Frankenstein – Hull Truck Theatre

A cast of six brought the world’s most famous monster to the Hull Truck stage on Tuesday evening with a thought-provoking adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

As the 1818 thriller, now set in the war year of 1943, begins its second major UK theatre tour, would its producers, Tilted Wig Productions, have a monster hit on their hands?

Stage settings are always something to look forward to at this popular local theatre and Tuesday evening was no exception.

Though dark, unfussy and dimly lit, with sparse furnishings, the interior of a wooden cabin perfectly set the tone for the well-known horror story. I found the theatre itself was very cold on the night, which, though uncomfortable, added to the atmosphere.

The cabin’s shabbily-dressed occupant, Captain (Basienka Blake – who later on appears in more glamorous apparel in her role as Richter, a Government employee) – is alarmed by frantic knocking on the cabin door.

Arming herself with a pistol, she opens the door to find a cold, frightened and hungry, Victoria Frankenstein (Emily-Jane McNeill) begging to be allowed inside.

Victoria, a doctor, gains the Captain’s trust and begins to tell her story.

It’s here where I think the sound lets the production down a bit, as I really couldn’t hear every word clearly, and neither could my theatre buddy.

Admittedly, one of the actors was facing away from us, but a lot of her talking was drowned out by “scary” organ music. This music raised the drama level, but hindered the speech clarity.

As the doctor began her story, the stage scenery, from the cabin to her laboratory. We could see the scene shifters, but I like that – they weren’t at all obtrusive.

Glass cabinets filled with jars of goodness-knows-what, stood beneath a huge, breathtaking window. The whole of the stage was now being utilised.

The doctor, with the help of her loyal assistant, Francine (Brianne Surgeoner) was, that night, finalising the creation of her “human” – a creature made up of various “odds and ends”.

The catalyst to bring her creature to life would be the thunder and lightning forecast for that evening. So, the doctor and Francine, in blood-spattered aprons, wire up the home-made corpse, push in new eyeballs and wait for the storm to work its magic.

It does, the corpse shudders … then nothing.

Throwing off their bloody gowns they go to join Victoria’s boyfriend, Henry (Tawana Dingembira) and her visiting sister, Elizabeth (Lydia Whitehead) for dinner – not realising that another bolt of lightning has brought the creature to life.

Andy Cresswell as the monstrous creation, writhes his way off the stage – only to cause mayhem three years later with three characters dying at his woman-made hands.

The six actors in Frankenstein are perfectly suited to their roles and I quickly accepted them as such. Seán Aydon’s adaptation had me feeling sorry for the monster, who, through no fault of its own would never be accepted by the world.

Despite the afore-mentioned sound problem (for me, at least), the cast did a remarkable job, making it easy for us to follow the story.

I must add, Adam Cresswell’s “monster’ voice was always loud and clear; I never missed a word of his creature’s misery.

The energetic applause from theatregoers at the end showed how appreciative they were of the way Tilted Wig Productions had breathed new life into Shelley’s monster. Well done to all concerned.

Running until Saturday, October 26, 2024; 7pm nightly with 2pm matinees on Wednesday, 23rd and Saturday, 26th. Tickets cost from £16.50. To book, call (01482) 323638 or visit www.hulltruck.co.uk

Age guidance 12+

Reviewer: Jackie Foottit

Reviewed: 22nd October 2024

North West End UK Rating: