Scarborough Players’ production of Frankenstein set to open this Friday

There have been many adaptations of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, from Mel Brooks to Guillermo del Toro, and audiences each hold their own versions of the relationship between the scientist, Victor Frankenstein and the Creature he creates.

Since its 2011 premiere at England’s National Theatre, directed by Danny Boyle and starring Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch, Nick Dear’s adaptation of Frankenstein has thrilled audiences as it powerfully captures Shelley’s exploration of scientific responsibility, parental neglect, the need for love and the nature of good and evil.

The Scarborough Players will be bringing Dear’s version to the Scarborough Village Theatre stage from Oct. 9 to 23.

Award-winning director Sheila Gatensby (A Christmas Story and Les Liaisons Dangereuses) appreciates Dear giving “voice to the Creature and that he distills the story down to its most visceral, universal, primal and driving themes: our need for connection and belonging, the mess and fallout from rejection, the torment of being scapegoated and othered, the deeply felt frustration and anger when one’s desires are unmet and the harm narcissism exacts on others,” she said of the Scarborough Players’ production of Frankenstein.

“The audience will witness the birth, vulnerability, longing and journey of the creature and will witness his desire, shame, arrogance and harm of Victor Frankenstein’s ambitions.”

This is a challenging play, and Scarborough Players is bringing together many extraordinary, talented individuals in all aspects of the production.

The talented cast includes veterans and newcomers.

Returning to the stage are Rob Walker as Victor Frankenstein (Tony Kirby in You Can’t Take It with You), Jeff Grugicich as the Creature (Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses) Casey McMahon as Elizabeth (Thomasina in Arcadia), Greg Nowlan as M. Frankenstein (Scrooge in A Christmas Carol), Rod Cook as Klaus/Ewan/Sentry, (Ezra Chater in Arcadia), Scott Baker as Gustav/Rab/Sentry (Fennyman in Shakespeare in Love) Josh Maclean as Felix (Valentine in Arcadia), Jamie Higgins as Ensemble (Wabash in Shakespeare in Love) and Adam Xie as William Frankenstein (Flick in A Christmas Story).

Also being welcomed back to the Scarborough Players’ stage will be John Palmieri as DeLacy who was last with the Players in 2018’s Noises Off.

New to Scarborough Players for Frankenstein, and welcomed with delight, are Katharine Bourdeaux as Gretel and Clarice, Miranda Ormond as Ensemble, Celine Ayeesha as Agatha, and Christina Papadimitrou as Ensemble and the Female Creature.

A talented team will be supporting Gatensby in this production of Frankenstein.

Greg Nowlan, set designer; Jennifer Bakker, lighting designer; Anthony Jones creating very special props; Taylor Markwell and Katherine Turner creating and sourcing costumes; Jamie Obregon and Jasmine Oak creating make-up for the Creatures; along with the talented Mercedes Davy choreographing the violence and intimacy are part of the production team.

All of their work is held together by the watchful eye of stage manager Luisa Hoffman with her team of Bil Antoniou, Kaylee Oak, and Evan Macdonald.

Due to subjects that may cause distress or trigger challenging emotions, along with violence and sexual content, this production is recommended for audience members aged 16 and over.

Opening night for Frankenstein is Friday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m.

The production run continues until Oct. 24 with evening performances on Oct. 10, 15, 16, 17, 22 and 23. Matinees are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Oct. 11, 18 and 24.

Scarborough Village Theatre is located at 3600 Kingston Rd., at Markham Road.

To order tickets for Frankenstein, or for more information, please go online to www.theatrescarborough.com/scarboroughplayers or call 416-267-9292.

Those attending are reminded that Scarborough Players will once again be supporting the Christ Church Deacon’s Food Cupboard for the run of the production and will be accepting non-perishable food, hygiene products, and cash donations. The Food Cupboard assists more than 200 families and more than 600 individuals in the community.