FRANKENSTEIN—THE MAN WHO BECAME GOD
[STAGE-PLAY]
[“Monster Revived,” Winnipeg Free Press, October 25, 1975] “For its first stage adaptation, New
Brunswick poet Alden Nowlan and Walter Learning, artistic director of Theatre New Brunswick,
went back to the original novel.
“ ‘Frankenstein—The Man Who Became God—was staged at Theatre New Brunswick in 1974.
Critics were unanimous in their praise for the production, and singled out the performance of
David Brown as The Creature, an ugly but pathetic giant who commits violent acts only because of
his rejection by humanity. Mr. Brown will re-create his stage role in the CBC radio version of
Frankenstein, a 90-minute production on CBC Stage, today.
“Mr. Learning is a producer, director and actor, originally from Newfoundland; Mr, Nowlan has
won two Governor Generals awards for poetry, written a collection of short stories, a novel and
dozens of magazine articles. Their collaboration has since been staged at the Vancouver
Playhouse and at Montreal's Centaur Theatre. Frankenstein is to open again in Fredericton
Monday, prior to an extensive tour of the Atlantic provinces. The London Little Theatre will
present it after Christmas, and next year the production will be staged in Montreal during the
Olympics.
“Monster roles are nothing new to Mr. Brown, a graduate of Dalhousie law school, who left the
courtroom for the theatre. He has played Count Dracda as well as Jekyll and Hyde…
“To Mr. Brown, Frankenstein, is a universal story of loneliness and alienation. ‘The Creature
wants desperately to be loved, but he is so hideous that even his creator rejects him. He is utterly
alone, utterly rejected, hated even by the being whom he looks upon as God. But every human
being has felt that way at least once in his life, if only for a few minutes. So utter loneliness and
utter alienation are things that everyone can understand,’ Mr. Brown said.
“Writing about his version of Frankenstein in a recent issue of Weekend Magazine, Mr. Nowlan
said, ‘…Radio, in which the horror makes its presence known only through shambling footsteps
and creaking doors, is the most effective medium for dramatizing a tale of supernatural terror.’”
ORIGINATION: C???, Halifax, Nova Scotia (CBC).
DURATION: October 25, 1975.
PERSONNEL: John Douglas (director), Steven Freygood (music, composer and conductor). Walter Learner
(scriptwriter), Alden Nowlan (scriptwriter).
CAST: Matthew Allen (William von Frankenstein), David Brown (The Creature), Richard Donat (Robert
Walton), Bill Fulton (Mr. Williamson/Conrad), Joan Gregson (Elizabeth Lavenza), David Hemblen
(DeLacey), Hamilton McClymont (The first seaman), Neil Munro (Count Victor von Frankenstein), Joan
Orenstein (Louise), David Renton (Henry Clerval), Joe Rutten (Fritz/The second seaman), Graham
Whitehead (Hans).
EXTANT RECORDINGS: Unknown.
CBC STAGE (HALIFAX)
[Saturday—
October 25, 1975 “Frankenstein—The Man Who Became God”