Frankenstein
37 Arts
450 West 37th Street
Sunday November 11, 2007 3:00PM
Frankenstein was a concept musical based on the actual novel by Mary Shelley. The story of Victor Frankenstein and his struggle to contain the creature he brought to life, and the horror it inflicts on his life. This a dark story of cat and mouse. There had already been a concept album for the show previously, however I do not know if there was ever an actual staging until this. It obviously is a very rough sell to begin with and the critics did not help it much.
Overall the book and lyrics were a very big downfall of this show. It started off very slow and was honestly the first time I considered just closing my eyelids. The send of Act 1 and Act 2 picked up the pace a bit to make it tolerable. I felt so bad to think this way because the performers were excellent. They made the most of the material given to them. I will give them and A for effort because I can’t see this material as a musical at all, but they did what they could. The songs were forgettable but the stage design and direction was very interesting. I liked their use of projection screens and the stair cases.
Hunter Foster gave a great take on the troubled genius Dr. Victor Frankenstein. He was rarely off stage and didn’t have easy songs but he pressed on with great ability. He and Steve Blanchard worked well as master/creation. Steve had the most of a role to work with and played it very well. Not monster or animated, but as a disfigured, tortured, angry man that you were scared of yet felt for. It was a very physical role as well as vocally strong. His naked abdominal section wasn’t exactly a bad thing either.
I’m glad I was able to catch this show, even if for the sole fact to add it to my ever growing love of Hunter. Even if I do not thoroughly enjoy a show, I am glad to take the chance and explore other mediums and subject matter.
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