Tag: tdv

An Independent Will – penhales – Tanz der Vampire – Steinman/Kunze [Archive of Our Own]

Chapters: 1/?
Fandom: Tanz der Vampire – Steinman/Kunze
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Alfred (Tanz der Vampire)/Herbert von Krolock, Alfred (Tanz der Vampire)/Sarah Chagal, Sarah Chagal/Graf von Krolock
Characters: Sarah Chagal, Original Female Character(s), Herbert von Krolock, Graf von Krolock, Alfred (Tanz der Vampire)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe – Canon, Slow Burn, Blood Drinking, Vampires
Summary:

Sarah flees to Vienna after her transformation, believing that she has slain Alfred, but she has miscalculated. Alfred awakes reborn into dark blood in the company of two very tense vampires with two very different motives for tracking Sarah down. Sarah is picked up by a powerful female vampire in the city and she earns her independence and learns the responsibilities that come with immortality. Meanwhile, the Count is faced with a decision for the better of his family and subjects. Will they each choose their best path? Will the greed of immortality prevent the touch of goodness to the heart?

An Independent Will – penhales – Tanz der Vampire – Steinman/Kunze [Archive of Our Own]

Things I love about Tanz der Vampire

amuseoffyre:

  • Jim Steinman’s music.
  • The fact the vampires are smarter than pretty much everyone.
  • The leading lady being a rebellious Jewish girl.
  • And we know this because her father, upon being turned into a vampire, laughs in the face of crucifixes on account of being Jewish.
  • The fact that the leading vampire is doing an Edward Cullen is mooted by the fact he shows up in the girl’s bathroom – while she’s nekkid in the bath, no less – to invite her to a party, because that is totally how to get a girl’s attention.
  • The fact he also wants to (and does) eat her in the end highlights that these vampires are bad.
  • Did I mention the Steinman songs?
  • Alfred, the hero, isn’t stupid. Naive, optimistic, compassionate, believing in the virtues of goodness, perhaps, but definitely not stupid.
  • The wise, sage venerable old Professor who would normally be providing insight and knowledge is about as useless as a chocolate teapot.
  • Oh, and did I mention Herbert? The canonically gay vampire who literally chases the hero through the audience and flying tackles him because he finds him attractive? Who has the love song which is literally translated to “When love is inside you”? No, really, that’s what the song is called, and throughout, Herbert spends the whole song hitting on Alfred.
  • And lastly: the bad guys win 😀

BEST SHOW EVER

https://www.tumblr.com/audio_file/penhales/166239968823/tumblr_nlfhohHUfg1rz9rq9?plead=please-dont-download-this-or-our-lawyers-wont-let-us-host-audio
http://penhales.tumblr.com/post/166239968823/audio_player_iframe/penhales/tumblr_nlfhohHUfg1rz9rq9?audio_file=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Faudio_file%2Fpenhales%2F166239968823%2Ftumblr_nlfhohHUfg1rz9rq9

alfredsnightmare:

Gorgeous piano rendition of one of my favorite songs from “Tanz der Vampire”. Since this is from a rehearsal for the Broadway production, it has two additions not found in the German version of the song: there’s a beautiful reprise of “Angels Arise” halfway through and a longer transition to “Das Gebet” at the end. Unfortunately, it cuts away just as “Das Gebet” (”Say A Prayer”) begins, but it’s still lovely to listen. Enjoy!

Krolock, to Sarah: Alfred is little more than a dull human, but concerning someone as beautiful as yourself, I cannot –
Herbert, throwing the doors open with a bang: DON’T TALK ABOUT MY BOYFRIEND LIKE THAT

I remember one of my first shows…Draussen ist Freiheit (Reprise), I did it still with the wig from Tanzaal. And I remember, when Sarah falls on my knee and I’m singing to her, and I realised: Ohh, there’s so much weight on my head…I’ve got the wig on! And it was so, so embarrassing. He (Alfred) is meant to be free and even a bit ‘handsome’ in that moment, because it’s like, the love story finally worked out for him! (Even though it’s not really a love story.) And I remember wearing that wig, I was like: You…ruined…everything.

Gonzalo Campos, Alfred (Alternate), Tanz der Vampire (German Tour 2017)

(Because this made me laugh so much, bless this poor guy. Vampire!Alfred wearing that ridiculous wig as he crawls around the stage is the single greatest mental image this fandom has ever brought me. Poor Gonzalo!)

Trying to watch like…even just clips of Dance of The Vampires on Broadway is almost impossible tbh. I just can’t believe how little the Broadway production seemed to take itself seriously. The whole thing is costumed, played, and acted as a full comedy and it just comes off as annoying and weird. 

When well acted, sung, and costumed, it’s a lot more captivating to watch and take seriously, with touches of comedy here and there to keep things light. Jokes are funniest when performed with full commitment and the Broadway show just doesn’t feel committed to its humor or its story. :/

Honestly I’ve seen several theories now that suggest Sarah is only Graf von Krolock’s dinner and I just don’t 100% buy it. Like if all he wanted was to eat, he could just drain her and be done with it, but he leaves her alive afterwards and she’s still like his principal dance partner. Plus all of the “eternity begins tonight” lyrics?? I fully believe she’s supposed to be part of his collection. Is she the next countess though? Absolutely not. Did he capitalize on her romantic attraction to him to get her to do things? Oh fuck yeah, that’s what vampires do.

Keeping in mind this perception comes from the Drew Sarich/Amélie Dobler production, maybe this is treated differently depending on the cast and their chemistry.