the first bite will occur. However, the same applies to the relationship between the directors and the audience.

Königsberg University professor Abronsky or Abronzius, together with one of his student assistants Alfred, decide to go to Transylvania in order to see with their own eyes the existence of a castle there, where the vampire Count Von Krolock lives with his son named Herbert. A professor and a student stop at the same inn, owned by a middle-aged man, Yoni Chagall. Chagall lives here with his family: his wife Rebecca, a maid and a beautiful daughter Sarah. Alfred falls in love with the beautiful Sarah literally at first sight.

The professor begins to ask Chagall questions about the veracity of the rumors about vampires, but he just shrugs, answering that he has not noticed anything like that. It begins to seem that the local people are not telling us something. Moreover, when Abronsius and Alfred first arrived at Chagall, one guy accidentally spilled the beans. However, Chagall and the local guests immediately direct the conversation in a different direction, not allowing the young man to finish. Abronsky tells Alfred that he was able to discover many signs of the existence of vampires. This includes garlic, carefully hung everywhere, and a castle, the existence of which the locals are trying so hard to hide. And then, one fine morning, a strange guest appears at the inn, arriving in a sleigh. He is distinguished by a humpbacked nose, crooked teeth and an unpleasant squeaky voice. This man turns to Yoni with a request to sell him some candles for the castle.

At this time, the professor was having breakfast and at the same time carefully observing this picture. Abronsius tells his student that it would be a good idea to follow the strange hunchback, because he can lead to the castle where vampires live. While the hunchback is preparing the sleigh for departure, his gaze falls on the beautiful Sarah, who is watching him from the window of her room. Alfred, however, quietly clings to the sleigh and rides in this way with the hunchback for some time. However, the guy's hands slip and he falls. The strange hunchback does not notice the outside presence and continues to move in his direction. As evening falls, Count Von Krolock secretly enters the inn and kidnaps the beautiful Sarah while she is taking a bath. Yoni Chagall and his wife panic, cry and feel sad. But Yoni, like a true loving father, decides to act and goes in search of his beloved daughter. The next morning, lumberjacks bring in the corpse of Yoni Chagall.

The professor carefully examines the corpse and sees marks on the dead body that strongly resemble vampire bites. However, the loggers claim that it was wolves who bit Yoni. Abronsius realizes that this is not true, and this angers him even more. Professor Abronsky calls the lumberjacks ignorant and liars and drives them away. One day later, Yoni comes to life and bites the maid on the neck. In front of the professor and his assistant, Chagall disappears in an unknown direction. However, Alfred and his mentor pursue Yoni and end up in the castle, the existence of which the professor wanted to prove. In this castle, Abronsius and Alfred meet the vampire Von Krolock and his son Herbert. Count Von Krolock turns out to be a very educated and erudite person. The castle has a huge library, and the count, when talking with the professor, makes it clear that he is very well versed in the natural sciences. Count Von Krolock invites his guests to stay in the castle for a while, and a day later the professor and his student learn that the inhabitants of this castle are vampires.

Von Krolock himself admits that he is a vampire and locks the professor on the balcony. The count himself goes to prepare himself for the vampire ball scheduled for today. In the cemetery belonging to the castle, the dead come to life and move away the gravestones. The living dead go to a ball in the castle. At this time, the professor and his assistant do not waste time and get out of captivity. They also go to the ball, stealing the other vampires' ball costumes and joining in the festivities. They want to escape from this place, taking with them the charming Sarah, with whom Alfred fell in love. However, Abronsius and Alfred quickly reveal themselves because they are reflected in a mirror. Real vampires cannot be reflected in the mirror, so the participants of the ball understand that they are ordinary people. A chase begins for the professor and his student, but they still manage to escape from the castle on a sleigh, taking Sarah Chagall with them. However, Abronsius and Alfred do not yet realize that their companion is now also a vampire. Thus, trying to save Sarah and eradicate evil, they themselves spread it all beyond Transylvania, throughout the world.

Encyclopedic YouTube

• 1 / 5

  Königsberg University professor Abronsius or Abronsius (Jack McGowran), together with his student assistant Alfred (Roman Polanski), travel to Transylvania in order to check rumors that there is a castle there in which a vampire named Count Von Krolock (Ferdie Mayne) lives. ) together with his son Herbert. They stop at an inn owned by Yoni Chagall (Alfie Bass), a middle-aged man. Chagall lives with his family: a maid, his wife Rebecca and his beautiful daughter Sarah (Sharon Tate), with whom Alfred falls in love at first sight.

  Professor Abronsius asks Chagall and other inhabitants of the court about vampires, but they only answer that they have never seen anything like it. One gets the feeling that people are hiding something, as one guy accidentally blurts it out when the professor just arrives at Chagall, but Chagall and his guests interrupt the young man and switch the conversation to another topic. The professor tells his assistant Alfred that he has discovered almost all the signs of vampires: garlic, which is hung almost everywhere in the inn, and a castle, the existence of which is hidden by local residents. One morning, a strange hunchbacked man with crooked teeth and a creaky, hoarse voice arrives at the inn in a sleigh. This man asks the innkeeper Yoni to sell him some candles for the castle.

  The professor, who watched this picture at breakfast, tells his assistant to follow the hunchback, as he can lead them to the castle where vampires live. The hunchback was preparing the sleigh for departure and noticed Chagall's daughter Sarah, who was watching the hunchback through the window of her room. Alfred clings to the back end of the hunchback's sleigh and rides like this for a while, but then Alfred's hands slip and he falls off the sleigh; The hunchback, not noticing Alfred's presence, leaves. That evening, Count Von Krolock secretly sneaks into the inn and kidnaps Sarah Chagall while she is taking a bath. Yoni Chagall and his wife panic, they cry for a while, and then Yoni, blinded by anger and sadness, goes in search of his daughter. The next morning, lumberjacks bring Yoni's frozen corpse.

  Professor Abronsius examines the corpse and discovers bite marks on the body similar to those left by vampires. The lumberjacks say that Yoni was bitten by wolves, this makes Abronsius very angry and he drives the lumberjacks away, calling them liars and ignoramuses. A day later, Yoni comes to life, bites the maid’s neck and disappears before the eyes of the professor and his assistant. Abronsius and Alfred pursue Chagall and end up in a castle, the existence of which the professor had guessed. At the castle, the professor and his assistant meet Count von Krolock, and also personally meet the hunchback (whose name turns out to be Kukol) and von Krolock's son Herbert. Von Krolock turns out to be a very smart and educated person: he has a large library in his castle; When talking with the professor, he makes it clear that he is well versed in natural sciences. The Count invites the professor to live in the castle for a while. The next day, Professor Abronsius and Alfred learn that Count von Krolock and his son are vampires.

  Herbert falls passionately in love with Alfred at first sight and actively seeks his affection. When the naive Alfred finally understands what they want from him, he has to work hard to avoid Herbert's advances.

  Von Krolock admits that he is a vampire, locks the professor on the balcony of his castle and goes to prepare for the vampire ball, which is planned for that evening. In the castle cemetery, all the dead come to life, move away the gravestones and go to the castle for the ball. Professor Abronsius and his assistant get out of captivity and also go to the ball. There they steal the ball costumes from two vampires and join the ball. Their goal is to escape with Sarah Chagall, with whom Alfred is in love. All the participants of the ball discover that the professor and Alfred are not vampires, since they were reflected in the mirror, and vampires are not reflected in mirrors. A chase begins for Professor Abronsius and Alfred; they manage to escape on a sleigh with Sarah Chagall. But the professor does not know that Sarah is now also a vampire. Thus, Abronsius, trying to eradicate evil, on the contrary, spreads it from Transylvania throughout the world.

  Cast

  • Jack McGowran - Professor Abronsius
  • Roman Polanski - assistant Alfred
  • Alfie Bass - hotel owner Chagall
  • Jesse Robins - Rebecca Chagall
  • Sharon Tate - Sarah Chagall
  • Ferdie Main - Count von Krolock
  • Terry Downs - servant of the Dolls
  • Fiona Lewis - maid Magda
  • Ronald Lacey - village idiot

  Working on the film

  The idea for a “fairy-tale comedy about vampires” came to Polanski at a ski resort; He immediately decided that there would be a lot of snow in the film, especially in the dark lighting. Filming took place in the Dolomites in the Ortisei region; the ball and other studio scenes were filmed in the UK. In creating the role of a mad professor reminiscent of Einstein, Polansky and Gérard Braque counted from the outset on him being played by McGowran, a stage actor who had made his name directing Beckett's absurdist plays. During filming, Polanski met his future wife, Sharon Tate. He recalls that the time of filming was the happiest of his life.

  "The Vampire's Ball" was Polanski's first film to be released in America. Hollywood producers felt that the film's Eastern European flavor might scare off American audiences. The film was marketed in the United States as a farce, all the voices were dubbed, and the film was preceded by awkward cartoon credits. A total of 20 minutes of running time was cut from the film. This version of "The Vampire's Ball" is known under the vaudeville title "The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Sorry, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck." The poster with this name was designed by the famous comics master, Frank Frazetta. The film was received by the public as a "respectful parody" of the vampire film genre. The director's idea was somewhat different:

  Parody was not my goal. I wanted to tell a fairy tale, creepy and at the same time funny, and also full of adventure. Children don't see the difference here. They want to be frightened by something that actually does not pose any danger, so that they can laugh at their own fears.

  Origins and continuations

  “The Ball of the Vampires” was not considered one of Polansky’s successes until the 1990s, when the musical “Dance of the Vampires,” created on the same plot with the participation of the director himself, was staged in European theaters with great success. (Polanski returned to the vampire theme once again, appearing in an episode of the cult film “Andy Warhol’s Dracula”). Certain scenes from Ball of the Vampires were reimagined in later films such as Van Helsing and The Bloody Brothel.

  Writers on Polanski often discuss the origins of the artistic world of Ball of the Vampires, pointing out similarities in atmosphere to the work of Roger Corman, Alexander Ptushko and the directors of the Hammer studio. Polanski himself acknowledges the influence of the films of this studio: “If you like, I tried to stylize the style, making it more beautiful, more balanced, reminiscent of illustrations for fairy tales.”

  Yesterday I attended what, in my opinion, is the most fantastic musical ever staged in Russia. This is the Vampire Ball.
  I have never seen such scenery, special effects and high-quality acting on the stages of theaters in St. Petersburg.
  I can recommend with a pure heart that you go see this fantastic musical, which is taking place on the stage of the St. Petersburg Musical Comedy Theater. You will not regret spending the money on this masterpiece.

  A little about the musical.
  The Russian premiere of Roman Polanski's musical "The Vampire's Ball" (Vienna version 2009) took place on September 3-11, 2011 at the St. Petersburg Musical Comedy Theater. 23 specialists from around the world, led by director Cornelius Balthus, worked on the project.

  Here's a short excerpt from the musical.
  

  Summary:)
  Professor Abronsius and his assistant Alfred come to a remote Transylvanian village to prove the existence of vampires. Upon arrival, Alfred falls in love with Sarah Chagall, the daughter of the owner of the hotel where they are staying. Sarah loves to swim, and Count von Krolock, the head of the local vampires, uses this to his advantage. When the girl is left alone in the bathroom, he comes to her and invites her to a ball in his castle. The vampire seduces her with his speeches, promising “travel on the wings of the night.” Sarah is fascinated by the mysterious guest and subsequently, when the hunchbacked servant of Count von Krolock brings her a gift from his master - red boots and a shawl, the girl, under a plausible pretext, sends Alfred, who is in love with her, and she runs away to the count’s castle. Sarah's father, who rushed to search for his daughter, is soon found dead, and the professor, realizing that vampires are to blame for the murder, wants to pierce the heart of the corpse with a wooden stake to prevent him from turning into a vampire, but the wife of the murdered man forbids this. At night, when the hotel maid (and lover of the murdered man) Magda comes to the deceased to say goodbye to him, he wakes up and bites her. The professor and his assistant appear in the room and want to kill the vampire, but he persuades them not to do this, and in exchange promises to take them to the castle. The Professor and Alfred agree. Count von Krolock himself meets them at the castle and cordially invites them to the castle. He also introduces them to his beloved son Herbert. Herbert is gay, and he immediately liked Alfred. Alfred wants to save Sarah, and when daylight comes in the castle, he and the professor go in search of the crypt where Count von Krolock and his son should be buried in order to kill them. However, upon arriving at the crypt, Alfred realizes that he is not capable of murder. The Professor and Alfred leave the crypt, in which, meanwhile, Sarah's father and Magda, who has also become a vampire, wake up. As it turned out, they became quite happy inhabitants of the castle. Alfred finds Sarah in the bathroom and persuades her to run away with him, but Sarah, infatuated with the Count, refuses. The saddened Alfred goes away and asks the professor for advice, but he only says that any answer can be found in the book. And indeed, taking the first book he comes across in the castle library, Alfred finds advice for lovers in it. Encouraged, he goes back to Sarah's bathroom. Alfred thinks he hears his beloved singing, but instead he stumbles upon Herbert, who declares his love for him and tries to bite him. The professor, who appears on time, drives the vampire away. At the ball, Alfred and the Professor, dressed as vampires, hope to save Sarah. And although the count bites her at the ball, the professor notices that the girl is still alive. They try to sneak Sarah away from the ball, but Herbert recognizes Alfred, and soon all the other vampires notice that the professor with Alfred and Sarah are the only ones reflected in the mirror. It seems that everything is over, but suddenly Alfred and the professor form a cross of candelabra and the vampires retreat in horror. All three escape from the castle. The Count sends his hunchbacked servant in pursuit, but he is killed by wolves along the way. It seems like a normal happy ending. Alfred and Sarah stop to rest, and the professor sits off to the side to take some notes. But suddenly Sarah dies, becomes a vampire and makes Alfred a vampire. The professor, who had not noticed anything, rejoices at the victory over the vampires. The musical ends with the jubilant vampires dancing, singing that they will now take over the world.