Homage to Dracula : * The musical ‘V.A.M.P.’ will premiere tonight at West End Playhouse in Van Nuys.

Strange things are happening down in Malibu. Stranger than usual. Like . . . vampires.

“The main character is a Louisiana teen-ager named Charlie Mondo, who’s come to Southern California to visit his sister,” says Larry Transue, whose eight-character musical “V.A.M.P.” (short for Vampire Asylum Malibu Point) has its world premiere tonight at the West End Playhouse in Van Nuys. “The two of them are trapped at the beach; their car won’t start. Unbeknownst to them, they’ve fallen into a tourist trap for V.A.M.P.” Lying in wait is a megalomaniac vampire named Nicholas, who believes that if he builds a vampire colony, all the world’s bloodsuckers will beat a path to his door.

No, this is not a serious drama.

“The show takes traditional elements, pulls from old horror movies--and mixes that in with a modern-day story,” explains director John Comstock, who’s also a member of the comedy-improv group L.A. Connection Theatre. “It’s really a homage to Dracula; some scenes are lifted right from the old story.”

Comstock, who’s been friends with Transue since high school, describes the writer’s vision simply: “Larry is like a child--in a good way--and likes the fantasy, the playfulness of putting together a story.”

“V.A.M.P”--which also introduces the characters of vampire hunter Kathryn, Nicholas’ brides Cecilia and Rachel, and his banker Michael--is the second in a quartet of horror homages Transue has umbrella-titled “The Mondo Chronicles.” In the first installment, “Rockenstein” (which was also directed by Comstock), Charlie and his friend Freddie Franken found the body of a teen-ager and brought it back to life with rock ‘n’ roll music. “The last two,” says Transue, “will be The Wolfman, then we--pardon the expression--wrap it up with The Mummmy.”

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Born in Allentown, Pa., Transue, 30, grew up in the Philadelphia area, moving with his family to Southern California at age 13. He attended Pierce College and Cal State Northridge as a theater major, and currently works as a technical typist for a biotechnology company, relegating stage pursuits to nighttime and weekends. “I always loved horror movies,” he says of his theatrical inspiration. “I love to be scared, and I love different types of music.”

“V.A.M.P.,” which is co-authored by Mary Comstock, the director’s sister, has lyrics by Transue and an original score by Kyle Moore.

“It’s very eclectic,” Transue says of the music, “ranging from rock ballads to ‘40s dance numbers, to rockabilly, to a Rex Harrison talk-sing number.” The writer himself will also be on hand to play the obnoxious male chauvinist Eddie, who meets his messy demise with the vampire’s brides. “It’s a nice cameo, and a good chance for me to get out and do it,” Transue demurs. “But I’m not anything like the character.”

WHERE AND WHEN

What: “V.A.M.P.”

Location: West End Playhouse, 7446 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys.

Hours: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. Closes April 24.

Price: $15 general admission, $12 seniors and students, group discounts available.

Call: (800) 880-TKTS.