Title: The Man and the Monster! Or, the Fate of Frankenstein
Author: Henry M. Milner
Date of First Publication: July 1826
Place of Publication: Royal Coburg Theater. London.
Type: Play
Characters: Victor Frankenstein; The Creature
Themes: MAD SCIENTIST/MONSTER; SYMPATHETIC MONSTER; ANDROID; BYRONIC HERO
Critical Summary: The Man and the Monster! Or, the Fate of Frankenstein is a peculiar play in only two Acts. Act One opens at Prince del Piombino’s garden. The characters Quadro, Strutt and Lisetta come in talking about their masters and whose master is better. The Prince comes in to tell them to get ready for the festival. Then the Prince and his sister Rosaura soon get to talking about the talented prodigious Frankenstein. The following scene opens with Frankenstein’s workshop where Frankenstein is working on his project. Julio comes in to tell Frankenstein that they are throwing a fancy party for him. Frankenstein tell him he’ll be there, sending him away to be alone. Then he finishes his experiment. Meanwhile Lisetta and Strutt continue talking about a certain secret their master is hiding. They put a ladder against the room where Frankenstein is working and they peep on him. Strutt tells Lisetta that it looks like he’s making a man, prompting them to run away in fear. Inside the Pavilion, Frankenstein realizes that he regrets his work, and tries to kill the Creature but it throws him off instead. In the next scene, the monster tries to approach him in a friendly way but Frankenstein is horrified and tries to stab him, however the monster seizes his sword. They both flee in different directions. At the end of this Act Frankenstein finally arrives to the party they have thrown him and he apologizes for being late.
In Act Two, The Creature seizes a baby from Ritzberg and Emmeline, who had been walking in the forest with their child in their arms. Frankenstein comes and the Creature tells him that he could’ve been nurturing if Frankenstein would’ve showed him affection but instead he was repulsed with him at the first sight. This play is similar to Mary Shelley’s original novel because many scenes have similar ideas. For example, the mad scientist who locks himself up to create a human life, then regrets it and tries killing what he made. However, as Shelley comments on the first play written on her work, Presumption (which heavily influences this adaptation), can be applied here as well: “the story is not well managed.”
Administrative Notes: Debora Villa, CSUF; Dr. David Sandner, CSUF (editing); Sam Drake, CSUF (editing)