Frankenstein

I mentioned a little while ago that I went to see Frankenstein at the National Theatre on the South Bank with a few of the girls so I thought I'd do a little review since the play has been so popular and we've now been to a couple of the discussions surrounding it. The play by Nick Dear is directed by Danny Boyle and stars Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch whom you probably recognise from last years BBC series, Sherlock. The really interesting thing about the play is that the two stars take it in turns to play Victor Frankenstein and the Creature, the schedule is up on the website therefore you can chose who you want to see play whichever character. When we were booking tickets we choose to see JLM play the creature (cos he's a bit more manly) and BC play the doctor, a similar role in terms of ego to Sherlock I suppose. Unfortunately, the night we went BM was not there (for whatever reasons) so we got the understudy who did played the role well but we were glad we hadn't paid any more than £26 for the tickets because not being able to see him was a little annoying. However, since the play mainly focused on the creature it was better to get an understudy for Frankenstein than vice versa.

I've never read the book by Mary Shelly, but I did buy a copy in the theatre bookshop that I'll be starting as soon as I finish my current read. The book is set in 3 different volumes but the actual play doesn't begin until volume 2 chapter 3 i.e. when Frankenstein succeeds at his experiments and the Creature is born. The play primarily focuses on the development of the creature from starting lifeless shell to becoming a rationale person and finally his decline into an angry, revenge seeking monster. The first 15 minutes of the play was JLM writhing around the stage naked after the Creature had been born. Me being the blind bat that I am couldn't really make out any details if you know what I mean so no point in asking...

The whole experience was pretty intense with excellent help from the stage lighting and the soundtrack. Above the stage was an apparatus that can only be described as an explosion of one million fairy lights intertwined to resemble one crazy looking thunderbolt. This acted as the electricity that is so important for bringing the Creature alive. The music was loud and rowdy in places but also cheerful and inspirational in others and perfectly described the emotions the Creature was feeling. I loved the stage set and props used throughout the performance as they added a special kind of magic to the whole experience. The revolving stage was the perfect template for Frankenstein's mansion and laboratory as well as providing the rural setting to where the Creature learns how to talk, think and grow. At one point near the beginning a monstrous train appeared, clanging forwards onto the stage and illustrating the birth of the industrial revolution at the beginning of the 19th century.

The play was 2 hours long with no interval but can easily be broken into 2 halves, the first being the development of the Creature and his search to find where he came from and the second half finding Frankenstein and his eventual demise. The second half is a lot darker than the first, including scenes of rape and murder but is also the most interesting. The clever thing about the plot (play and book) is that your initial reaction is to think the Creature is a monster, because of his appearance and Frankenstein is the good doctor who realises what a mistake his made hence his initial act of abandoning the experiment. However, when you look at it more deeply you see that the Creature is actually the good soul who wants to learn and fall in love, the doctor basically ran away from the child he created and denies him the opportunity to have a significant other. However, as the story progresses the Creature (like many humans) falls victim to anger and punishes his creator by seeking revenge on his loved ones. Frankenstein has always acted in a way he believes best to save the population from this monster he has created but in doing so he has effectively destroyed his own life. The end of the play is incredible but I'm not going to spoil it for you in case you're going to see it.

My only negative thought about the play was the script. I loved how the whole story was focused primarily around the Creature but some of the other characters weren't well developed. The way the Creatures turned from a rationale being into a monster was very sudden and I though there could have been more depth into his decline.

All in all the play was fantastic and even though it is now sold out I would jump at the chance to see it again. JLM played his role incredibly well, he acting completely believable and the way he spoke with such emotion and longing at times had me hanging on to his every word. I would definitely give him 10 out of 10.

The stage before the Danny Boyle and Nick Dear platform

As for the discussions surrounding the play I attended two; Frankenstein's Science and Danny Boyle and Nick Dear on Frankenstein. The first was a discussion with Brian Cox and the science surrounding the story. It was very different to what I imagined which was a theoretical lesson in how a scientist today would go about creating their own creature. Brian Cox described the physics at the time Shelley wrote the novel and how experiments how now been undertaken to 'create life'. It also explored the religious connotations that surround the play i.e.e Frankenstein carrying out the work of God and how was it possible that the Creature could have a soul. I thoroughly enjoyed it but unfortunately didn't get the opportunity to ask my question.

The second discussion was the more interesting. Nick and Danny spoke about how they came up with the idea, why they decided to have alternating roles and why the story was the way it was in a very down to earth and humerus manner. In the films, the Creature has never had a voice hence the reason for focusing on him. They discussed how the Creature is almost like an alter ego of the doctor and that in his eyes (Frankenstein) he has made the perfect being which fundamentally is an improvement on himself. For me not having read the novel, this was all extremely interesting.

The whole 3 night experience at the Olivier theatre has been wonderful and I've grown rather fond of the place so am a little sad I wont be visiting again any time soon. The play is a must seen and even though it has now sold out if there is any way for you to get a ticket I strongly recommend you go. I really want to see it again with the actors in their alternative roles. You can pick up a programme for 3 quid and there is even a special green cocktail available at the bar but I think it's something stupid like 8 quid so we didn't bother trying it. If any of you have gone or are planning to go let me know what you think.

Next theatre visit is Much Ado About Nothing x

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