Frankenstein E-Book

Mary Shelley

• Herausgeber: Nick Hern Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Serie: NHB Modern Plays
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 60

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant and ambitious young student, discovers the secret of creating life from the remains of the dead. But elation at his triumph is replaced by horror when he sees his monstrous creation. Abandoned by the one who made him, Frankenstein's Creature is left to a world that fears and rejects him, and soon his innocence turns to misery - and a murderous desire for revenge... Every word in Patrick Sandford's 'vigorous adaptation' (The Times) is lifted directly from Mary Shelley's classic gothic novel. One of the greatest horror stories of all time, and one that still grips readers today almost two hundred years after its first publication. Patrick Sandford's adaptation of Frankenstein was first performed at Nuffield Theatre, Southampton, in 2004. All the more successful for staying faithful to the dark spirit of the original book, this adaptation includes notes on the first production and can be performed with a minimum of set and props, making it well suited for staging by schools and amateur theatre groups, as well as by professional companies.

Leseprobe

Mary Shelley's

FRANKENSTEIN

selected and structured for the stage by

Patrick Sandford

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Title Page

Original Production

Production Note

Textual Note

Characters

Frankenstein

About the Authors

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

This stage adaptation of Frankenstein was first performed at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton on 22 September 2004, with the following cast:

VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN

Ben Porter

THE CREATURE

Max Digby

CAPTAIN WALTON /

Adam Farr

HENRY CLERVAL / FELIX

FATHER / OLD MAN

William Whymper

ELIZABETH / SAFIE

Lisa McNaught

WILLIAM

Nathan Hack

Harry Sykes / Simon Paul

JUSTINE

Jess Farnhill / Helen Jolley

Becky Pennick

AGATHA

Mel Kitcher / Natalie Sahota

Olivia Smith

A chorus of people drawn from the community played the ship’s crew, scientists and townspeople

Director

Patrick Sandford

Designer

Robin Don

Lighting Designer

David W Kidd

Composer

Simon Slater

Community Director

Fran Morley

Production Note

Mary Shelley’s original has been considerably distorted by film versions.

In her book the chief characteristics of Frankenstein are pride followed by regret.

The Creature is highly intelligent, physically powerful and emotionally vulnerable. He need not necessarily be naked. In the original production he was swathed in wet muslin, and later dressed in clothes stolen from Frankenstein’s university room.

Clearly the body parts cannot be real. A lateral interpretation must be found. In the original production a group of real hands pushed through the floor trickling earth and holding human organs. Other solutions might involve Victorian encyclopedia etchings of human limbs, or projections of funerary statuary. Directors and designers will have better ideas.

The original design was fluid, suiting the fast-moving ‘story within a story’ structure of the play, hinting at locations rather than representing them literally.

Textual Note

The words of this play are taken almost entirely from the 1818 edition of Mary Shelley’s novel, with one short passage from the revised 1831 edition.

The quotations from Percy Bysshe Shelley and Samuel Taylor Coleridge are included by Mary Shelley. The abbreviated fable of Jean de la Fontaine is referred to by Mary Shelley.

The language, educated and sometimes formal, should be spoken simply and swiftly. Elisions (e.g. ‘haven’t’ for ‘have not’) should happen quite naturally.

Stage directions from the original production are in italics and may of course be ignored. Some of these reflect directly Mary Shelley’s wording.

Characters

in order of appearance

CAPTAIN WALTON,a polar explorerVICTOR FRANKENSTEIN ELIZABETH, Frankenstein’s cousinHENRYClerval, Frankenstein’s friend FATHER, to FrankensteinWILLIAM, Frankenstein’s little brother, aged seven or eightJUSTINE, William’s young nurseTHE CREATURE OLD MAN FELIX, a peasantAGATHA, a young peasant girl, perhaps fourteen or fifteenSAFIE, a young Turkish woman

Plus Arctic crewmen, scientists, villagers, a hangman, townspeople

Before the play, the image, by whatever means, of a disembodied arm – female – writing.

ACT ONE

Scene One

The play begins and ends on the ice.

Out of the darkness a face appears, tightly lit. It isCAPTAINWALTON, a young polar explorer.

WALTON. There is something at work in my soul which I don’t understand – a love for the marvellous, a belief in the marvellous! This hurries me out of the common pathways of men, even to the mysteries of the ocean. I am going to the land of mist and snow, never before imprinted by the foot of man, surpassing in wonders and beauty every region discovered on the globe. These enticements conquer all fear of danger or death. My daydreams are extended and magnificent!

Light builds to reveal the ship’sCREWin Arctic clothing. Activity.

But I have one want which I have never yet been able to satisfy: I have no friend. When I am glowing with success, there will be no one to participate in my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one to sustain me. I greatly need the company of a man with the sense not to despise me as romantic, whose eyes will reply to mine.

Well, I shall certainly find no such friend on the wide ocean.

I shall do nothing rashly. I shall kill no albatross, nor return woeful as the Ancient Mariner. Success shall crown my endeavours, the stars witnessing my triumph! What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man?

Violent storm then silence.

TheCREWstand motionless in the mist.

(Drily.) The winter has been dreadfully severe.

CREWMAN (nearly hostile). Ice-bound. Shut in on all sides. Vast plains which seem to have no end.

Silence then distant barking.

LOOKOUT. Sledge!

Distant cry. All strain to see, some with telescopes.

Behind them an arm, unseen and in distress, slowly appears through the stage. Nobody sees it. It subsides.

TheCREWdrag on the sledge bearingVICTORFRANKENSTEIN.

WALTON. I never saw a man in so wretched a condition.

Friend…

FRANKENSTEIN. Captain, before I board your vessel, will you have the kindness to inform me whither you are bound?

WALTON. Towards the Northern Pole, where the sun is forever visible. We are on a voyage of discovery.

FRANKENSTEINlaughs bitterly. The laugh seizes him as time passes and he is lifted from the sledge, blanketed and installed comfortably, perhaps in a hammock or berth, facingWALTON.

I am to discover a passage near the Pole to countries as yet inaccessible, and also the secret of magnetism, the wondrous power which attracts the needle. Sir, you cannot contest the benefit I shall confer on mankind…

FRANKENSTEIN. Unhappy man! So you share my madness. Have you drunk of the intoxicating draught? Let me reveal my tale, and you will dash the cup from your lips!

WALTON. Why have you come so far upon the ice?

FRANKENSTEIN. I seek one who flees from me.

WALTON. And does this man travel in the same fashion?

FRANKENSTEIN. Yes.

WALTON. Then I fancy we have seen him; for this very night we saw dogs drawing a sledge across the ice, with a man in it, of gigantic [Meaningpowerful.] stature.

FRANKENSTEIN. His route?

WALTON. North.

FRANKENSTEIN. Do you think the ice cracking could have destroyed his sledge?

WALTON. The ice didn’t break until nearly midnight. He might have arrived at a place of safety before then.

FRANKENSTEINis very anxious.

I promise someone will watch for him, and give you instant notice of any new sighting.

FRANKENSTEIN. Doubtless, Captain, I have excited your curiosity, as well as that of these good people…

WALTON. It would be impertinent to trouble you with inquisitiveness.

FRANKENSTEIN. Yet you have rescued me from a perilous situation and benevolently restored me to life.

WALTON. Friend…

FRANKENSTEIN (immediately pained). I once had a friend, the most noble of men, and I am entitled, therefore, to judge respecting friendship. You have hope, and the world before you. But I have lost everything, and cannot begin anew.

You seek for knowledge as once I did and I hope the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as I was stung. You may deduce a moral from my tale; one to direct you if you succeed, and console you in case of failure. Prepare to hear of such occurrences… (He shudders.) I might fear your disbelief, even your ridicule; but in these wild and mysterious regions many things will seem possible.

WALTON. I cannot request that you renew your grief by reciting…