Playing with Fire (After Frankenstein) (Field) - Acting Edition by Barbara Field, adapted from Mary Shelley's novel (1989) Paperback

by Barbara Field

As the play begins, an exhausted and dying Victor Frankenstein has finally tracked down his Creature in the lonely, frozen tundra of the North Pole. Determined to right the wrong he has committed by, at last, destroying the malignant evil he believes he has created, Frankenstein finds that he must first deal with his own responsibility and guilt for, as their fascinating confrontation develops, it is evident that the Creature has become a pathetic, lonely and even sensitive being who wants only to find love and that he, Frankenstein, by intruding into the very secrets of life, is truly the evil one. As the two debate, scenes from the past flash Frankenstein's young bride, whom the Monster killed out of pique when the scientist failed to provide him with a mate of his own; the brilliant, quick-witted Professor Krempe, Frankenstein's university mentor; and moments between the youthful Victor and his brother, who also fell victim to the Creature's vengeance. Ultimately the exchange between Frankenstein and the Creature becomes a confrontation between parent and child, scientist and experiment, rejection and love, and even good and evil culminating in the Creature's agonizing question, "Why did you make me?" It is a question the exhausted Frankenstein cannot answer and, as the play ends, the Monster lives on, condemned to pass his remaining days in the awful loneliness he has so desperately sought to escape.

Genres: Plays, Science Fiction

Paperback

First published October 1, 1989

Reviews

[Julie's Book Land Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Date Started: November 9th 2024
Date Finished: November 13th 2024

Characters: Victor Frankenstein, The Creature/Adam Elizabeth & Professor Krempe

Rating: 6 🌟 s

Themes:
Science, Death/Death Of Parent, Monster, Creating life

Review:
I read this play after JC Chasez released a musical Concept album called Playing With Fire which was also inspired by Mary Shelly's Frankenstein in which he made songs for this and now I can honestly say I trust my favorite singer's taste in what he reads and I also want to thank Jimmy Harry (the son of Barbara) for sharing his mother's work with JC's fans. Highly recommend this and their album and I hope they get to remake this for Broadway in the future.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many years ago I read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in college and enjoyed it.

I never heard of Ms. Fields Playing with Fire until recently when I heard that my favorite singer JC Chasez (from Nsync) was releasing a musical concept album based on it.
Ever the faithful fan, I sought out a copy of this script so I could better appreciate the forthcoming musical album.

This story shows us the meeting of Dr. Frankenstein & his creature, as they face the questions that surround their relationship. It shows many parallels to things we face today in modern times.
Why did our creator create us? Are creators responsible for their creations? To what point are they responsible for the consequences of what they create? Are we to push the limits of creation to the point of foul? How much does technology influence our ability to love & connect?
Very profound things to ponder as we deal with the consequences of the cell phone/social media age, artificial intelligence and even things such as IVF.

Overall, an interesting and thought provoking "after story". I hope that JC's musical concept album leads to some funding for a Broadway run or something similar as I feel the story would be even more profound to actually see on stage and would resonate greatly with people as we navigate the merging of scientific/technological advancements with our humanity.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This play is a final conversation between a scientist and his experiment, a master and his creature, a father and son. It is the answer to so many questions each of them has, yet there is not enough time for all the answers. It's a breakdown of the emotions each of them experiences both at the other's hand and from the world at large. It tries to answer the ever-present question of "Why am I here?". It's powerful and captivating.
I am very glad that I read this play after listening to the musical concept album Playing With Fire. Jimmy Harry and JC Chasez had fantastic source material from which to cultivate the lyrics to their songs. I have been saying, since listening to the album, that I could immediately see the entire musical on stage. Now that I've read the play, not only can I see the musical, but I can hear each and every song and where it fits in the puzzle. I wish I had seen this play performed at the Guthrie, but I am beyond excited to see it on Broadway at some point in the future.

[Mark Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sharp, terse story with quick beats and transitions. Obviously there are connections between Dr. Frankenstein and Prometheus in mythology, but it is fun to conjecture about the reach of the story to current social issues (cloning and AI). As with any spin-off, connection to the original helps fill in the gaps but Field takes it further (or at least, on a different tangent) by setting the entire play on an ice floe and using flashbacks.

In the ends of a great director, I am positive it would be a great play to see!

[Kaley · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bit difficult to follow on paper

[Rachel Trimble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the Frankenstein story I have been waiting for for a long time - this is the story I want to read and hear about - the two meeting at the end of the road and forced to come face to face with each other. I would love to produce this as a show, and anyone who is a fan of Shelley's Frankenstein will enjoy this.

Would recommend?
Absolutely.