Thomas-Robert Irwin as Victor FRANKENSTEIN and Nolan Maher as his Creation, Lightbooth Blackout Productions
By Ellen Wilson Dilks
There’s a new kid on the block: Lightbooth Blackout Productions. The brainchild of Michael Loro and Dave Ebersole, they are presenting their first theatrical production now at Latham Hall on the Widener University campus. It runs now through October 20th at various times.
Mary Shelly wrote her classic tale in 1816, the Year of No Summer. She, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron were among a group sharing a villa in Italy. The weather throughout much of the world had been adversely affected by a volcano at Mount Tambora. The group’s outdoor activities were greatly constricted due to this “volcanic winter.” Out of boredom one day, the challenged each other to write the best horror story. Mary’s contribution was the tale of FRANKENSTEIN. After much tweaking and expanding, the story was published in January of 1818. It has been popular ever since.
I have to admit that other than seeing bits and pieces of a couple of the film versions, my main point of reference for this tale is the Mel Brooks film. Which is nothing like the original.
Director Dave Ebersole has created a new adaptation, and Micheal Loro provides the eerie underscoring that helps enhance the drama. Victor Frankenstein is a scientist. He’s also obsessive compulsive and manic depressive. His latest research is keeping him awake for days at a time, and n one knows what he’s doing. His fiancé Elizabeth is deeply concerned for his welfare and his father is a cold judgmental man who has never understood Victor. All his love seems to be for a much younger son, the unseen William.
What Victor has been working on is creating life. Taking parts of corpses, he builds his creature—and it does come to life. Only, is escapes and starts attacking various local citizens, especially those close to Victor. In the end, the creature “wins,” as all who are in Victor’s life are dead.
Director Dave Ebersold works with Nolan Maher on Lightbooth Blackout’s production of FRANKENSTEIN
The setting is very basic, but used well. There is one piece of furniture, the impetus is on the text. The music and lights are key to creating the sense of foreboding present throughout. Shout outs to Nick Wacksman for the lights (he accomplishes much with very little), to Quinton J. Alexander for his great fight choreography, to Bea Muklis for her work as sound tech, and Bridget Dougherty for her dramaturgy (it is clear the cast is well versed in the story and influences of the time when it was written.) Rounding out the tech team—and working seamlessly—are stage manager Patrick Martin, production assistant Laura Polaski and production manager Hannah H. Wisnewski.
The ensemble of five are all experienced performers. With the exception of Thomas-Robert Irwin as Victor and Nolan Maher as the Creation, the others play various characters in Shelley’s story. Carlos Jiga is Ygor, Clerval and Felix. While his Ygor seems to lean of Peter Lorre, his three characters are each delineated well. The same is true for Stacy Skinner as Justine and Minnie. As the Baron and Lacey, the blind man who befriends the Monster, Walter McCready brings truth to both roles. Britt Fauser brings elegance and vulnerability to the role of Elizabeth, while switching up to the menacing Bride Victor creates for the Monster.
Nolan Maher is initially heart wrenching as the Creation and then turns into a vengeful creature because of Victor’s perceived rejection. As Victor, Thomas-Robert Irwin carries the bulk of the load. He does so with his usual solid work.
The plot of Shelley’s tale is quite dense and I have to admit that at times I was a little lost. Adding to the challenges are the acoustics in Latham. A former church, there is an echo that increases as the actors shouted, which they did a lot of. I found it frustrating, there was good work being done, but the reverb was annoying.
WHEN YOU GO: Lightbooth Blackout’s production of FRANKENSTEIN continues as follows: October 16, 17, 18 at 7:30pm; October 19th at 3pm & at 7:30pm and October 20th at 1pm. The performance runs 2 hours, including the intermission. Latham Hall is located 1301 Potter Street on the Widener University Campus in Chester, PA. For info and reservations visit http://www.lightboothblackout.com/