Main MenuNEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@alpha.nsula.edu
)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
10/12/2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES -The NSU Theatre will explore some of the issues involving science and ethics when it present's William Gilmore's "The Tragedy of Frankenstein" Oct. 31 Nov. 4 in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. Assistant Professor of Theatre Scott Burrell will direct.
The Tragedy of Frankenstein is styled after a classic Greek
drama and
incorporates the use of a Chorus Master and his Chorus of Imps
to recount the tragic events surrounding Victor Frankenstein and
his quest to create life. The play remains faithful to Mary Shelley's
novel, but makes use of such theatrical conventions as choral
chants, iambic pentameter, and multiple sceneswithin-a-scene
to underscore moral, ethical, political, and theological issues
as relevant today as they were in Shelley's time.
Burrell said the first act focuses primarily on Victor and his obsession to create life where life does not exist. Though at first successful, Victor soon perceives flaws in his creation and resorts to physical and mental mistreatment as a release for his frustrations in a classic example of child abuse. Victor's creation flees and the first act ends with the mysterious death of Victor's younger brother.
The second act continues the line of values questioning set forth in the first act by consciously shifting focus to the creature's point of view. Wandering, lost in the woods, a blind and aged carpenter befriends him. Hidden from the old man's daughter and son-in-law, the creature enjoys the old man's company while learning to read and speak. This idyllic existence does not last for long, however, and the creature is forced to flee once again after reliving the creation in Victor's lab during a nightmarish sequence which includes flashbacks of his former life. The creature vows vengeance on Victor setting up the final deadly confrontation where the created shall demand of the creator, "Who Am I?"
The cast includes Jeremy Rhodes of Boyce as Victor, Larry Soileau of Lake Charles as Henry, Levi Petree of Lake Charles as the Creature, Bob Moses of Fort Smith, Ark., as Felix and Kyle Lemaire of Abbeville as the Old Man. Dr. Jack Wann will play Alphonse while Annie Fackler of Natchitoches will play Elizabeth. The cast also includes Alaine Claire of Bourg as Justine, Caroline Bolter of Baton Rouge as Agatha and Amie Clarke of Blue Springs, Mo., as the Chorus Master.
Members of the chorus include Amaris Davidson of Leesville, Robyn Eddy of Shreveport, Katie Guell of Harvey, Meghan Shea of Covington, Hector Guivas of West Palm Beach, Fla., Kerry Lambert of Prairieville, John Snow of Gloster and Chris Ware of Baton Rouge.
Becca Foster of Winnfield is the stage manager and Kim Longmire of Houston and Christian Perry of Alexandria are the assistant stage managers. Pat Calfee of Baton Rouge is the assistant to the playwright while Brandon Wilks of New Orleans is the dramaturg.
For ticket information call (318) 357-5814.