Frankenstein NT Live at Home Review

Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller in Frankenstein
Credit: https://www.instagram.com/nationaltheatre/

This is one I have been working on for a few days; last week's NT Live at Home screening was Frankenstein, a new version of one of the most classic horror stories of all time.

This was from the Olivier's production in 2011, written by Nick Dear and directed by Danny Boyle (yes THAT Danny Boyle). It stars both Benedict Cumberbatch (Hamlet) and Jonny Lee Miller sharing and alternating between the roles of Victor Frankenstein and his Creature - two sides of the same coin.

I watched the version with Cumberbatch as The Creature - and it is predominantly HIS story I think, even though it's called Frankenstein.

From the beginning, the play keeps you on the edge of your seat, as the first 10 minutes of the play is The Creature waking up and finding his feet (in a literal sense) - it sounds boring, but with Cumberbatch's performance and the way the lighting goes from the red of a darkroom to blindingly bright in an instant.

As you go along, you see The Creature learn how to speak, read and write; before he tracks down the creator who abandoned him and strikes down a terrifying deal with him!

If you want to watch something gripping, and an excellent performance from both Cumberbatch and Miller (as well as Naomie Harris doing a great supporting turn as Frankenstein's fiancée Elizabeth), then Frankenstein is a definite watch.

You only have until Thursday night to watch it, when it will get replaced with Anthony and Cleopatra starring Ralph Finnes and Sophie Okonedo.

To watch Benedict Cumberbatch as The Creature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl8jxNrtceQ 

To watch Jonny Lee Miller as The Creature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI88grIRAnY