National Theatre Live: Frankenstein Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A lonely scientist makes a friend out of body parts, immediately regrets it, and then plays hide-and-seek with the consequences across Europe.

🍿 National Theatre Live: Frankenstein: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Creature’s Awakening

The production opens with the Creature’s painful and visceral birth into the world. Groggy and disoriented, he struggles to control his limbs and navigate his surroundings. His creator, Victor Frankenstein, is horrified by the grotesque result of his experiment and quickly abandons his creation to fend for himself in a hostile, industrial landscape.

Learning and Suffering

Cast out and shunned by everyone he encounters due to his appearance, the Creature experiences intense loneliness and cruelty. He finds brief solace observing a blind old man and his family, secretly learning language, history, and the ways of the world. However, his attempts to interact are met with terror and rejection, further fueling his despair.

Seeking His Creator

Fueled by a desire for understanding and companionship, the Creature resolves to find Victor Frankenstein. He tracks him down and confronts him, recounting his experiences and demanding that Victor create a female companion for him. He argues that with a mate, he will leave humanity in peace and live in isolation.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• The Creature (Jonny Lee Miller): The innocent yet terrifying being created and abandoned by Victor Frankenstein.
• The Creature (Benedict Cumberbatch): The innocent yet terrifying being created and abandoned by Victor Frankenstein.
• Victor Frankenstein (Jonny Lee Miller): The brilliant but irresponsible scientist who creates and then rejects his living being.
• Victor Frankenstein (Benedict Cumberbatch): The brilliant but irresponsible scientist who creates and then rejects his living being.
• Elizabeth Lavenza (Naomie Harris): Victor’s fiancée whose fate becomes intertwined with that of the creature.
• De Lacey (Karl Johnson): A kind blind man who offers the creature brief comfort and education before his family drives him away.
• Felix de Lacey (Daniel Millar): De Lacey’s son whose fearful rejection of the creature reinforces his isolation.
• William Frankenstein (Haydon Downing): Victor’s young brother who becomes the creature’s first victim in an act of revenge.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• The Creature: “Cold… So cold…” – Among the Creature’s very first words upon his ‘birth’, reflecting his raw sensory experience of the world.
• The Creature: “I should be Adam. God was proud of Adam. But Satan’s the one I sympathise with.” – The Creature bitterly compares himself to figures in mythology after experiencing rejection, identifying with the outcast Satan.
• The Creature: “I ask for a companion.” – The Creature makes his central plea and demand to Victor, believing that only a mate like himself can alleviate his profound loneliness.
• The Creature: “If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear!” – A pivotal line where the Creature, facing continued rejection and betrayal, declares his shift from seeking acceptance to enacting revenge.
• Victor Frankenstein: “Live! Live!” – Victor’s desperate exclamation as he successfully brings his creation to life.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: $417,783
• Worldwide Gross: $620,167

💥 National Theatre Live: Frankenstein Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, just… wow. Seeing National Theatre Live: Frankenstein was absolutely incredible. I saw the version with Cumberbatch as the Creature, and his physical performance in that opening scene, just struggling to exist, was breathtakingly intense. It went on a bit, but you just couldn’t look away. What really got me was the Creature’s journey, how he learns and feels. There’s a scene where he’s talking to the blind man, De Lacey, that just broke my heart. You really feel his yearning for connection and acceptance. And then the confrontation scenes with Victor… the tension was palpable. It made me think so much about who the *real* monster was. Seriously, if you get a chance to see either version, do it. It sticks with you.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Mary Shelley’s novel”
  • “Theatre enthusiasts”
  • “Viewers interested in psychological dramas and tragedies”
  • “Fans of Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller”
  • “Those interested in unique stage productions captured for screen”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mature themes”
  • “Violence and disturbing content”
  • “Brief nudity (in depiction of Creature’s birth)”
  • “Physical struggle and pain”

Professional Reviews

• Generated: “Danny Boyle’s National Theatre production of Frankenstein is a visceral triumph. The staging is innovative, and the physical demands on the lead actors, who famously alternate roles, are astounding. Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller deliver powerhouse performances, embodying both the tormented creator and the innocent yet terrifying creation. A deeply moving and often unsettling experience that breathes new life into a classic.
• Generated: “Remarkable theatre captured brilliantly for the screen. The core concept of the lead actors switching roles nightly pays off spectacularly, highlighting the intertwined nature of Victor and the Creature. The opening sequence, a raw depiction of birth, is unforgettable. This adaptation focuses intensely on the Creature’s journey, exploring themes of rejection and humanity with profound effect. A must-see production.

Audience Reactions

The lead actors switching roles nightly is a fascinating concept.: Viewers were captivated by the sheer talent and physicality of Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, particularly the Creature’s ‘birth’ scene and subsequent development.

The production captured the emotional depth of the story effectively.: Many felt immense sympathy for the Creature, finding the themes of loneliness, rejection, and humanity deeply moving and impactful.

Overall Consensus: Critically acclaimed for its unique casting concept, powerful lead performances, and intense, moving exploration of Mary Shelley’s classic tale.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller famously alternated playing the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature for the duration of the stage run, with two filmed versions released to allow audiences to see both pairings.”
• “Director Danny Boyle initially asked both actors to shave their heads for the Creature role. Jonny Lee Miller complied, but Benedict Cumberbatch could not due to commitments to the film ‘War Horse’, requiring him to wear a wig when playing Victor Frankenstein.”
• “The production utilized a striking, constantly rotating stage set, representing the ever-changing and often hostile world the Creature experiences.”
• “The highly physical opening scene depicting the Creature’s ‘birth’ and first movements was extensively choreographed and demanding, taking up to 20 minutes of stage time.”
• “The music for the production was composed by the electronic music duo Underworld, known for their work on Boyle’s earlier film ‘Trainspotting’.”

🖥️ How to Watch National Theatre Live: Frankenstein?

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed National Theatre Live: Frankenstein, you might like these similar films:

• Frankenstein (1931): The iconic classic film adaptation that defined the popular image of the Creature, though focusing less on his intellectual and emotional development than the novel or this play.
• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994): A major film adaptation that, like the play, attempted to be more faithful to the source novel’s themes and the Creature’s perspective than earlier films.
• The Elephant Man (1980): Explores similar themes of societal prejudice, ostracism, and finding humanity in those deemed ‘monstrous’ based on appearance.
• Blade Runner (1982): A seminal science fiction film that delves into questions of artificial life, identity, memory, and what it means to be human, mirroring Frankenstein’s core inquiries.
• Ex Machina (2014): A modern, thought-provoking film about a scientist creating artificial intelligence, exploring the ethics of creation and the nature of consciousness.

🛒 National Theatre Live: Frankenstein Related Products

• National Theatre Live: Frankenstein (Blu-ray): Own the acclaimed stage production directed by Danny Boyle. Features both versions with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternating roles as Victor Frankenstein and the Creature.
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Penguin Classics): Read the original gothic novel that inspired the play. Explore the themes of creation, responsibility, and humanity in Shelley’s timeless masterpiece.
• Frankenstein’s Creature Collectible Figure: A detailed, high-quality collectible figure or bust representing the iconic Creature from Frankenstein lore.
• National Theatre Live: Hamlet (with Benedict Cumberbatch): Experience another stunning National Theatre Live performance featuring Benedict Cumberbatch in a lead role.

🎧 Soundtrack

National Theatre Live: Frankenstein features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Atmospheric Score” – performed by Underworld

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

When the late night chat takes a turn 😂 #NationalTheatre #BenedictCumberbatch #KobnaHoldbrookSmith

Ever wondered what goes on in a “late night chat” with Benedict Cumberbatch about *Frankenstein*? This hilarious short clip shows a moment that definitely wasn’t expected! It’s a fun peek behind the curtain.

Victor Frankenstein: A Character Study | National Theatre at Home

Get into the minds of the actors! See Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller break down the iconic, complicated character of Victor Frankenstein and what it was like to step into his shoes for this amazing production. It really adds perspective!

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