RYDE SCHOOL PERFORMS MARY SHELLY’S FRANKENSTEIN TO RAPTUROUS RECEPTION

Frankenstein – the play of Mary Shelly’s infamous book – was put on by Ryde School with Upper Chine to a twistedly dark and rapturous reception from its audience. Using an adaptation by playwright Rona Munro which bravely casts Mary as a character in her work, this bold and brave piece of theatre was certainly a striking thing to watch. Charlotte N portrayed the young author who much like the “hero” of her eponymous book, struggles to give life to these new creatures appearing out of her macabre imagination. In a lesser actress’s hands, these asides from Mary could have slowed down the show’s pace, but Charlotte delivered the lines effectively. Emily L as Elizabeth also shone in the piece throughout; the show let some young actresses stamp their mark on the stage. Her patience with her husband-to-be’s obsessions and huge bouts of depression gave the dark subject matter the humanity that makes the work still so interesting over 200 years after it was written. Sasha J and Rafferty M put on solid performances in supporting roles; bigger ones are sure to be coming for these actors. The piece however is about the rivalry between creator and monster; both Frankenstein and his Monster delivered impassioned mature performances that hint at big things to come from both. From the way George G came out of the steps in the audience crawling towards the stage, we knew the monster would be in good hands; he gave the part a good balance of primal fury and tender emotion, as we saw him abandoned and cruelly treated in a world that fears and loathes his existence. Tom T, once again back in a frenetic gothic leading man role, sold a wide range of emotions, and both bravely tackled the great acting challenge it must be to bring such famous characters to life. It was a very dense script, that must have been a real challenge to stage but the cast pushed themselves in their performances to create a suitably terrifying and tragic tale about the pressures, responsibilities and harsh nature of “Playing God”, through the reanimation of life, or the act of making a story itself. A well done to the cast, and all involved in the creative team. Review written by Olly Fry