I Saw Frankenstein At The Empire - And It Was A Travesty!
And you might be surprised to hear why...
The Empire is running a series of "National Theatre Live" productions: live stage shows that are filmed cinematically. This is something I'm a big fan of as it makes theater accessible to a wider audience at a level that is not easy to experience around here. Don't get me wrong - our local theaters put on amazing shows and they are experts at making a dollar out of 15 cents, but for those who are fans of technical theater like I am, there is a whole other level that professional theater can achieve which is truly spectacular.
Frankenstein, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, is a perfect example. This production was absolutely stunning to watch. The first 15 minutes, as the creature is waking up and discovering the world for the first time, is masterfully done. He tests out his new limbs like an animal trying to stand for the first time, discovering sunshine, feeling grass under his feet for the first time, encountering fire, and eventually encountering other humans - and their cruelty. It's moving. Seeing it filmed, on a big screen, does nothing to dilute the raw emotion and power of Miller's performance.
The lighting design is especially masterful, perfectly complementing and at times even driving the narrative. There is this large cluster of hanging lights that brighten and dim almost organically, representing the creature's growing awareness and experience, the weather that impacts the scene, etc. The costume design is top notch; everything belongs to the same world and the clothing feels lived in and appropriate to the characters.
And of course the performances are transformative, lead by the dual-cast leads of Cumberbatch and Miller. In the version I saw, Cumberbatch played arrogant and thoughtless Dr. Frankenstein and Miller played the creature. There is another version that will show later in the month (more on that later) where the two switch roles and I can't wait to see how the actors approach the other role. Cumberbatch really captures the relentless drive of Dr. Frankenstein, who can't stop himself from pursuing his grasp at godhood, even as the world unravels around him. Miller's embodiment of the creature is one of the most amazing performances I've ever seen. From the first moments of the first scene, as he emerges from the chamber, he fully becomes the creature and viscerally portrays his coming to awareness.
With all of this positive praise, you're probably wondering why I called it a travesty, right? Because there were 5 of us in the theater, 7 if you count the staff. That, to me, is a travesty. These pro shots are an amazing experience. Not only do you get the immediacy and intimacy of live theater, you also get the cinematic elements of a filmed production: multiple angles, close-ups, and the full experience regardless of what seat you have. You can see more detailed and complex productions wherever you are; this is a way to inspire the future generation of theater professionals by making professional quality productions available anywhere in the world in a way that is more accessible.
If you have the resources to travel to New York and see Broadway shows, I love that journey for you. And this kind of experience can be truly life-changing. But that's not realistic for the majority of people. With ticket price and fees, I paid about $11 for this show. That's so much more realistic for many people and makes high quality, professional theater experiences available to more people. It makes it possible for more people to discover theater on a whole new level.
There are two more chances to see Frankenstein, with Cumberbatch as the creature and Miller as Dr. Frankenstein:
If Frankenstein isn't your thing, this is part of a larger series that will include other amazing productions in a variety of themes and styles including:
The Importance of Being Earnest - January 12 - 6:30 pm - with Ncuti Gatwa!
The Importance of Being Earnest - January 26 - 6:30 pm - with Ncuti Gatwa!
The Audience - February 16 - 6:30 pm - with Helen Mirren!
The Audience - February 23 - 6:30 pm - with Helen Mirren!
All My Sons - March 9 - 6:30 pm - with Bryan Cranston!
All My Sons - March 23 - 6:30 pm - with Bryan Cranston!
The Playboy of the Western World - April 20 - 6:30 pm - with Nicola Coughlan and Siobhan McSweeney from Derry Girls!
The Playboy of the Western World - April 27 - 6:30 pm - with Nicola Coughlan and Siobhan McSweeney from Derry Girls!
I found my favorite musical, Company, through a pro shot of the 2005 revival starring Raul Esparza. I was aware of the show, and had been a Sondheim fan for years, but seeing this production with its imaginative use of the cast doubling as the musicians allowed me to see this show in a new way. Barbara Walsh's Joanne is the best Joanne, and that is a hill I will die on! I love that the Empire is making these amazing productions available and accessible to our community, and I hope that people will take advantage of this fantastic opportunity. As you can see, there are still many shows coming up, featuring iconic talents and top tier professional design, and this is such a huge asset to our community. If things like this are going to continue, we need to patronize them. To lose this kind of resource would truly be a tragedy - even moreso than Hamlet, which you can watch two separate dates in November!
(Also, you should definitely watch this version of Company. It's amazing!)
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