Edward Alderton Theatre

Home | News | This Season | Next Season | Bookings | Auditions | Members | Archive | History | Location | Links | Contact Us  

The House of Frankenstein!
by Martin Downing

Directed by Roz Betts

5-12 October 2002 (7 performances)

In a grim castle in the Carpathian Mountains, Baron Frankenstein, his long-suffering wife Elisabeth, the unsavory hunchback Ygor, the Valkyrian Frau Lurker and the Monster play host to various menacing denizens of the night (invited or otherwise) who visit the Baron to beg him to rid them of their vices...

Cast
Baron Von Frankenstein Alan Goodwin
Baroness Von Frankenstein Pam Sage
Count Dracula Ian Saxton
Countess Helen Bezer
Harry Talbot Sam Oatley
Isabel Channing Linda Gay
Frau Lurker David Hampton
Ygor Tony Donnelly
The Monster Paul Lay
Phantom Danny Grimwood


Crew
Stage Manager Christine McKeon
Assistant Stage Manager Stephanie Dungate
Set Construction & Painting Mick Wright, Steve Grubb
Properties Janis Moss, Roz Betts, Maureen Hardwen
Lighting  Jerry McKeon, Bernard Tilley
Sound John Buckle
Music & Dance Arrangement Roz Betts, Sam Oatley
Programme Artwork Eleanor McEnery

Special properties courtesy of Paul Knight and Lawrence Chitty.



Review

Frankenstein's house shuts out the horror

The Edward Alderton Theatre, Bexleyheath, has opened its new season with a production of a work that is billed as a comedy horror play. In reality, it is more farce than comedy, and the horror is non-existent. Certainly, there are those that need to rest their brains and forget about the traumas of everyday life who will find the action so undemanding that they can actually enjoy the work. Others might cringe at the absurdity of the almost invisible plot.

Martin Downing's The House of Frankenstein brings together a host of characters from bygone horror movies, including Dracula, the Wolfman, Quasimodo, Baron Frankenstein and, of course, his monster. Frankenstein has switched his skills from the creation of life and has decided to rid other monsters of their unpleasant characteristics and make them reasonably human. Unfortunately, he is no longer the man he was and fails miserably in his ambition.

A superb set creating the Baron's atmospheric castle, complete with body bits in jars, a giraffe roasting on a spit and a Dalek lurking in a corner is truly promising, as are the opening sequences which are very funny. Good and bad jokes are used far too many times and the action keeps losing its zip and pace. However, there are sudden bursts of very creative humour to make up for the less impactive elements of the show and the lighting and sound effects are first-class. Director Roz Betts, with the use of strobe lighting and the creation of some outstanding characters, still achieved a nearly impossible task in trying to turn the play into something of consequence. 

Roy Atterbury

Kentish Times | 17 October 2002 

Programme

L-R: Tony Donnelly, Aland Goodwin and Paul Lay

L-R: Tony Donnelly and David Hampton

Pam Sage and Alan Goodwin

Alan Goodwin and Helen Bezer

L-R: Alan Goodwin and Paul Lay

David Hampton

L-R: Helen Bezer, Ian Saxton and A Dalek

L-R: Paul Lay, Linda Gay and a Dalek

Paul Lay

Danny Grimwood and Linda Gay

L-R: A skeleton and Danny Grimwood