Title: Frankenstein, or The Vampire’s Victim
Author: Richard Henry (Richard Butler & Henry Chance Newton)
Date of First Publication: 24 December 1887
Place of Publication: Gaity Theatre
Type: Play
Characters: Victor Frankenstein; The Creature
Themes: ANDROID; BYRONIC HERO; POSTHUMAN; MAD SCIENTIST/MONSTER; QUEER; SYMPATHETIC MONSTER
Critical Summary: In the case of The Vampire’s Victim, the original stage play is rare and largely unavailable. The summarization and analysis of the play are exclusively based on reading Roxana Stewart’s Stage Blood, cited below.
The Vampire’s Victim was released amid a trend of lurid monster “mash-ups” created for the Victorian audience. The Vampire’s Victim was described as a “Christmas burlesque,” and was popular in its time. The play was a mash-up of the popular literary characters, Frankenstein’s Monster and the Vampire. Notably, Dr. Frankenstein was a “breeches role” (played by a woman in men’s clothing), a possible nod to sexual confusion or “queer” themes surrounding Frankenstein’s relationships with his fiancée, and his more intense relationship the product of his life’s work. The central problem presented is in finding a mate for the Creature, here shown as a sympathetic monster. One main problem is that he “lacks a circulatory system,” a byproduct of his inhuman nature. The presented mate is Mary Ann, a vampire. Her jealous vampire lover is one of several obstacles keeping Mary Ann apart from the bloodless and mate-less creature. Additionally, the creature is drawn to Dr. Frankenstein’s fiancée, Tarina, making star-crossed lovers out of most of the characters.
The end of the play is wrapped up inexplicably by the images of dancing bears, one of whom is revealed to be the Monster in disguise. He calls out for the Sun Goddess, who brings an end to the chaotic scene set on a pirate ship stuck on an iceberg. And there you have it.
Administrative Notes: Raeanne Sanchez, CSUF; Dr. David Sandner, CSUF (editing)
Rare & original text unavailable. All information gleaned from:
Stuart, Roxana. Stage Blood: Vampires of the 19th Century Stage. Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1994.