←Recommendations of And Lightning Struck

Author Weibezahl has written a richly poetic and erudite play about how famed writer Mary Shelley was inspired to write the story of "Frankenstein." Though he writes in his notes that his story is a fiction, it rings true. An imaginative and highly theatrical play, with juicy parts for several actors, it's not surprising that it is also an award winner.

And Lightning Struck is the amazing story of Mary Shelley’s early life and the creation of Victor Frankenstein and his “monster.” Weibezahl weaves a rich tapestry in the theatrical telling of the story. The vivid language reveals the depth of Shelley’s suffering, her personal tragedies, and the brightness of her genius. It’s a poignant, heart-wrenching story. Her bond with the Creature is palpable and complex. After reading this play, you will never regard Frankenstein’s monster in the same way.

Poetic and emotional. Key people and events from Mary Shelley's life swirl around and shape her past, which is every bit as gothic and haunting as her own work, building up to the famous creation of the work itself. This adaptation makes full use of the theme of a creator whose work has taken a life of its own, and the writing blends well with the romantic language used by the famous figures who tell this story.

This moody memory play paints grand and dark portraits of a writer's tortured past. All artists put little pieces of their souls into their own work and sometimes it is torture to watch them grow and suffer in a cruel world. In my mind's eye, I can see a chilling set and lighting design backed by the heightened language full of emotion and poetry. This would be a great piece for any theatre to tackle for their season...perhaps for a spooky fall opening?

Rich in atmosphere and period detail, Robert Weibezahl's "And Lightening Struck" recreates the world of Mary Shelley, and how she came to write "Frankenstein." It's a romantic, poetic, and intimately fascinating work, opening up a new perspective on an old classic, and the woman who brought it into the world.