At the medical school where he teaches, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein is ashamed to be a Frankenstein, insisting that his name be pronounced “Fronkensteen” and that he is not a madman like his grandfather but, rather, a scientist. He then lectures his students about the greatest mind of science. After learning that he has inherited his grandfather’s castle in Transylvania, he is forced to resolve the issue of the property. As Elizabeth Benning, Frederick’s fiancée, sees him off, it is clear that their relationship is far from physical as Elizabeth enumerates all the lustful situations from which she is abstaining. 

Arriving at Transylvania Heights, Frederick meets the hunchback, Igor, who is the grandson of Victor’s henchman. Igor tries to convince him to continue in his grandfather’s footsteps. He reveals that he has already hired the services of Inga, a yodeling lab assistant with a degree in Laboratory Science from the local community college.

The three join together and hop on a wagon. During the ride to the Castle Frankenstein, the doctor becomes more familiar with Inga. When they reach the castle, they meet the very mysterious Frau Blucher. Later that night, he is awakened by Inga and, after some unique exploring, they find the secret entrance to his grandfather’s laboratory by following the sounds of eerie violin music.

They discover that the mysterious violin player is Frau Blucher, who tells of her past of festival games with the late Victor, for whom she was more than just a housekeeper. After reviewing his grandfather’s notes, Frederick decides to carry on the experiments in the reanimation of the dead. To do this, they dig up a huge corpse with “an enormous schwanstuker.” The villagers, meanwhile, gather at the local town hall with Inspector Kemp for a meeting and are very suspicious of Frederick.

Frederick sends Igor to find a brain and entrusts him with the vital organ, but the henchman drops it, surreptitiously replacing the brain with another. Upon Igor’s return, Frederick carries out the experiment and brings the creature to life, who attacks Frederick and is then sedated. The doctor is distressed to find that Igor had provided a different brain.

Kemp and the townspeople come to investigate, pretending to welcome Frederick. Frederick and his employees, however, try everything possible to stall the villagers as Frau Blucher frees the Monster without letting Frederick know. Panic ensues as the monster breaks free from the stage and tramples through the house just as the curtain falls.

Everyone is out to search for the Monster. The doctor, who is visibly frustrated, is approached by Inga. She attempts to encourage the doctor and instill faith in him again. Elizabeth arrives unexpectedly in Transylvania with a large entourage and finds Frederick and a naked Inga.

Elsewhere, the Monster finds a blind hermit named Harold after breaking through his house wall. After Harold accidentally pours hot soup into the Monster’s lap and lights his thumb on fire, the Monster is startled into another massive rampage and leaves. Frederick locks himself into a room with the Monster and, after overcoming his fears, he tells the Monster that he is a good looking fellow who is loved and will be hailed by all. He has won the Monster over.

The Monster is then presented at the Loews Transylvania Theatre, now dressed as a dapperly gentleman. He is walking on command and even dancing with some grace to Irving Berlin’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” While taking his bow, the Monster becomes terrified when a couple of stage lights explode. In the chaos, Elizabeth is kidnapped by the creature, taken to a cave.

In the cave, she sees a different side of the Monster. After an erotic encounter with the creature, Elizabeth has found what she has been yearning for in life. Luring the Monster back to the castle by the music of a French horn, Frederick attempts an intelligence transfer, but the Monster does not wake… and to make things worse, Inspector Kemp and the angry villagers – believing that Elizabeth has been killed by the Monster – break into the castle and bring Frederick to the gallows and hang him.

The Monster returns, not only able to speak articulately but also using his newly transferred medical skills to discover that Frederick is not dead, but merely unconscious, and that he is able to bring him back to life. Just as the crowd is about to rehang Frederick and the Monster, Elizabeth arrives. After a hopeful plot twist, the Monster proposes to Elizabeth. Then, the blind Hermit’s voice is heard singing; Frau Blucher announces she has a “blind date” with him. Igor proceeds to proclaim a false miracle, saying that his hump is gone… but then quickly realizes that it has just moved. Frederick declares Transylvania to be his home, and that he will be staying with Inga and the rest. All in all, our characters are happily together and the town celebrates. It is a happy ending that is sure to bring laughter and love for all.

This production is in association with EBOS Musical Theatre

CREATIVE TEAM

Director & Choreographer
NICK BRANNAM

Musical Director
TREVOR DEFFERD

Dance Captain
ABI BURROWS

Stage Manager
ANDREW COOPER

Deputy Stage Manager

DUNCAN BRUCE

HIRE SERVICES

Lighting Design and Hire

MARC HOPKINS

Lighting Hire

MATT GREEN

Sound Design and Hire

TOM HORROX

Scenery Manufacture

DUNCAN BRUCE

         Costumes

NATALIE HAYLLOR

Wigs

NICK BRANNAM

NODA REVIEW

“Nick Brannam has done an excellent job in staging the production with looked and sound very good and makes the most of the multiple comic opportunities and characterisations.”

National Operatic and Dramatic Association   – Read the full review

PRESS REVIEWS

“ensured that the musical numbers and dance sequences were exuberant and loud enough to drown out the sound of Mary Shelley spinning in her grave”

Maidenhead Advertiser  – Read the full review

“Dance numbers choreographed by Nick Brannam, are a twirling, toe-tapping can-pushing delight……Direction….is witty, daring and inventive”

Wokingham Today  – Read the full review