Upper School Play Frankenstein Explores What It Means to Be Human

In four sold-out performances in the McGregor Theater, 19 talented Upper School actors performed the 2023 Upper School play Frankenstein. This production was directed by Dan Pacheco, stage managed by senior Sophia Kistler, and the lighting design was by senior Jack Justus. According to Mr. Pacheco, Nick Dear brings new life to Mary Shelley’s classic novel with this adaptation that charges us to reflect on the choices we make in our relentless pursuit of being “good-ish” and our commitment to stand against evil and oppression.

The adaptation of Mary Shelley’s gothic novel retells the well-known story from the point of view of the Creature (Brayden Brisbois ’27). The Creature is created by Victor Frankenstein (Lynden Kim ’25), a troubled scientist who has grown frustrated by traditional scientific methods. Ego and dark ambition drive the scientist to play with life itself and succeed in bringing the Creature to life. Childlike in innocence but grotesque in form, the bewildered Creature is abandoned in a hostile world by its horror-struck maker. Due to its terrifying appearance, the Creature experiences cruelty, prejudice, and fear wherever it goes. The Creature slowly learns the ways of the world and is educated by De Lacey (Gigi Policicchio ’24), a blind person who provides the Creature with the kindness, empathy, and friendship it desperately craves. However, when De Lacey’s family turns on the Creature, its hope of finding a kinder place in the world is dashed.

The performance began with a visually stunning opener choreographed by sophomore Paige Minton. The spectacle continued throughout the 105-minute production with the incredible lighting design by Jack Justus as well as student-created projections and sound cues (Els Page ‘24, Ross Johnson ‘26, Sophia Kistler ‘24 and RJ Canchola ‘27). Adding to the student design for the performance, Kaylynn Yang ‘24, Elina Shook ‘25, Kate D’Amaro ‘24 and Emily Wallis ‘25 designed and applied the specialty makeup that helped to convey the characters for the entire cast.