Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein @ HMT Aberdeen – reviewed by Duncan Harley
The task of re-animating dead flesh is not for the faint
hearted but, at some two hundred years distance from publication of the original
novel, Mary Shelley’s tale of a latter-day Prometheus continues to fascinate.
During the summer of 1816, Mary Shelley along with Lord Byron and Mary’s future husband – the poet Percy Shelley holidayed near Geneva. Freakish weather curtailed their plans and a ghost story competition ensued. Mary famously triumphed and in 1818 – aged twenty, she published the Gothic horror novel we now know as Frankenstein. She was later to record, ‘How I, then a young girl, came to think of, and to dilate upon, so very hideous an idea?’
During the summer of 1816, Mary Shelley along with Lord Byron and Mary’s future husband – the poet Percy Shelley holidayed near Geneva. Freakish weather curtailed their plans and a ghost story competition ensued. Mary famously triumphed and in 1818 – aged twenty, she published the Gothic horror novel we now know as Frankenstein. She was later to record, ‘How I, then a young girl, came to think of, and to dilate upon, so very hideous an idea?’
Multiple takes on the story have emerged during the
subsequent years and the nightmarish tale of science versus god has spawned a plethora
of sensationally bonkers Hollywood films and theatre adaptations.
Thankfully, this new but ambitious theatrical take by Rona
Munro steers clear of the bolt-necked cadaver approach. The familiar story is acted
out by a cast of seven who perhaps struggle to inhabit some dozen roles. Greg
Powrie for example plays three distinct characters. But there is little apart
from minor costume/accent changes to clearly differentiate the individual roles.
He is not alone in this.
The central role is that of Mary Shelley herself – played by
Eilidh Loan. As she pens her debut novel, she also directs the action on stage.
At first, and all power to Eilidh, this approach is intriguing and shows
promise. She is after all the real monster albeit in creative guise. These are
her words and she gets to decide who lives and dies.
Thoughts are expressed, written down and the plot is duly acted
out. Then more thoughts are expressed written down and duly acted out. Actors
rush around delivering frantically shouted lines between her constant interjections
and the stage takes on the chaotic energy of an inner-city road junction. At
first this appears fresh and promising. But as the performance progresses the
approach takes on a slightly repetitive quality which eventually sours the
narrative. Neither one thing nor another, Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein cries out
for urgent reappraisal.
Michael Moreland’s portrayal of the monster is more than adequate.
Lighting, sound and set do full justice to the story. But there is perhaps a
need to re-think the urgency of the plot and maybe lessen Mary Shelley’s iron
grip.
This really should have been a completely decent bit of theatre.
Prepare to be horrified.
Stars: 3/5
Directed by Patricia Beneckie, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
plays @ HMT Aberdeen until 8 February
Words © Duncan Harley and Images © APA
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