Frankenstein, New theatre Royal, Portsmouth
Frankenstein is no longer a monster.
Instead he is his creator's image of human perfection in accordance with dominant Nazi stereotypes.
Brought to the stage by Portsmouth-based theatre company Dramatis Personae, this original adaptation of Mary Shelly's novel Frankenstein is striking in its delivery.
Set between autumn 1938 and winter 1943, the action takes place in various Nazi-controlled settings in Bohemia, Switzerland and the North Pole.
The New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth was a perfectly gothic setting for this most gothic of tales. Yet confined to a simple, temporary stage, which extends into the auditorium, this adaptation loses much of its fearful quality.
Overloaded with dramatic and unnecessary soliloquies, this play tends to distract from the real action far too often.
With few props, there is little dialogue and plentiful narrative and monologue, which does not help to sustain interest.
Studiously well-delivered by Daniel McCrohon as Frankenstein and Tony Dart as Professor Auric Krempe, unfortunately it is undermined by some over dramatisation.
Original it is, memorable it is not.
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