Cultural Dessert

'Mary Shelley's Frankenstein' adapted by Lisa Evans

25 February 2008

Having read Mary Shelley's original novel for the first time last year (reviewed here in May 2007), I was particularly looking forward to the new stage version of 'Frankenstein' adapted by Lisa Evans for the Northampton Royal & Derngate and Frantic Assembly. Laurie Sansom's ambitious production awakened memories of Rupert Goold's stagings of 'Faust', 'Paradise Lost' and 'Hamlet' which built the Royal Theatre's reputation for innovation. 'Frankenstein' was another impressive show with much to admire. Victor Frankenstein's story was set within a modern tale in which a woman visits her sister, Mary, in a secure psychiatric hospital where she is being held following her conviction for murdering her baby. This invites consideration of the term 'monster' and echoes Mary Shelley's themes of birth, creation and death. In her hospital room Mary is reading 'Frankenstein' and it is a magical moment when she first opens up the book and the characters explode through a trap door onto the stage to play out the drama in front of her. The links between Mary's story and the book are subtly strengthened as she takes on some of the roles in Frankenstein's narrative. But the main coup-de-theatre is the decision to cast the dancer Richard Winsor as the monster. Winsor has been one of the principal dancers in Matthew Bourne's company (playing the title role in 'Edward Scissorhands', reviewed here in January 2006) and gives an amazing physical performance as the monster: the scene in which he comes to life is truly incredible. He is compelling throughout, commanding the stage and acrobatically cantering up and down the set. Having said that, I'm not sure he was quite scary enough: I don't think his physical appearance would have created such a strong instant reaction from everyone he encountered and there were times when the tension was punctured by the audience seeing too much of the monster too soon. I also thought the framing device of Mary's story wasn't quite substantial enough: given that 'Frankenstein' is already a series of 'nested narratives', I think we needed something more unpredictable to draw us into the framing story. Perhaps it was because I had read the book quite recently but this very faithful adaptation lacked some elements of surprise and shock. Nevertheless there were some great moments and much food for thought - and it was wonderful to see Laurie Sansom continuing the practice of using a 'community cast' of local amateurs in the supporting roles (as he did in 'Follies' reviewed here in November 2006).

Labels: Drama, Theatre

posted by Robin Simpson @ 12:46 pm