Diary of a Monster
Frankie Frankenstein
I have a confession. I am a monster. It's not my fault, it was the way I was made. I blame Victor, he's my dad. He's a little unhinged, well, perhaps more than a little. Let me go back a couple of days to give you a bit of context.
“... and then the fiend is chased out this door,” Philip Doherty dramatically swings opens the side door of the Townhall. Well he is a dramatist. As I look around I find it hard to understand why people's jaws aren't on the floor. He has just recounted a section of 'Frankenstein', a re-imagining of Mary Shelly's Gothic classic that has been filtered through layers of modern culture including sitcoms, evangelical preacher, rock opera and The Jeremy Kyle Show.
Everybody else just takes it for granted that this is normal. They have worked within this level of 'creativity' before. So this thrilling, engaging journey that has been described is just an average day at work for them. For me the weirdest thing is that this is just one section of the productions.
I became a monster on Sunday night. I can't give too much away, but Frankenstein is wildly imaginative and innovative, a heady blend of music and theatricality. The concoction was spawned within the craniums of award-winning playwright Philip Doherty (The Gonzo Theatre) and Townhall Cavan Musical Director Robbie Perry (Dead Can Dance) - two of a number of complicated minds behind the 72 Hour Wake.
As a monster I am part of a cast that will guide the audience through the surreal Hall of Frankensteins, the aforementioned cultural maelstrom. My sewn limbs may not be up to the trek to the 13th century abbey where the play reaches its crescendo, so I'm hoping someone will be able to fill me in on what fate awaits my sibling.
The show takes place on Friday 27th (8pm) and Saturday 28th (8pm, 10pm) of October. Keep an eye out for me, I'm a distinguished looking monster, the kind that you might enjoy a pint with.
Remember Frankenstein is just 1/24th of the 72 Hour Wake. There are a a huge variety of entertainments taking place over this fright filled weekend.
Tickets from townhallcavan.ie