Frankenstein
- touring part
of Bank of Scotland Children's
International Theatre Festival
Writer - Tom McGrath adapted from Mary Shelley's story
Director - Annie Wood
Designer - Karen Tennent
Puppet Advisor - Shona Reppe
Music/Sound Design- Iain Johnstone
Company - Catherine Wheels Theatre Company in association with
Brunton Theatre
Venue -
Brunton Theatre Musselburgh 0131 665 2240
9 + 10 May
at 10 am & 1:45pm £4 Family Ticket £14
11 May at 10 am & 7pm
12 May at 2pm & 7pm then toured Scotland before Manchester 24 -26
May and after ending 15
June at 10:30am & 1:30pm macRobert Stirling 01786 461081
16 June at 11am & 2pm
Reviewer - Thelma Good
In this version of Frankenstein there is a female creator, Dr
Elizabeth Frankenstein, but it's no less scary. In the forest lives
incomer Victor, Peter Grimes, her down to earth suitor. He's
tender with the dogged, long-suffering nature lovers of ambitious partners
have. Victor looks after her orphaned brother William, whose youth and
innocence are well captured in one of several puppets used in this production.
Using a simple set, disturbing props, an excellent sound designer and
only 3 versatile actors Catherine Wheels bring a production with style
and invention. The story grips as the monster is created from a motley
selection of sometimes bloody body parts including some large strong
hands by the driven Doctor, Gill Robertson. And what a monster.
When he, Lee Hart, jerks into life and struggles to move his
disparate limbs we are awed by him. In this production it is outrageous
what his maker has done, using lightning to bring to life what was dead.
Hart, a wonderfully physical monster, makes superb use of the
set to swing increasingly deftly in and out of view - not quite human,
not quite wholly beast.
The story goes even darker as the monster finds some of his anatomy has
a life of its own and Victor the incomer finds rumours spread as fires
are lit. Tom McGrath's version ensures Shelley's horror story has relevance
today when scientists create babies who have three parents or only one,
innocent recluses are picked on and ambition still can exact a terrible
price. I didn't like the sudden ending but that aside this Frankenstein
is disturbing, thought provoking and treads skilfully the line between
scaring and enthralling. Certainly suitable for children over ten and
adults.
© Thelma Good 10 May 2001
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