Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Adapted and directed by Terri Brabon. TheatreiNQ, Townsville. April 19 – May 7, 2017.

Terri Brabon is one mighty clever theatre person. Her vision for Townsville’s TheatreiNQ delivers a brand of successful theatre which combines community actors with professionally trained actors.

Some six or so years ago she returned with actor partner Brendan O’Connor to the regional city where she trained at JCU to pick up the mantle for the annual Shakespeare Under the Stars – which now plays to sellout crowds every year. Since then she has not only produced a series of well-loved and contemporary plays which play to capacity crowds, but the company has also invested in training young actors and technicians, often preparing them to launch successfully into tertiary drama training in places like NIDA and WAAPA. And they always return.

And all this is done with the utmost humility and lack of brouhaha.  Not only does she attract an amazingly loyal company of actors and volunteers - whom she never fails to recognise and develop - but she will be the first to ascribe her success to her mentor and teacher, the late theatre Townsville personality Jean-Pierre Voos. He always believed in her as his ultimate successor, and there is no doubt that he would relish in her achievements as she now experiences her own time in the sun.

And nowhere is this more evident than of her stunning, highly original production of Frankenstein which she adapted and directed. Owing more to circumstance than design, it was mounted as a promenade piece at the historic Townsville West State School. Built in 1939, the building has played many roles in the community, and in April-May it was the setting for probably one of the most inventive theatre pieces I have seen for many years.

The audience were greeted at the door and broken into two groups (“Team Creature” and  “Team Doctor”) who were led by suitably attired guides to four rooms across three levels of the old building to experience a retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic tale. Of course the entire audience were united at the end, but in the meantime what a production – which sold out before it even opened! From this novel beginning through to the bloody ending of the horror story, the audience were spellbound – and given to superlatives afterwards.

The design was in a word – astounding. The atmospheric sets by Brendan O’Connor were chillingly Gothic (the Doctor’s laboratory contained some of the best 19th century machinery imaginable); the costumes were a thematic colour scheme of greys, blacks and whites highlighted with flashes of scarlet to match the bloodshed in the story. The numerous high-ceilinged rooms in the old school were used to full effect, while at the same time operating within its limits (I understand there was no three-phase power, which immediately present a challenge for lighting which was equally impressive. Presented against a creepy soundscape (always a hallmark of Terri’s productions), the entire production was a Gothic nightmare in the very best meaning of the word.

The cast was headed by Townsville actor and recent NIDA graduate, Joseph Raggatt, whose key performance as the Doctor (Frankenstein) matched the physical and emotional demands of the role.

Ron Pulman as the Creature gave a tumultuous performance. He was Caliban, Hannibal Lecter and Boris Karloff all rolled into one. We recognise his inherent humanity but we are at the same are repulsed by his appearance and his actions. To paraphrase Shakespeare, his monster was a base Caliban, a poor credulous monster who was barely honoured with human shape.

The remainder of the cast was composed of community actors (many of whom are JCU drama graduates), and what a cast they were.  Having seen almost every production TheatreiNQ has mounted since 2012, I am always constantly amazed at what Terri manages to bring out of her actors, who plainly adore her and flourish under her sensitive and assured direction. Standouts included John Goodson’s performance as the blind Mr de Lacey, Rachel Nutchey as Elizabeth Lavenza and young Declan Esling as William Frankenstein.

Perhaps more stillness and intensity from the ghost characters would have provided more contrast to heighten the final scenes. However, this was a minor point in the face of production which has been the talking-point of Townsville.

And whoever said that regional theatre inferior to anything the urban centres could produce should have seen and experienced this production. It was original, innovative, exciting, visually exciting and moved along at a cracking pace as all Terri’s productions do. This production would proudly grace any stage – anywhere!

Trevor Keeling

Photographer: Chrissy Maguire

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