As a story, Frankenstein feels like a pretty good fit for the folks of Trouble Puppet Theater Company. It's a classic tale, with monsters and dark imagery of the sort that Trouble Puppet excels at. It's also ripe for fresh interpretations, which Trouble Puppet always enjoys.
Connor Hopkins, who likes to introduce himself as the "artistic director and janitor" of Trouble Puppet, has created a version of the Frankenstein story that's not quite like any previous adaptation, or like the original novel itself. In Hopkins' version, the monster isn't created entirely from humans, but is "a hybrid between human tissue and plant tissue," created by Victor Frankenstein and his wife Elizabeth. As co-creator of the monster, Elizabeth takes on a much more active and involved role in this version of the story (which is another way in which this version of the story is unique). "In the book," Hopkins says, "Elizabeth is sort of this virginal, angelic character who does nothing but get killed by the creature out of spite."
Indigo Rael, who plays Elizabeth in this version, loves the change. "I have a lot more to do than just stand around and... get killed," she says. "I enjoy being the brains of the operation."
Frankenstein: The Trouble Puppet Show runs through November 22 at Salvage Vanguard Theater.
