The Frankenstein Rubrics is showing October 7-22, 2022! We’re taking a look at our incredible cast and the characters who inspired their roles in this production.
The Inspiration VS The Actor
Mary Shelley (1791 – 1851):
Born to famous radical writers of the time, William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, one could argue Mary was destined for greatness. Mary’s mother died a few days after giving birth to her daughter and William Godwin remarried. Having met Percy Shelley in her teens, Mary was instantly drawn to him, and with the help of her stepsister, Claire Clairmont, they were able to meet in secret. In 1816, at the age of 18, Mary started writing what would become Frankenstein while staying at Lake Geneva with Percy, Claire, Lord Byron, and John Polidori. Mary would go on to have five pregnancies with Percy Shelley, only the last of which resulted in a child who would live into adulthood. Frankenstein became highly popular, but Mary wasn’t satisfied and released a 3rd edition in 1831 with some major edits. While not her only published writings, Frankenstein remains Mary’s most popular, read, and beloved novel of today.
Hannah Williams:
Hannah Williams (she/her) is a director, actor, producer, and intimacy choreographer. As an actor, some of her favorite past roles include Sibella (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Parkway Playhouse) and Percy (The Spitfire Grill, Dunes Summer Theatre). Hannah can often be found working at the Asheville Symphony, Theatrical Intimacy Education, and The National Women's Theatre Festival. She is a member of the Arts Equity Coalition with the Asheville Area Arts Council and is Chair of the Disability Inclusion Committee with the Southeastern Theatre Conference. More information about Hannah can be found at https://mshannahcat.com and pictures of her cats can be found on Twitter and Instagram at @mshannahcat.
The Inspiration VS The Actor
Percy Shelley (1792 – 1822):
Today Percy Shelley is recognized as one of the most influential poets of his time. However, during his life, his ideas were thought of as too radical. He was a fan of Mary Godwin’s parents’ writings and visited Mary’s home to have discussions with her father – while secretly starting to court Mary, despite his current marriage to another woman. When Percy’s first wife committed suicide, he then officially took Mary as his wife – giving her the name Mary Shelley that we all recognize today. For the most part, Percy and Mary had a loving relationship, despite some issues here and there. When Percy was sailing off the coast of Italy with some friends, a storm came and sank their boat and all three men drowned. Percy Shelley tragically died at the age of 29. When cremated, his heart did not burn, and Mary Shelley kept it until her death.
Evan Eckstrom:
Mr. Eckstrom is thrilled to be a part of his third production with The Magnetic. Previous roles here include Roger in Beautiful Cages and as a member of the cast in Algorithm & Blues: A Dating Sketch Show. Before moving to Asheville in 2019, Evan ran a grassroots company called Strange News Theatre. Getting to know the local community has been a pleasure, and he hopes to continue growing in the arts alongside such talented individuals.
The Inspiration VS The Actor
Claire Clairmont (1798 – 1879):
Claire Clairmont is mostly forgotten today. She was Mary Shelley’s stepsister, the daughter of Mary Jane Clairmont, whom William Godwin married after his first wife’s death. She was instrumental in helping Percy Shelley and Mary develop their relationship by keeping their secrets and covering for them when needed. Claire had a relationship with the famous poet Lord Byron, and it is because of her desire to follow him to Switzerland that Percy, Mary, and Claire were all there for Byron’s ghost story writing proposition. Claire had one child in her life, a daughter sired by Byron, whom Byron took from her and left in a convent until the child’s death at age 5. Claire lived the rest of her life out of the limelight hoping for peace and quiet.
Morgan Miller
Western Carolina University MT 19’. Gretchen in Boeing Boeing at Parkway Playhouse, Nancy in Oliver and Miss Sandra in All Shook Up at HART and Lilly in Court of the Grandchildren at The Magnetic Theatre. I am so excited for my second show with the phenomenal folks at The Magnetic Theatre. I want to thank my Family and Friends for their endless love and support, I couldn’t do it without you guys. I would also like to thank the cast and crew for all of their hard work and kindness.
The Inspiration VS The Actor
Lord Byron (1788 – 1824):
Considered the most famous Romantic poet of and during his time, Byron’s nature for sexual promiscuity and his poor management of money overshadowed him in life. He was also troubled by his deformed right foot that caused him to limp and attempted to hide it in specially made shoes. Byron eventually left England for good when his debts piled up and the rumors of his scurrilous behavior (some of which were true) piled higher. In the summer of 1816, he suggested his famous ghost story writing contest which led Mary Shelley to eventually write Frankenstein. In that time, he also had a relationship with Mary’s stepsister, Claire Clairmont, who gave birth to their daughter – a child sadly taken away from Claire and neglected by Byron who then died at the age of 5. Byron went on in life to help the Greeks in their war for independence but fell ill with fever. He died at the age of 36.
Daniel Moore:
Daniel Moore is a Mars Hill based Actor & Director who studied Theatre at Greensboro College. He has been an actor in the WNC community for well over a decade. Some of his recent acting credits include; Actor in Algorithm and Blues at The Magnetic Theatre, Marvin in Dark of the Moon at Parkway Playhouse, Mendel in Indecent by Paula Vogel (NC Premiere) at The Magnetic Theatre, he was also an actor and director for the dramatic series How to be a Human, or at Least Try at NC Stage. Other directing credits include The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, both at Parkway Playhouse.
The Inspiration VS The Actor
John Polidori (1795 – 1821):
Despite his desire to be a writer, Dr. John William Polidori excelled in the sciences and achieved his Doctor of Medicine degree at the age of 19. He was hired by Lord Byron in 1816 to accompany the famous poet as his personal physician. Through this arrangement Polidori would go on to meet the Shelley’s and Claire Clairmont. Byron’s famous ghost story writing contest prompted Polidori to write a novella called The Vampyre. This was the first version of the modern vampire we think of today. Standing on the edge of the circle that held the pinnacle writers of the time, Polidori never achieved his writing ambitions during his life. Although his death at the age of 25 was ruled as natural causes, it is widely believed he committed suicide.
Strother Stingley:
Strother has been performing professionally for 16 years, ranging in roles from comedian to villain, Scottish middle aged man to Southern octogenarian to deranged dentist and so on. He's performed locally and has toured the US Northeast and Midwest. Musicals, comedies, straight plays, improv ...whatever the genre, he finds fulfillment in it. He holds a bachelor's in theatre from FSU and has learned a great deal more on various stages (and a few screens).
The Inspiration VS The Actor
Victor Frankenstein:
Victor Frankenstein is the protagonist of Mary Shelley’s most famous novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Victor is a young man who becomes infatuated with the works of previous alchemical scientists and hopes to be able to create life. He attends college at Ingolstadt to study the current sciences and soon begins his obsession with creating life anew. He eventually creates his Creature out of deceased body parts but is horrified when he successfully animates a spark of life that awakens his experiment. Victor abandons his Creature, falls into sickness, and tries to remove all knowledge of his achievement from his memory until he comes face to face with personal tragedies caused by his creation. He eventually follows his Creature into the arctic north with the intent to destroy him but winds up on a sailing vessel and dies shortly after relaying his life story. It is widely considered that Victor Frankenstein is based on Mary Shelley’s own husband, Percy Shelley.
Jon Stockdale:
Jon Stockdale appeared earlier this year as Demetrius/Oberon in Midsummer 4 Haters at the Magnetic, in collaboration with Nemesis Theatre Company. He's happy to be back! Other of his favorite past roles include Hamlet with the Montford Park Players, Danny in The Submission with Different Strokes!, Roland in Constellations at 35below, and Oliver and Silvius in As You Like It with NC Stage.
The Inspiration VS The Actor
The Creature:
The Creature is Victor Frankenstein’s experiment come to life. Although never given a name, he is referred to as Monster, Dæmon, Devil, etc. by his creator. The Creature, brought to life as a child, without any knowledge or understanding, is shunned and chased away by town folks due to his appearance. It is worth pointing out though that the text’s primary description of his appearance is yellow eyes and this following passage:
“His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.”
This can leave much to the imagination in terms of the Creatures “hideousness.” The Creature eventually finds a hiding spot next to a family’s cabin in the country. He eventually learns to speak and read by overhearing them teach language to a young Turkish woman. Then discovering Victor’s journal, which has the details of his origins, in a coat he took when fleeing Victor’s lab, the Creature pursues Victor hoping to punish him for his rejection. It is important to note that while the Creature is the one harmed by Victor’s actions, it is also the Creature who murders innocent relations and family members of Victor.
When Victor eventually dies the Creature makes an appearance to see his “father” and repent for the murders he has committed. He then leaves into the arctic wastes with plans to die himself.
Daniel Henry:
Daniel Henry is excited to be back with The Magnetic Theatre once again! Since his last time on this stage he has been involved with a few productions around the Asheville area, whether it be stage or film. Daniel has been acting since the summer of 2011, and plans to move to Atlanta in the coming months to take the next step in his career. Some of his favorite roles include (but not limited to): Jeff in Elipsis Theatres production of Lobby Hero, Jax in Trash Mouth Productions film Lovestruck (premiering at Cat Fly Film Festival October 2022), Tybalt in American Myth Centers production of The Ballad of Romeo and Juliet.
The Frankenstein Rubrics is showing October 7-22, 2022! Grab your tickets here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=132412