All of the resources of the National Theatre are on full display, with set pieces rising from the stage or flying in from above. Steam and fire fill the air, and rain drenches the Creature as it lays in a bed of soft grass. The National Theatre’s high-definition video goes a long way towards capturing the texture of the production, in this writer’s view.
Audiences may be divided on which actor they prefer in each role, as both provide different takes on Shelley’s characters. For this writer’s money, Cumberbatch gives a more sympathetic and pitiable vibe to both of his roles, while Miller tends towards a wilder, more furious portrayal of his––which is why the Cumberbatch as Creature version may be more emotionally satisfying. Seeing Miller play up the more villainous aspects of Frankenstein’s scientific fervor may lead viewers to question who the true monster of the play is.
With both versions streaming online, and both clocking in at a tight, intermission-free two hours, the option to watch both versions in quick succession may be tempting. The elements that illuminate the production––the literal illumination of the lightbulbs, and dramatic illumination like Naomie Harris’ Elizabeth––are visible in both editions. You too may find back to back viewing of these two castings as a way to better appreciate the subtle differences between the two leads.
Shelley’s story gives the reader a view of the cruelty of the world, and points towards the difficulty of understanding one’s place in it. Boyle’s production captures that struggle, as the audience watches a man attempting to stand on his own, in the center of a stage as wide as the Earth itself.
