Lakeville, Conn. — The Hotchkiss Dramatic Association will perform an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” at Hotchkiss School’s Walker Auditorium with performances Friday, February 13, through Sunday, February 15.
The production is co-directed by the school’s Director of Theater Derek Brashears and senior William Becker.
“At the school, we have a group of students who help us choose a theme of what they want to explore,” Brashears told The Berkshire Edge. “Going forward, they were interested in stories about innocence lost. This includes stories about youth being manipulated by adults. The idea of us performing a version of ‘Frankenstein’ fits because the character of Victor is definitely not a good father when it comes to the creature.”
Brashears said the production is using a script written by playwright Nick Dear that premiered in 2011 at the Royal National Theater in London. “It’s a fairly modern script, and it focuses on the creature, who is definitely at the center of the story,” he said. “The idea behind the production is to tell the story and give the audience some visuals that they are not necessarily going to be comfortable with.”
While most people are familiar with the “Frankenstein” story, Brashears said Dear’s script provides an entirely new twist. “I read the book back in high school, like most people did,” he said. “To me, the creature’s story is much more interesting. He’s abandoned, left to fend for himself. The creature has to teach himself so much of just how to be, and there are so many failings that surround him. Victor, however, is a problematic human being, a narcissist, and there is a level of sociopathy associated with him. It doesn’t even really strike him as odd that he digs up the dead and makes a man. I really appreciate that this script doesn’t try to paint Victor as some sort of romantic hero.”
Brashears called the student cast in this production “amazing.” “When it comes to creating theater, they are all on board,” he said. “They’re all reveling in the opportunity to make people uncomfortable. It’s not something that you see often in the theater where you have dark themes. Oftentimes, you walk into a space to see a show and you expect a level of safety, especially in a high school setting where you expect a musical, a drama, or a comedy. You don’t expect something that makes you twitch in your seat or scares you.”
All performances are free. Visit the Hotchkiss Dramatic Association’s website for more information.
