Monster

by Neal Bell, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

“MONSTER, a slick and streamlined new stage adaptation of the Frankenstein saga written by Neal Bell...is faithful to Shelley, if not in all the exhaustive details, then at least insofar as it seizes on its thematic highlights. Mr Bell’s adaptation plucks the major events from the narrative, and his language treads a colorful a mixture of fanciful poetics, glib wisecrackery and an occasional Anglo-Saxon obscenity that lends a contemporary tint to things.”Bruce Weber, The New York Times “...a lean literate version of Shelley’s often much-embroidered classic. Exploring Shelley’s psychosexual undertones, Bell’s version is more creepy than shocking in effect. He also provides a viable new conclusion for the novel’s open-ended narrative.”Michael Sommers, The Star-Ledger “Starting from Shelley’s original, but with a sharp eye for cogency and a sharp ear for the turn of a phrase, [Neal Bell] has managed to locate the philosophic germ inside each of the horror myth’s iconic scenes. The scare is still there, but it now has other functions than merely frightening your inner child with fantasies of impotence, rape and castration on a dark and stormy night. If you really want to frighten yourself, there’s always today’s paper; if you want a dramatic story that makes you think about the meaning and purpose of life, you should probably go and see MONSTER.”Michael Feingold, Village Voice

92 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2006

About the author

Neal Bell is an American playwright and screenwriter. Bell has written such plays as the thriller Two Small Bodies, as well as co-writing the screenplay for the Two Small Bodies film adaptation.

Bell has written other plays such as On the Bum, Somewhere in the Pacific, Monster, Operation Midnight Climax, Therese Raquin and Spatter Pattern (Or, How I Got Away With It).

Reviews

[✰ Liz ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Why do I hurt?"



Monster is a modern adaption of the well known story Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. The setting of the play shifts from the present and the past. In the present time the man Frankenstein is stranded on an iceberg in the middle of the ocean. Discovered by a nearby ship, the captain disembarks the ship in order to hear Frankensteins tale.

Frankenstein reveals that he is on a journey to destroy a creature that he created many years before.

Through his tale we discover that when Victor Frankenstein was a child he could talk to animals and has "deep philosophical" thoughts. He is obviously a disturbed individual as he has no issues with killing the family cat. He spends his youth experimenting with various body parts and discovering his sexuality through his desire to know his cousin Elizabeth. He shows a great fondness for his brother Clervall. Through his development as a twisted scientist he creates a monster.

Instead of the monster we know, as a walking zombie living to terrify the living, this creature desired to belong. This creature has thoughts and feelings which he expresses through questions. He is hurting. He knows he is broken. The plot continues to unravel as the creature causes havoc and pain in Frankenstein's life. How can Frankenstein possibly make things right?

Overall Monster was a fresh angle to the "overdone" Frankenstein story. The imagery the text inspires is intense. I would definitely enjoy catching "this monster" at the theater.

[Avra Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this play in 2003... reading it again moved me deeply. It’s a powerful work.

[Dalilah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author took Freakenstein a bit too seriously… in all seriousness it’s an ok retelling (?? I forgot the word it’s 4am) of the story. Some stuff was hard to understand but honestly that’s mostly my fault. Please take the content warnings seriously!!
I felt like some of the more serious parts of the script were added for shock value and stuff so.. yea..
If you like Frankenstein and are looking for different adaptations (i remembered the word) then pick this one up I guess as a last resort?? It isnt my favorite and I don’t think I’d recommend this to any sane person