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Printer-Friendly ModeSVSU theatre prepares for Frankenstein
October 8, 2007 —
SVSU's theatre department will celebrate Halloween this year by bringing Victor Gialanella's version of "Frankenstein" to the stage.
Opening night for the play, adapted from the classic Mary Shelley novel, is Oct. 12 at 8 p.m. in the Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts. The performance will repeat on Oct. 13, 19, and 20 at 8 p.m. and again on Oct. 14 and 21 at 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $5 for students and senior citizens and $7 for the general public.
Director Janet Rubin practices and works with the 12 cast members, crew heads, and Assistant Director Patrick Konesko almost every day - including weekends - for approximately six to eight hours a day.
"This play provides our students with an opportunity to really stretch their range as actors and technicians," Rubin said. "It's a challenging play in many respects."
Senior Kurt McCool finds the story very interesting and acts the part of Hans Metz in the play.
"Metz is kind of a lowlife," he said. "He robs graves for a living. He's a scoundrel."
McCool considers this part to be a challenge for him to play.
"Metz is just a bad guy, and that's not really how I am," he said.
Senior Adam Arnold is also in the play as The Creature and finds it interesting and challenging as well.
"I'm drawn to the fact that it's sort of a horror show," he said. "You don't see a lot of that in theatre."
Arnold is also enjoying the fact that Gialanella's play is very close to the original story by Mary Shelley, especially since he's playing Victor Frankenstein's creation.
A square-like buzzed haircut with seemingly no brain and arms stretched out in front will not be the way Arnold will play his character.
"He's almost like a newborn - but not quite," he explained.
Arnold also described his character by saying the creature is basically trapped in an adult body and is only learning to comprehend feelings and doesn't understand death at all.
"It's the most challenging role I've ever played," he added.
Rubin is also happy with the fact that this play has many similarities to Shelley's story.
"Although Hollywood has done some very camp versions of the story, our script remains fairly true to the Mary Shelley novel," she said. "Her novel raises some interesting questions about the unintended consequences of scientific inquiry."
Rubin has high hopes for the play as well.
"I hope that [the students] will gain experience in roles that help them to expand their ranges as actors and actresses," she said. "I also hope that they will have fun."
