Globalstage Presents Frankenstein

By Steven Rea

This inaugural release launches a video series designed to capture the best children’s theater around the world. Frankenstein hails from Stage One, the Louisville, Kentucky, company, and it’s an intelligent and fairly faithful interpretation of the Mary Shelley novel. The nicely acted play is preceded by an annoyingly precious segment in which National Public Radio Star Elizabeth McNamer affects a grand English accent and reads passages from Shelley’s classic. She is accompanied by slightly befuddled sixth grader Preston Blakeley. Eventually, the duo takes a hansom cab to Stage One, and soon we’re all caught up in the drama of Dr. Frankenstein. Deploying an adept BBC video team, Globalstage catches the thrill of a live performance.

Family Fun, 5/98