Danny Boyle’s ‘Frankenstein’

With an Underworld soundtrack and Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller sharing the roles of Victor Frankenstein and his Creature, this is not your stereotypical bolts and all adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic tale.

The vision of Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle and playwright Nick Dear, the National Theatre’s latest production of Frankenstein shuns the Hammer horror template, opting instead for an intelligent, literate creature as its protagonist.

Playing the Creature on the night that I visited the South Bank, Cumberbatch brings a surprising humour to the role. After flopping onto the stage from Frankenstein’s manmade womb, it is difficult not to empathise with him as he evolves in a violent ballet-esque performance. Groaning and writhing around under a pulsing canopy of light, he eventually takes his first steps in the world with all the excitement of a child. Be warned these first few glimpses of the Creature reveal a lot, not only about his character though. Expect nudity and lots of it!

With a thirst for knowledge, Cumberbatch’s Creature absorbs language and literature at an impressive rate and is soon passionately quoting Milton’s Paradise Lost to the surprise of the audience and his creator Frankenstein. In his frustrating search for companionship though the darker side of his character emerges in several acts of violence, which grow in intensity as he tracks down his creator and requests a partner.

Emotionally detached from his own future wife, in a role reversal Miller’s Frankenstein becomes the pupil to his creation who passionately understands and craves the sensation of love. As both lose their brides in a haze of violence they are ultimately left alone as the play comes to a close. Taunting then cradling his creator, Cumberbatch’s Creature finally completes his ascent to become the master as Miller struggles after him in the play’s visually stunning conclusion.

Without an interval this two-hour production is thrilling from the very first moment to its final spine-tingling bell tolls. Visually rousing with Bruno Poet’s use of lighting and its rotating stage, Danny Boyle has transformed his success from the silver screen to the stage in spades, with the help of two utterly inspiring leads.

With both actors complementing each other perfectly, it would be interesting to see how Miller’s portrayal of the more meatier role of the Creature differs however, and if Cumberbatch’s experience as the BBC’s Sherlock helps him as the scientist with a god complex. Saying that, Miller would have to be beyond extraordinary to rival Cumberbatch’s Creature. To put it simply this is the best play I’ve seen in London. Ever.

Frankenstein runs until May 2 at:

National Theatre
South Bank
Waterloo
SE1 9PX

Tel: 020 7452 3000

Photo by Catherine Ashmore