It's alive--and even better in 'Mary Shelley's Frankenstein'
By Noah Moore
Coming to the theatre to see anything Frankenstein-adjacent involves expectations—there's a ghoulish monster, terrorized villagers, and the signature "I'm Alive!" But Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's production of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein includes all that and more. This new adaptation of the classic story delivers the narrative you love (or fear), spiced up with a framing device that adds even more depth to the show and its author in the perfect way to kick off your October haunts.
Written by David Catlin, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein tells the story of the titular creator's monster framed through friends sharing spooky stories, which they then perform. The twist is that this framing is precisely how Shelley conceived the story itself. Such context elevates the material and provides deeper insight into how the story was written as we follow Shelley's conception of the monster as a reflection of her inner demons. The show zips by in a wild ride of two hours, seamlessly bouncing between the story and the storytellers in a balanced and easy-to-follow manner.
Director Brian Isaac Phillips cultivates a sharp knife of stellar performances and technical elements. He deftly balances the two levels of the story, and his staging is vibrant and frightening simultaneously. The theatre's thrust stage allows for even further immersion, and it’s clear his vision for these characters manifested well in the performers. This is an iconic piece of drama, and Phillips maintains reverence for the beloved elements while still digging deeper into the material to give the audience something new to latch onto.
The cast, comprised solely of five, delivers all-around stellar performances, playing their characters in real life and in the stories told. Jasimine Bouldin as Mary Shelley is gut-wrenching and commanding on stage as she boldly tracks her character's descent into hysteria while creating. Complementing her, John Patrick Hayden as Victor Frankenstein, the dedicated inventor who stops at nothing to reanimate decomposing flesh, is skilled at walking the line between madman and steadfast family man until he can no longer. Seeing his character's relentless pursuit of the macabre pays off well in the ending, and supporting players Alexis Bronkovic and Billy Chace are given moments to shine, through laughs and tears.
Jay Wade utterly steals the show as the Creature, covered in sores and lesions yet possessing a doe-eyed innocence that hammers home the morals of the story. Wade's physicality—crawling, climbing, and gallivanting around the theatre—was impressive and almost frightening. Credit is also due to Wade for his wide range, as he plays an aristocratic friend of Shelley's and an Arctic explorer before disappearing into the monster itself. With just the raising of a hand, Frankenstein devotees will find a healthy dose of scares in his performance, a standout of the 2024 season thus far.
As mentioned, the thrust stage invigorates the story and envelopes the audience, aided by Zack Bennett's thrilling sound design. The spatial audio design is immersive, and the musical underscoring provides tension and levity when needed. The Geneva set by Samantha Reno, draped in carpets, old books, and lanterns, perfectly encapsulates the period. When the floors open to awaken the monster, it's clear that the design elements play just as much into the thrill of the show. Reno's draped curtains are more than mere decorations; they serve as canvases for Robert Carlton Stimmel's ethereal projections, which are also displayed behind three sets of French doors. Thanks to the technical team, I had genuine gasps, cringes, and leg twists during some of the eerier moments, and the border between stage and audience disappeared.
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continually delivers outstanding theatre in the area, and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein only continues their streak. Even more impressive, this production will actually travel to Massachusetts after it closes here to perform at the Merrimack Repertory Theatre—a co-producer on this show. CSC's commitment to honoring classics while revitalizing them is a clear superpower, and this show is no different. Equal parts fear-inducing and tragic, this play is the perfect start to the Halloween season, whether the monster is the creature or humanity itself.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein runs through November 2 at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, and tickets are available now at cincyshakes.com/on-stage/frankenstein!
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