Frankenstein

Frankenstein

Presented by

Stafford Players

Particularly apt for the imminent All Hallows Eve, Frankenstein by Tim Kelly, adapted from the classic Gothic story by Mary Shelley. Stafford Players stages the 1818 novel, often regarded as the first true science fiction story, which went on to have a considerable influence on literature and popular culture.

Dark and eerie minor key music sets an uneasy atmosphere right up to the start of the play. A neatly laid out evocative Victorian drawing room set, although on a personal note my seat seemed targeted by a pair of dazzling desk lamps and a moving spot causing me to have to squint or indeed mask the intensity at times, which became a distraction from the developing drama.

A somewhat bizarre plot, to my mind, having just gone through a wedding ceremony and about to start their honeymoon, Victor tells his bride of hours that he is expecting to be killed that very night. A well-executed blackout, enhanced with backward music leading into flashback scenes, setting in place the events which were to come to pass, this device was reversed later to equally good effect, to take us back into the original wedding night scene.

A passionate performance from David Harfield as Victor Frankenstein who brought tense reactionary responses feeding an almost paranoia, maybe a little too instantly intense at times. His best friend Henry, Mark Datson, played well off him, as did his new bride Elizabeth, Ellie Aldridge, setting the scenes framework to come.

Directed by Clare Watson, the play is very well paced but never hurried, drawing you into the story. Costumes were also nicely detailed.

This is in essence a true Gothic love story, which captivates the imagination, with thought provoking dark passages, which weave Shelley’s finely crafted tale.

The Creature, Ryan Waldron beautifully understated performance, putting Victor in a dilemma, with his pleading request for Victor to make him a wife companion was very emotive, tinged with menace with his underlying threatening demeanour. Intelligent and literate yet possessing a quick and deadly fatal temper at times, killing several members of the household in moments of pure rage.

Frau Frankenstein, Deborah Hawkes, desperately wants to see her son settled and married to Elizabeth, gave a very well observed portrayal.

Sophie the housekeeper, Lizzie Key, seemed to be thinking she was going to be next, to almost humorous extent, whether intentional or not when asked her to go outside to the police marksmen led by Ernst, Warwick Hawkins, the fear on her face was palpable.

The capable cast thrilled their audience, an expectant air on a true tale of science, passion and ultimately love.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.