Having missed Nick Dearís adaptation of the Mary Shelly classic, Frankenstein, in London, but having been fortunate enough to see the film of that play (unfortunately only one ñ the one where Jonny Lee Miller plays the monster, and Benedict Cumberbatch the creator) I was intrigued to see Frankenstein at the Sydney Opera House in May 2013.
In London, at the National Theatre, Nick Dearís production was directed by Danny Boyle. In Sydney, Mark Kilmurry, co-artistic director of Ensemble Theatre, is the director.
In this production, Lee Jones, who graduated from Theatre Nepean takes on ìthe creatureî. From the very opening of the play he is mesmerising and gives an outstanding performance, as Frankenstein the monster evolves from a creation to a ìhumanî with emotions and needs.
Andrew Henry is Victor ìthe creatorî and gives an equally, albeit very different, performance portraying varying emotions, from elation and joy that he has achieved this creation, to shame and guilt at the repercussions of his actions.
I am a huge fan of Frankenstein, from Mary Shellyís classic, through Dean Koontzí powerful reworking of Frankenstein in his series of 5 books, and would go and see Frankenstein time and time again on any stage, anywhere, anytime.
I hope that this stage production returns at some point to the London stage.