See Moments From Creek’s Regional Premiere of ‘Frankenstein’
‘Frankenstein’, is a play written by Danielle Mohlman based on the novel by Mary Shelley. The Creek theatre program opened the Colorado premiere of the show on Nov. third, and it ran through Nov. fifth. The tale follows the story of Mary Shelley as she writes her novel, combining both Mary and the Frankenstein family’s stories simultaneously.
November 8, 2022
From August to early November, the Creek Theatre program worked tirelessly to build the set and practice performances for their fall play, Frankenstein. The play opened on Nov. 3, marking the regional premiere of Danielle Mohlman’s Frankenstein based on the novel by Mary Shelley.
Planning and designing the show began in May, just after the theater closed their spring play, Eurydice. Largely student-led and directed, the play featured work from nearly 100 students. Over the course of three months, construction and fly crews worked to build 18-foot walls, archways, and fake trees, and actors worked along stage management to perfect their portrayal of the characters. Lighting crews hung a large chandelier over the stage, and worked to create lighting that would deliver Frankenstein’s unsettling ambience.
Frankenstein spoke levels towards domestic violence and sexual abuse. Characters including Mary Shelley (seniors Sloane Blake and Eliana Yokomichi), Caroline Frankenstein (junior Molly Grantz), Elizabeth Frankenstein (senior Ava Sposito), and Justine Moritz (sophomore Sydney Allen and junior Claudia Naranjo) all referenced their various encounters with abuse and domestic violence. The performances were dedicated Lindsay Daum and Meadow Sinner, two local victims of domestic abuse and murder.
The story followed Mary Shelley as she wrote her novel, Frankenstein, simultaneously dealt with the grief of losing her daughter and fought with her ego-centric husband Percy (senior Cooper Collins). Mary was haunted by her mother’s ghost and other characters during the entire show, all of whom continually pointed out the effects of domestic violence and sexual abuse on Mary’s characters and herself.
Frankenstein was an example of the Creek Theatre Program to create amazing work time and time again, showcasing incredible feats of construction, attention to detail in design, and superb portrayal of emotionally complex characters.
See moments from ‘Frankenstein’ below.
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Mary Shelley, played by senior Sloane Blake (left), and Percy Shelley, played by senior Cooper Collins (right), are held back from each other by members of the Party, who serve as dancers, Mary’s inner thoughts, and occasionally a pack of wolves. The Party serves an influential role in Mary’s character development as she learns to deal with her grief, insecurity, and abusive relationship.
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Agatha Delacy, played by junior Kira Frey, threatens The Monster, played by senior Sloane Blake. In the first half of the play, The Monster befriends Agatha’s mother, Madame Delacy, played by sophomore Brooke Sax, until their bond is broken by Agatha.
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William Frankenstein, played by Homestead Elementary 5th grader Jack Gilkson, smells a flower as he’s threatened by The Monster, played by senior Sloane Blake. Gilkson was cast after the Creek theatre program reached out to elementary schools in the district, sharing the news of an open audition for the role of William.
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Justine Moritz, played by sophomore Sydney Allen, embraces William Frankenstein, played by Homestead Elementary 5th grader Jack Gilkson. The two characters share a special bond, as Justine was asked to look after Jack and raise him as her own just before Jack’s mother, Caroline Frankenstein, played by junior Molly Grantz, died of the scarlet fever.
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The Monster, played by senior Sloane Blake, leans over William Frankenstein, played by Homestead Elementary 5th grader Jack Gilkson. The Monster, traumatized by how his creator Victor Frankenstein, played by senior Jack Diamant, abandoned him, mistakes William for his older brother and kills him.
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Mary Shelley, played by senior Eliana Yokomichi, reaches out for her husband’s fingertips, but is held back by members of The Party. Seniors Eliana Yokomichi and Sloane Blake share the role of Mary Shelley and The Monster, each of them acting in different shows throughout the production’s run.
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Elizabeth Frankenstein, played by senior Ava Sposito (left), is grabbed by Victor Frankenstein, played by senior Jack Diamant (right), during a tense scene where Victor describes to Elizabeth how his creation, The Monster, has ruined their family. In the beginning of ‘Frankenstein,’ it is described that the adoptive siblings have been asked to marry each other by their mother, Caroline Frankenstein, played by junior Molly Grantz.
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Justine Moritz, played by junior Claudia Naranjo, and William Frankenstein, played by Walnut Hills 4th grader Juan Naranjo, are both part of the second cast. Two casts rotate through the shows as needed, unlike a traditional understudy role.
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Mary Shelley, played by senior Eliana Yokimichi, kneels over The Monster’s two victims. Justine Moritz, played by junior Claudia Naranjo, and William Frankenstein, played by Walnut Hills 4th grader Juan Naranjo, were both killed by The Monster in the last half of the show.
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Justine Moritz, played by sophomore Sydney Allen (left), William Frankenstein, played by Homestead Elementary fifth grader Jack Gilkson (center), and Caroline Frankenstein, played by junior Molly Grantz (right), all embrace after being reunited in the afterlife. Throughout the play, dead characters follow Mary Shelley, played by senior Sloane Blake, as she writes her novel.
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