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Frankenstein
"There is something at work in my soul which I do not understand." Pushing the limits of science and morality in his search for acceptance and purpose, Victor Frankenstein unleashes on the world a creation that he cannot control. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley's gothic novel, A. S. Peterson (The Battle of Franklin) adapts the tale for the stage and creates an experience that will leave you pondering your own sense of belonging long after the curtain has fallen.
Audio CD
Published September 22, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 29, 2018
A. S. Peterson proved himself an extraordinary storyteller with his “Fin’s Revolution” series–a master of words, imagery, and human nature.
It’s been several years since I read them but there are certain scenes from Fin’s Revolution that still stand out vivid in my memory, haunting, comforting, in their terrible beauty. Fin’s story touched parts of my soul I wouldn’t have even known how to direct someone to find.
Her story became a part of my own.
“I’ll make my pen a bow and draw it across the blank page till it sings..." These words of mine, inspired, convicted, by the magic of Fin’s fiddle and the words of Bartimaeus, “Got to take the hurt’n, and turn it beautiful.”
So it was with this background of eagerness and anticipation, that I picked up A. S. Peterson’s latest work, Frankenstein: A Stage Adaptation, to read on my recent Alaskan cruise.
And my goodness, does A. S. Peterson deliver once again.
Personally, I struggled to get through the original Frankenstein book. The first half dragged for me. I was intrigued by the concepts but I found the delivery lacking. It just didn’t grip me in the way I expected it to.
A. S. Peterson has taken everything that made Frankenstein great, boiled and distilled it down to its clearest essence, and redelivered it as a concentrated and poignant elixir of insight.
The screenplay shifts the emphasis from long, meandering introspective thoughts to concise and dynamic dialogue. It fixes the pacing problem of the original work, building better suspense. The brooding lethargy of the novel gives way to breath-taking action in the screenplay.
–Yes, sometimes adaptations improve upon the original!
And lastly, Frankenstein: A Screenplay is a book of layers. It is a book to be reread and re-mined for precious gems buried deeper than a single reading could ever penetrate.
Buy the book on Amazon or directly from The Rabbit Room and shelf this beautiful cover where it can be seen and picked up again and again!
It’s been several years since I read them but there are certain scenes from Fin’s Revolution that still stand out vivid in my memory, haunting, comforting, in their terrible beauty. Fin’s story touched parts of my soul I wouldn’t have even known how to direct someone to find.
Her story became a part of my own.
“I’ll make my pen a bow and draw it across the blank page till it sings..." These words of mine, inspired, convicted, by the magic of Fin’s fiddle and the words of Bartimaeus, “Got to take the hurt’n, and turn it beautiful.”
So it was with this background of eagerness and anticipation, that I picked up A. S. Peterson’s latest work, Frankenstein: A Stage Adaptation, to read on my recent Alaskan cruise.
And my goodness, does A. S. Peterson deliver once again.
Personally, I struggled to get through the original Frankenstein book. The first half dragged for me. I was intrigued by the concepts but I found the delivery lacking. It just didn’t grip me in the way I expected it to.
A. S. Peterson has taken everything that made Frankenstein great, boiled and distilled it down to its clearest essence, and redelivered it as a concentrated and poignant elixir of insight.
The screenplay shifts the emphasis from long, meandering introspective thoughts to concise and dynamic dialogue. It fixes the pacing problem of the original work, building better suspense. The brooding lethargy of the novel gives way to breath-taking action in the screenplay.
–Yes, sometimes adaptations improve upon the original!
And lastly, Frankenstein: A Screenplay is a book of layers. It is a book to be reread and re-mined for precious gems buried deeper than a single reading could ever penetrate.
Buy the book on Amazon or directly from The Rabbit Room and shelf this beautiful cover where it can be seen and picked up again and again!
July 16, 2024
I’ve never read the original Frankenstein, nor seen any movie adaptation, so I can’t speak to its faithfulness to the story, but I really enjoyed it.
November 21, 2019
i wrote a five-star Amazon review after seeing Frankenstein performed by Studio Tenn—good heavens, what an experience—but today i read the play and filled it up with book darts and cried. These five stars are just for Elizabeth. i love the heck out of her.
October 20, 2018
"I understand this: the beauty of a broken heart is written in the scars of which it heals....These scars can be your glory."
There is no doubt, I will be re-reading this one many, many times.
There is no doubt, I will be re-reading this one many, many times.
December 6, 2018
I became an A.S. Peterson fan when he introduced me to Fin Button several years ago. I do not normally read stage plays, but I am glad this one came across my desk. It was an hour and twenty minutes of powerful, soul-searching reading. I will definitely read this again, and I plan to purchase his play The Battle of Franklin to read and add to my collection as well.
May 24, 2023
I love Frankenstein but not abridgements. However, I believe this to be the best radio play adaptation of its type that I have listened to.
January 12, 2021
My husband and i were fortunate enough to be able to attend the first run of this play in Nashville, staged by Studio Tenn. This original cast recording captures much of that powerful experience. It continues to bear fruit in my heart and in the life of our family, for which i am profoundly grateful.
November 15, 2018
Magnificent.
February 16, 2021
Listened to the audio drama. Fantastically done. Acting, sound design, music - all perfect.
Pete Peterson (AKA, Andrew Peterson's bro) wrote the script (originally as a stage play) and does a great job bringing out the theological themes inherent in the story.
Definitely disturbing in some ways, but not at all horror by modern standards. No jump scares or drawn-out creepy suspense. The horror of this story has more to do with the human heart than a scary monster.
"Don’t try and listen to this while you’re washing dishes or folding laundry. You’ll stop your work, I promise you.* This rendition is worth every minute of a quiet evening, seated with a cup of tea, eyes closed in rapt attention. The performance is completely immersive, brilliantly edited to be set against the creaking of a ship, the singing of birds, and the sounds of various chambers." - From Adam Whipple's review: https://rabbitroom.com/2020/11/seeing...
Interview with the scriptwriter (pts 1 & 2):
https://rabbitroom.com/2018/07/an-int...
https://rabbitroom.com/2018/08/an-int...
*I can attest
Pete Peterson (AKA, Andrew Peterson's bro) wrote the script (originally as a stage play) and does a great job bringing out the theological themes inherent in the story.
Definitely disturbing in some ways, but not at all horror by modern standards. No jump scares or drawn-out creepy suspense. The horror of this story has more to do with the human heart than a scary monster.
"Don’t try and listen to this while you’re washing dishes or folding laundry. You’ll stop your work, I promise you.* This rendition is worth every minute of a quiet evening, seated with a cup of tea, eyes closed in rapt attention. The performance is completely immersive, brilliantly edited to be set against the creaking of a ship, the singing of birds, and the sounds of various chambers." - From Adam Whipple's review: https://rabbitroom.com/2020/11/seeing...
Interview with the scriptwriter (pts 1 & 2):
https://rabbitroom.com/2018/07/an-int...
https://rabbitroom.com/2018/08/an-int...
*I can attest
September 20, 2024
When I read a play, I often wonder, "Which of my favorite scenes have been cut to make this work?" Blubberchopping is often the downfall of many literary adaptations, but such could not be accused of this work. Not only does Peterson capture the essence of the story, but he goes a step further in finding the story's heart, plucking it out of the mess pop culture has made it, and stitching it together again in this heart-wrenching play. Creating life from death is a terrible task everyone must endeavor upon, but what is it to be ashamed of our work? Frankenstein's monster is one of eloquence, often tearing the reader's/listener's hearts in two with themes of loneliness, grief, and loss. I believe this is what sets this adaptation apart from many others. As an actor and a lover of theater, it would be a dream of mine to fulfill any role in a production such as this.
October 8, 2024
Marvelous. Simply marvelous.
A.S. Peterson has created a high amount of tension and drama in two hours. Truly an amazing work of art. I would love to see an actual production of this play in a theater.
As with the original work, this is not the Frankenstein made popular by Universal with a flat head and bolts in his neck. This monster is a true literary nightmare, and Peterson makes you feel that deep in your bones as you progress through the story.
The audio engineering on this title was fantastic. The ambient sound was subtle and not overpowering. Footsteps and doors opening sounded like they were behind my shoulder instead of in my ear. Don’t be hasty; listen at 1.0x.
Highest recommendation, especially from Audible.
A.S. Peterson has created a high amount of tension and drama in two hours. Truly an amazing work of art. I would love to see an actual production of this play in a theater.
As with the original work, this is not the Frankenstein made popular by Universal with a flat head and bolts in his neck. This monster is a true literary nightmare, and Peterson makes you feel that deep in your bones as you progress through the story.
The audio engineering on this title was fantastic. The ambient sound was subtle and not overpowering. Footsteps and doors opening sounded like they were behind my shoulder instead of in my ear. Don’t be hasty; listen at 1.0x.
Highest recommendation, especially from Audible.
June 19, 2025
This is a masterpiece. Each line of dialogue is perfectly crafted to fit Enlightenment language, yet concise enough to pull at the heart strings and entice the mind. The characters come alive with minimal action beats, and I could "see" the stage play in front of me even though I was reading the text. I've never read the original Frankenstein, but this piqued my interest and makes me want to pick it up. I would highly recommend this little 100-page adaptation.
January 28, 2025
Listened to the audio version several years ago and now I’m revisiting it for the Rabbit Room Reading challenge.
I almost want to revisit the original novel again. Peterson’s adaptation is once again, more Biblically sound, so I want to explore the changes he made thematically.
But alas, I must wait till I finish school.
I almost want to revisit the original novel again. Peterson’s adaptation is once again, more Biblically sound, so I want to explore the changes he made thematically.
But alas, I must wait till I finish school.
June 30, 2019
Nicely done. Now I want to see the play.
This is the closest I've come to reading the original all the way through. I tried once and our made me horribly depressed, and I'm not easily depressed. I enjoyed this very much.
This is the closest I've come to reading the original all the way through. I tried once and our made me horribly depressed, and I'm not easily depressed. I enjoyed this very much.
August 2, 2020
INCREDIBLE. One of my favorite books, and it's a not even a book! I did not like the original by Mary Shelley, but this adaptation brings out some awesome existential questions that you have to chew on throughout.
October 28, 2025
I listened to the dramatized audio version and it was phenomenal. I usually don't like story-lines where they try and humanize the bad guy, but this was done really well and it really made me think. I listened to it hear through The Rabbit Room. https://omny.fm/shows/rabbit-room-pre...
July 25, 2019
Excellent stage adaptation!! Capsulizes the full weight (and maybe more) of Shelley's story. Would love to see the performance.
June 14, 2021
A well-written screen play based on Shelley’s book. The readers were easy to differentiate. This audio-play made me want to read the book.
August 31, 2021
Loved it! Now to get others at the community theatre to read it so we can produce it!
November 12, 2022
Great quick read
March 7, 2023
Amazingly haunting and poignant stage adaptation
March 24, 2023
I really enjoyed this play adaptation of the classic! I had never read a play before and it was an enjoyable experience!
October 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this adaptation of Frankenstein! I love how Peterson gave Elizabeth more of a voice in this version. It's really good. It's definitely worth a listen to in audible!.
December 2, 2024
I listened to the audiobook and thought this was an excellent adaptation. My only critique is that the ambient audio levels varied widely, making this difficult to read in the car.
November 19, 2020
Tremendous production. This will prove a great supplement to reading the text for students, but I listened to it just for fun---and it was a lot of fun!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews