Seven characters, four male and three female. 38-40 minute adaptation of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," written for competitive one-act festivals. On the heels of his mother's death, Victor Frankenstein, the son of a scientist, becomes obsessed with occult methods and manages to bring a dead man back to life, only to be haunted by the results. The play, which also pays tribute to Milton...
Seven characters, four male and three female. 38-40 minute adaptation of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," written for competitive one-act festivals. On the heels of his mother's death, Victor Frankenstein, the son of a scientist, becomes obsessed with occult methods and manages to bring a dead man back to life, only to be haunted by the results. The play, which also pays tribute to Milton's Paradise Lost, examines the boundaries between man and God, and explores the question of what we owe to the lives we create. This work was adapted from the playwright's full-length play, I AM FRANKENSTEIN, but it contains unique material and a new character. It is simpler, requires minimal tech and can be performed with a flexible cast. Performed at a one-act festival in 2019 by Gentry High School in Gentry, Ark., and given a 2020 public reading at a university in Mississippi. Scheduled for production in the 2021 Mississippi Theatre Association Dramafest competition. The play explores themes that have proven to be very meaningful to LGBTQ+ kids, though there is nothing explicit in the play on that topic.
The author encourages the casting of actors who don't identify with
traditional gender roles, as well as the transgendered. If a director has a concept for how to direct
this play using a different mix of genders in the roles, or an intentionally LGBTQ-friendly
concept, the author welcomes it. Simply ask the playwright for permission. Also, there should be no assumption made that any of these characters are intended to be white. Skin color should not be a consideration in casting this play.
Victor
Early to mid 20s,
Any
,
Male
Intelligent but troubled and reclusive. Drawn to occult sciences, such as alchemy.
Can be played by:
Age:
Teens, 20s
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Any gender
Mother
40-50,
Any
,
Female
Victor's mother, and Elizabeth's adoptive mother.
Can be played by:
Age:
Any adult age
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Female, Non-binary
Lucia
30-55,
Any
,
Female
Corsican maid.
Can be played by:
Age:
Any adult age
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Female, Non-binary
Henry
20s,
Any
,
Male
Energetic, thoughtful best friend of Victor. A noble young man, but a secret admirer of Elizabeth.
Can be played by:
Age:
Teens, 20s, 30s
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Male, Non-binary
Father
40-50,
Any
,
Male
Victor's father, and Elizabeth's adoptive father.
Can be played by:
Age:
Any adult age
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Male, Non-binary
Elizabeth
20s,
Any
,
Female
Victor's cousin, raised as a sister to Victor in
the same household. Smart, kind and loving. Promised to Victor.
Can be played by:
Age:
Teens, 20s, 30s
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Female, Non-binary
Creature
20s or 30s,
Any
,
Any
Young and powerfully built.
Can be played by:
Age:
Teens, 20s, 30s, 40s
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Male, Non-binary
Development History
Reading
,
Biloxi (Miss.) High School
,
2019
Reading
,
Gautier High School, Gautier, Miss.
,
2019
Reading
,
Greenbrier High School, Greenbrier, Ark.
,
2019
Reading
,
Rogers Heritage High School, Rogers, Ark.
,
2019
Reading
,
Gulf Coast Community College, Mississippi
,
2019
Workshop
,
Arkansas Playwrights Workshop
,
2019
Workshop
,
Gentry High School, Gentry, Arkansas
,
2019
Workshop
,
Long Beach High School, Mississippi
,
2019
Workshop
,
Parkview Arts and Sciences Magnet School, Little Rock, Arkansas