Title: Frankenstein, A New Musical
Author: Gary P. Cohen, Jeffrey Jackson
Date of First Publication: November 1, 2007 (First Performance)
Place of Publication: 37 Arts Theatre, New York
Type: Play
Characters: All
Themes: Adaptation
Critical Summary: This Musical begins with a prelude where Victor Frankenstein is found floating on a chunk of ice by Robert Walton. Walton brings Victor in and nurses him back to health. Victor then explains how he ended up nearly dead, floating on ice in the Arctic Ocean. Walton scribbles down this tale in a letter, therefore, the play is seen as a flashback.
In the first Act, Victor Frankenstein departs from his home and his main focus is to bring the dead back to life. He was inspired to do so in order to bring his deceased Mother back to existence. For his studies and experiments, he is labeled insane, but this only further motivates him. After some searching, he brings a body back to life through the power of lightening, and the Creature is born.
Upon seeing the Creature, he is horrified and sets his laboratory on fire with the Creature still inside and flees the scene. Victor eventually returns home where his brother, William has been murdered. Victor discovers the Creature, who is now capable of speaking. The Creature explains how he feels lonely and emotionally hurt. He was expecting love and acceptance, but he was met with hatred and fear. He confesses that he killed William and from there, they engage in rivalry.
In the second Act, the Creature convinces Victor to create a female companion for him to run off with. Victor manages to create this female creature, but he immediately regrets this and kills her because he cannot fathom bringing another foul creature into existence. In an act of revenge, the Creature then kills Victor’s new bride, Elizabeth.
Victor vows to kill the Creature, who feels remorse for taking Elizabeth’s life. Victor catches up to the Creature on the Arctic Ocean, and they reconcile their relationship.
As Walton writes, the Creature climbs into the room on the boat and finds Victor on his deathbed. Just before he dies, Victor claims the Creature as his son. The creature then runs off into the darkness with Victor’s body.
This Musical is fairly similar to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This musical stays true to her story in many ways and directly follows the same plot with only having some minor differences. The musical ends with Victor and the Creature having some type of reconciliation, where the creature carries his body off with him. This ending seems a bit more wholesome compared to Shelly’s ending but it is still disheartening. The Musical and the original novel of Frankenstein have the same themes and attitudes towards the Creature, where the viewers/readers begin to feel empathy and understanding.
Administrative Notes: Eric Obez, CSUF; Mark LaMonica, CSUF (editing).