There are some plays that you just know are going to be big. And they don’t come much bigger than Oscar winner Danny Boyle directing Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch in the biggest theatre of them all, that big old barn the Olivier. The twist here is, in case you’ve been under a rock for the last few months, that Miller and Cumberbatch (hereafter “Milberbatch”)Â will alternate roles each evening, with one of them playing Frankenstein and one of them playing his creation, the Creature. Bottom line: you basically have to go see the play twice.
Unless you go during previews that is, when even two evenings in the Olivier won’t guarantee you to see both versions because, during the long preview period – it doesn’t open until 22 February – no day-by-day casting will be announced. So if you’re really desperate to see Jonny Lee Miller parading around as the Creature then you have to book for several evenings and hope for the best. (This is, of course, an entirely academic discussion – you can’t book for any evening because it’s sold out now until mid April)
Anyway, enough about the difficulties facing us poor bloggers as we navigate the casting. What of the play? Suffice to say that I think the National might have a hit on their hands here. Because it really is very very good.
Nick Dear‘s new adaptation feels true to Mary Shelley’s text, but has been subtly sharpened to bring out the modern nuances and dramatised in to what actually turns out to be a very compelling and tightly plotted play.
The first third of the play undoubtedly belongs to the Creature. It’s not until almost ten minutes in that we see another person on stage and there’s not much in the way of plot or dialogue for really quite a long time. Of course, it’s not a problem because the Creature (in this case Cumberbatch) is a pleasure to watch: half wide-eyed toddler, half feral animal and half terrifying monster, this is a genuinely scary and genuinely compelling character. Nevertheless, I did begin to worry that – pleasant as Mr Cumberbatch’s crawling and stumbling was – the plot didn’t really feel like it was moving anywhere.
This all changes with the introduction of Frankenstein, after which the plot whips along nicely and the true intelligence of the play is revealed – it is precisely because we spent so much time watching the aimlessness and innocence of the Creature in the beginning that his actions in the rest of the play both make sense and are so terrible. From here on in there is scarcely a pause between bouts as the two characters duel it out through wonderful scene after wonderful scene. The denouement is anything except cathartic, and diverges from the book in a crucial detail, but it works wonderfully and brings out perfectly what this play is really about: not telling the story of Frankenstein or telling the story of his creature, but telling the story of their relationship.
Even standing alone, Nick Dear’s adaptation would rank as a very good play. When coupled with Boyle’s direction and the technical finesse of the Olivier theatre, it becomes – even on this second preview – truly excellent. This is a play which uses every inch of the National Theatre’s technical capability, but not just because it can (Cf. Mother Courage) or to cover weaknesses in the text (Cf. Greenland) but because it’s the right choice for the play. The vast drum stage of the Olivier is so often a gimmick, but here it is entirely appropriate (even if it malfunctioned slightly during this early preview performance – earning the stage manager’s apology the biggest applause of the evening) as scenes shift effortlessly and elegantly.
Boyle also delivers some superb coups de theatre which owe nothing to the technical prowess of the space and everything to good old fashioned clever direction. I have heard audiences gasp before, but never before have I heard such genuinely terrified and prolonged screams in a non-pantomime as I did in the penultimate scene tonight. (Be warned that the impact of this particular shock is muted somewhat if you are sitting in the far left of the auditorium. But fear not: I am writing to Messrs Hytner and Boyle to suggest that they stop being so stingy with the fabric budget and I have full confidence that by the time opening night comes around this will scare the bejesus out of you no matter where you’re sitting.)
There is no other theatre in the country (in the world?) which could have risen to this challenge in terms of technique, scale or the quality of the cast and creative team involved. This is why we have a National Theatre.
A bit of wishful thinking here, I fear. I went on the first night and thought the script was extremely weak – certainly not tightly-plotted at all – and many of the cast (I’d say Cumberbatch and the old chap aside) are pretty average (the farmer’s wife is as wooden as they come). I guess it’s easy to be fatally upstaged by an actor prepared to spend the first 20 minutes writhing wordlessly in the nude.
Generally, I thought the staging was magnificent – light and sound fantastic, and I was certainly gripped (when the Creature was on stage at least). But generally – a disappointment. My full thoughts here – thanks for reading.
EXCITED. Am going tomorrow night. Very much enjoyed this review, takes rather alot to impress you.
I have NEVER wanted to see a play so badly in my entire life and I will never get to because I live in the States and nowhere near where they’re going to air it live!!!! Your review was well-written and only made me want to see it more (if that’s possible). Would you mind emailing me what was so scary since I’ll never get to see it and now I’m dying to know? Thanks!
Pam – despair not. The National Theatre are going to do a podcast! Check out their website for details!
I’ll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are corndienisg an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)
Pam you can see it via NT live. This show is one of the plays that will be broadcast live to cinemas globally from the National Theatre.
Check the NT website for details
Has anyone seen the play with Jonny Lee Miller as the creature? Or know of any reviews of it? I’ve read lots of reviews of Benedict as the creature and am very curious to know how it was the other way round.
I’ve just come home from watching Jonny Lee Miller as the Creature.. Honestly, after watching his performance I cannot comprehend how Cumberbatch would compare. Miller was outstanding, a real delight. It may be silly of me, but I can’t imagine how a tall, slim and strawberry blonde Creature would play out on the stage! Miller was.. just brilliant. Really brilliant. The staging of this is magnificent too – I did not expect such an abstract performance, but it is one which will stay in my mind for years to come.
I saw Miller as the Creature and he was truly incredible. I personally don’t know if Cumberbatch could live up to it! Miller’s performance was dark, moving and humourous amongst other things all at the same time. You’re very lucky if you’re seeing him as Creature!
I haven’t been quite so disappointed with a piece of theatre for a long time. The staging is imaginative, particularly the use of lighting in the opening scene, but otherwise this was a total let down. JLM writhing around wordlessly in the nude for about 15 minutes. I thought i’d accidentally come to a piece of 1970’s experimental ballet. For a dramatisation of a novel of ideas the script when it started was poor, for example there was no explanation as to why Frankenstein abandoned his creature. In the book we have Victor’s explanation of his actions before we meet the creature, perhaps with good reason. Here he ran on, shouted a bit and then ran off as if he had a bus to catch, not to be seen again for nearly an hour. A better script might also have prevented the audience laughing quite so much as they did. The last time I looked Frankenstein wasn’t a comedy. The monster embracing nature and its elements made humourous rather than moving by JLM’s jiggling buttocks. Conversations between Elizabeth and Victor getting laughs. There was even some giggling to be heard during a key scene near the end. Perhaps worst of all were the comedy Scots, a sort of Carry on Burke and Hare. You only need comic relief when you’ve created tension and there was none to be had here. Very disappointing.
I saw the preview this Wednesday, Cumberbatch as creature, Miller as Frankenstein, can’t imagine Miller as the creature at all.
Yes there was laughter in the audience and I don’t think this was at all unintentional, the burst of involuntary laughter at the creatures comment on a horrific act he had committed was cut short as we realised what we were laughing at. The fact that we laughed at all shocked me more than many things in the play .
The instances of humour within the play serve to humanise the monster far and above his tormentors, that and it would have been grim 2 hours without any levity.
Saw JLM as the creature and BC as Frankenstein last night. The 2 leads apart – i would say this show is extremely disappointing. Pretty poor script with (unintentional) laugh out loud moments. The supporting cast were truly horrendous apart from the blind man. 6th formers can deliver their lines better. Worth seeing – but doesn’t match up to the intensity of the book – and the script and performances don’t make you FEEL anything. Don’t take you anywhere.
Having seen JLM as creature on Saturday night, I can only say that he was magnificent, along with the staging but the script repeatedly reminded me of a Sixth Form panto, playing for laughs and too eager to please the audience.
It was good to see a different demographic at the NT and it’s already a hit, but this is a triumph of technology and directorial panache over the written word. Go back to the original, please Nick.
Peter, can you say anything further about JLM’s performance as the creature? I’ve read loads about Benedict’s performance but am dying to hear how JLM approached it.
JLM brought a wonderful physicality to the role, and importantly didn’t abandon certain tics he had developed for the character, even as the Creature becomes more learned and worldly. He was able to overcome the faults in the writing and presented the Creature in a poignantly emotional yet inherently animalistic manner, showing the alienation of his character without resorting to unnecessary sentiment.
Though the opening scene is truly the best opportunity in the play for either JLM or BC to dazzle as the Creature, the former kept me enthralled and entertained, fascinated and fearful from beginning to end – in a truly shambolic production, he remains the one element of the evening that didn’t disappoint.
(I would still be curious to attend the NT Live broadcast on the 17th March to see how BC tackles the role, though given his overwrought Victor Frankenstein I’m not still not sure how profitable an evening this would be!).
Saw this last night, BC as Frankenstein, JLM as the Creature. JLM excellent, but that aside, this is quite supremely dreadful and left me absolutely furious. That it should have sold out is a dramatic irony too far. I cannot believe that this is being put before the paying public, even in preview.
The script is horrendous; there’s not a single coherent idea on stage; and the supporting cast are utterly abysmal. The casting of Frankenstein’s father absurd.
This is as horrendous a night at the theatre as I have ever experienced. If Hytner actually cares about his audience he will cancel all previews now, order a rewrite, and open the play a month late.
Great, thanks Peter. I’m seeing it twice, so I get to see them both tackle the Creature. Not going to read any more preview reviews now or I’ll be dreading rather than looking forward to it!
Saw this last night with JLM as the creature. I would love to see BC as him though- how does he look? I can’t imagine it having seen JLM. Is BC going to be the monster at NT Live? Anyway I think many of the reviews are very harsh – it is nowhere near the worst ever. There were a few awkward laughs which will probably be ironed out. The laughs at the beginning were good though as most people ( or at least myself ) were laughing in delight at his innocence. I found Elizabeth’s joy at the monster a little odd but the rape scene was harrowing and shocking with no comedy. I thought the supporting cast were great especially the old man, Scotsmen, Elizabeth and the sweet mountain couple. Frankenstein senior was 100 percent awkward though. I believe the casting was wrong but maybe a change in his lines would work. The point where he nearly hits Victor worked -they just need to get that mood the way through. And BC (who I was going for if I’m honest a he is a fantastic actor) was very good- though again I’d like to see the roles reversed as I kept trying to imagine how they would be the other way round. The set was one if the best I’ve seen at the National and that’s saying something! It wasn’t perfect but it is a preview after all. It has fantastic potential and the last scene truely stuck with me- the monster’s now eloquent speech about slave and master and his new relationship and torture of Victor. Although it is obvious to the story I felt the play really got across the main point- that it is Frankenstein who is the true monster. The “now I am a man” afte the rape was great ad really made the point that the monster has been made evil by mankind. I will be going again 🙂 beautiful beginning scene too.
Hello James – welcome to the neighborhood. Looking forward to walking up to grab a pizza. My family has been here for 30 years and we have seen many positive changes.I do have a suggestion. I encourge you to post a “please do not litter the ne282bor&#ghi1; sign in your store. While you certainly can’t control people throwing empty pizza boxes on my lawn, a simple reminder might help.
I saw BC as Frankensteing last night and echo many thoughts above but eventually felt that the theatre is far, far too big for what is an intimate play that would be better in the Cottesloe. It’s like a string trio in a cathedral. Yes, the performances are stunning but the production is uneven and doesn’t need all the set that it has. It could, like much of Nick Dear’s previous work, be equally well mounted by a mid-scale touring company in arts centres and mid-size touring theatres. The excellent humour in the text seemed, to me, to be best appreciated by those further down the stall than I was, I can’t speak for the circle. I’m glad I saw it but do have the reservations above. Of course, if it had been in the Cottesloe it wouldn’t have made as much at the box office and would have had to run even longer, is this just a sign of the arts we can come to expect in the brave new world of arts cuts that lies bleakly ahead of us?
Having read all of the reviews above before seeing the production, I thought it only fair that I ad my two pennith here. I saw the production this evening with DC in the role of the monster.
To start with the positives, as a visual piece I thought it was fantastic. I loved the sets, lighting and music and the general atmosphere these all created. Incredible use of the space and the lighting device on the ceiling was a work of art in itself. It also has to be said that DC was truly wonderful as the creature, especially in the opening sequence. His physicality was extraordinary and his evolution of the creature was brilliant. It is sad to say that here is where the positives end.
The script is absolutely atrocious. Ironically as a piece of writing this in itself it like the monster – disjointed, unsure and a sheer mess at times. It tries to be artistic, poetic and literary but instead of weaving these styles and themes together, it just switches from one style to the next with no cohesion. Perhaps the worst part of the writing is the incredibly misplaced use of humour. I am all for humour lightening the mood when it is appropriate (End of the Rainbow does this brilliantly), but in this script, jokes are being cracked at the most inopportune moments which totally destroy any semblance of atmosphere the struggling actors are trying to create. And struggle they do. To be fair to the cast, you can only work with what you are given.
I suspect this production has no intermission to ensure that no one leaves as I am sure many would.
The audience itself seemed to be split – some laughed nervously in strange places and at the end, half were hysterically screaming in appreciation (I suspect they were acting students or fans of DC) and the other half we politely clapping wondering what all the fuss was about.
A word of warning – the bell in the stalls is novel the first time someone rings it, but then like sheep, any audience member with the mental age of a 5 year old (not to do a disservice to 5 year olds) gets up and has a go which becomes seriously annoying. Perhaps a clever prop to make the audience tense before the start of the show? Who knows, but I advise getting to your seat at the last minute!
I can’t wait to see what the critics say, I imaging some will call it a masterpiece and others will give it a more honest review. We shall have to wait and see….
My wife and I saw this on thursday evening , and can only describe it as spellbinding . Jonny lee miller was nothing short of magnificent . Anyone off to see this in the future is in for a rare treat
Mostly agree, but I thought the script was weak in places. Check out our review here:
http://everything-theatre.blogspot.com/2011/02/frankenstein-national-theatre.html
I just saw this as a broadcast in the cinema in Toronto and absolutely loved it. Remarkable performances, with Cumberbatch as the creature and Miller as Victor. Just loved it and will see it again when the roles are reversed. I’m sure it was less effective as a cinema projection but it certainly won me over. Much closer to the story with the relationship of the two leads. But the performances really rang true. Amazed at all the negativity above. Go and see it! A great treat and an honour to Shelley’s work.
Like Neil Warren above, I loved it, and am equally amazed at the negativity of some of the other comments. I saw it last night in a local cinema, and will be going next week to see the role reversal.
Why was Frankenstein’s family afro – caribbean ??!!! Was he adopted ?? I thought that the casting was confusing to say the least !!! Apart from that I thought that it was a great piece of theatre. JLM was magnificent!!
Linda
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