‘Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein’ at NJ’s Shakespeare Theatre is Intense with Superb Staging

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Karen Nowosad
Sean-Michael Wilkinson as Victor Frankensstein Photo – Avery Brunkus

A Review of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Now running at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) is a stunning production of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The play comes from author Mary Shelley’s original 1818 book of Frankenstein. This version of the play is written by David Catlin. It plays now through November 16th at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

In many ways this show is a perfect selection for the Halloween season. However, it is more than a scary story as it probes the mysteries of what makes a life worth living.

STNJ Artistic Director Brian B. Crowe directs the production. Press notes provide a quote from Director Crowe which gives a good description of the play:

Part gothic horror, part psychological examination of morality, this adaptation brings Shelley’s masterpiece to life and infuses it with the complex world of its brilliant author. Audiences can expect all the chills and thrills that are the hallmark of Shelley’s grotesque tale, as well as several electrifying surprises along the way.

The play centers around the creation of the Creature by Victor Frankenstein. It you are a fan of the original 1931 movie where Boris Karloff played this role, then you will need to adjust your recognition of what it looks like. There are no bolts or square head. Instead there is a figure who looks like a man but has distortions. This resemblance allows the audience to delve deeper into the psyche of that figure. With it comes questions of morality and just how far can or should a person go to create a life.

How the Story is Told

The play is actually a story within a story. It begins on a rainy June evening in 1816 at the Villa Diodati at Lake Geneva, Switzerland., A group gathers and a challenge by Lord Byron for a horror story competition starts. Eventually, Mary Shelley’s story prevails over all other competitors. So the play goes into the story we now call Frankenstein.

It is important to note that with this being a story told, the actors all play two roles. So at the competition gathering, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (Amber Friendly) is telling the story. However, the same actress plays Elizabeth when Mary tells her story.

Dr. John Polidori (Neil Redfield) appears as Henry, the very good friend of Victor Frankenstein (Sean-Michael Williamson). But before he appears in the story, Williamson plays the part of Percy Bysshe Shelley.

On that rainy night, a character named Claire Clairmont (Brooke Turner) listens to Mary describe her tale. She later plays Mother in Mary’s story.

The final member of the group hearing the tale is Lord Byron (Jay Wade). He takes on the role of The Creature in the strange tale being told.

The Story Mary Shelley Tells on that Rainy Evening

Victor (Sean-Michael Wilkinson) with his creation (Jay Wade) Photo – Avery Brunkus

When Victor Frankenstein studies about life, he decides to create one on his own. He digs up corpses and assembles what resembles a man. Through the use of electricity from a severe thunder and lighting storm, he brings the creature to life. The creature escapes and Frankenstein sets out to find him.

The play does an excellent job of probing into the psyche of the Creature. He realizes he is alone and he craves human contact. Eventually he comes to a home where a family lives. He makes a connection with a blind musician but it is short lived. The creature tries to find Frankenstein.

When he finds him, he asks for him to make a female companion for him. Frankenstein attempts it, but he is now questioning the validity of what he has done with these creations. He destroys the female rather than setting it out in the world. When the mate does not come about, the Creature attempts to hurt Frankenstein which he does when he kills Henry.

The sensitivity of the feelings the Creature displays are quite amazing. The thought that he will not be able to have a life with love and companionship but only rejection cause great despair.

All the actors in this play turn in great performances. But a special round of applause goes out to Jay Wade for his superb portrayal of the Creature.

A dark moment in the show Photo – Avery Brunkus

Staging Enhanced by Special Effects

There are many fine moments in this play that are greatly enhanced by the staging and special effects. The sounds of the thunder and lighting add that frightening feeling to the action taking place. The search for the Creation and the death scenes are well handled due to the work of the creatives in this show. This includes set designer Sarah Beth Hall; costume designer Yao Chen; and lighting designer Andrew Hungerford. Serving as sound designer is Ariana Cardoza; intimacy and fight director Rocio Mendez; and vocal and dialect coach is Julie Foh. Jackie Mariani is the production stage manager, with Alayna Domboski and Keys Newell rounding out the stage management team.

To Go to the Show

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein runs approximately 2 hours with one intermission.

Content Advisories from STNJ: the play explores themes of creation, loss, and humanity, with moments of horror and stylized violence. Haze will also be used during the performance. Recommended for audiences ages 12+.

Tickets are available at ShakespeareNJ.org or by calling 973-408-5600.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ShakespeareNJ.org.

Special Events for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

  • Symposium Series #1 — Tuesday, October 28th following performance: Engage with the cast during a lively post-show chat.
  • Know-the-Show Series— Thursday, October 30th starting at 6:45 p.m.: Learn about the playwright and the production from the Artistic Team prior to the show.
  • The performance on October 30th will also include Closed-Captioning for patrons who require those services.
  • The Monster Mash — Friday, October 31st starting at 6:30 p.m.: A spooky, festive pre-show event! Fun prizes and yummy nibbles included.
  • Symposium Series #2 — Saturday, November 1st following matinee performanceEngage with the cast during a lively post-show chat.
  • Sensory Seminar— Thursday, November 6th starting at 6:30 p.m.: Get a hands-on experience at the Theatre, designed for Blind/low-vision patrons.
  • The performance on November 6th will also include Audio Description for patrons who require those services.
  • Hobnob & Hang — Friday, November 7th following performance: Mix and mingle with fellow theatre lovers after the show!
  • Symposium Series #3— Saturday, November 8th following matinee performance: Engage with the cast during a lively post-show chat.
  • Storefront To Stage — Friday, November 14th starting at 6:30 p.m.: Connect with your local businesses before the show and during intermission.

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‘An Old-Fashioned Family Murder’ – A Whodunit at George Street Playhouse

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Karen Nowosad

Review – An Old-Fashioned Family Murder

Many theater goers enjoy going to see a “whodunit.” This genre of theater includes mystery stories involving some sort of crime being committed. There are elements of suspense and fun as it challenges the audience to figure out who is responsible. If you are in the mood to solve an onstage theatrical crime, go to George Street Playhouse and see An Old-Fashioned Family Murder.

Written by Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro, this production is the playwright’s 8th collaboration with George Street Playhouse. In the Letter from the Artistic Producers in the program it says:

. . . it’s a joy to welcome him here once again. His trademark wit, warmth, and clever storytelling are on full display in this hilarious whodunit that celebrates the fun of a great mystery and the thrill of live theatre.

The play is clever storytelling filled with dialog and events that will get you laughing. It has all the elements that a good whodunit needs to entertain audiences. And for this presentation at GSP, you will have the pleasure of seeing a first rate cast as they seek to either keep their crime hidden or seek to find the guilty person.

The Story Features a Variety of Characters

Under the direction of Larry Raben, the setting for the play is spring, 1943 in the grand room of a grand mansion somewhere is the rainy northwest. Special effects such as an intense thunder and lighting storm taking place add to the feel of a mystery. A well stocked bar in the room features bourbon. Colonel Claythorne owns the home and lives there with his two daughters: Dotty Claythorne (Caitlin Kinnunen) and Clarice Claythorne (Allison Scagliotti).

A party/get together takes place with guest of honor mystery playwright Arthur Whittington (Tony Carlin). Whittington is a very successful author and he looks forward to doing some work on his next novel at the Claythorne home. Little do they know how sloppy he is while writing.

An Old Fashioned Family Murder GSP – Photo Credit T. Charles Erickson

That aside, he announces that the Colonel has just changed his will which originally stated that in the event of his death, his estate was to be divided equally between the two daughters. Whittington holds a sealed envelope and suddenly the murder of the Colonel is announced. Now, the contents of the envelope become very important. But even more important is that everyone in the house is suddenly a suspect. In addition to Whittington and the two duaghters, the suspects include:Jasper Jamison (Michael Even Williams) and Mrs. Shirley Peck (Sally Struthers).

An Old Fashioned Family Murder GSP – Photo Credit T. Charles Erickson

Enter the Police and Another Piece of Intriguing News

By a strange twist of fate, Detective Paul Peck (James Taylor Odom) arrives to investigate. Coincidentally, he is the son of guest Mrs. Shirley Peck. His father and Mrs. Peck’s husband was also a detective. Deceased now, Detective Peck Sr. was known for his stunning skills solving crimes.

This fabulously talented cast all have reason to be suspects. But Sally Struthers as Mrs. Shirley Peck steals the show. She plays a mother who is trying to demonstrate what a brilliant detective her son is. She does not miss one opportunity to point out how wonderful he is, just like his father was. However, the real reason for her husband’s superb career suddenly leaks out. You might say is it intriguing news but also a bit of mystery solved as well.

Eventually, the killer is identified. There is no way you are going to get any more information about who it is from this review. After all, a good mystery is waiting to be solved when you go to see this show. You will be glad you did.

Tickets and Other Information

An Old-Fashioned Family Murder runs now through November 2, 2025. Tickets and more information are available at the George Street Playhouse website.

Run time is approximately 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission.

Special Performances Include:

  • Open Caption (English) – October 25th at 2PM
  • Audio Description – October 25th at 2PM
  • Symposium – October 26th at 2PM

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‘Bull Durham the Musical’ Brings the Joys of Baseball to Paper Mill Playhouse

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Karen Nowosad
The Durham Bull Mascot and the Company of Bull Durham
Photo credit Curtis Brown

It is said that baseball is America’s pastime. The game creates a culture all its own whether it’s on the professional level or right in our own communities. And that’s what Bull Durham The Musical does so well. It provides a look into the culture of a baseball minor league team from Durham, North Carolina. The community support for the Durham Bulls allows us to see the joys, the losses, and those great baseball superstitions.

Bull Durham the Musical brings the classic 1988 movie to life on the stage. With a book written by Ron Shelton, the story basically follows the one told in the movie with some changes made to accommodate a stage production. Direction of the entire show is by Marc Bruni.

Bull Durham the Musical is a very entertaining and enjoyable show to see. A superb cast acts, sings, and dances to tell a heart warming story. You’ll even have a chance to feel like you are at a real game as that Durham Bull leads the audience in a rousing rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

Bull Durham’s Superb Cast Tells the Story

The story line unfolds effortlessly through a superb cast. Broadway veteran Carmen Cusack is outstanding as Annie Savoy. With her beautiful singing, she portrays the many sides of her character. Annie is a part time community college teacher who also is the Durham Bulls part time behind the scenes coach. Each season, Annie focuses on one player and she applies her own somewhat unusual ideas of how a player can do his best for the team as well as for himself.

Carmen Cusack as Annie Savoy – Photo credit Curtis Brown

This season, Annie’s choices are between Crash Davis and Nuke LaLoosh. Nik Walker plays Crash Davis. With his outstanding singing voice, he portrays his character as the mature player that he is. This is his last chance to try to make it to “the show.” But the team management wants him to help develop their new pitching star, Nuke LaLoosh. Will Savarese does a wonderful job of capturing Nuke’s main problem: too much unfocused energy! He portrays this energy through his antics both on and off the field. Seeing the need to be fulfilled, Annie makes her selection by taking on Nuke. However, her real love interest is Crash.

There are several side plots including Millie (Ashlyn Maddox) who wants to marry and does this season. She lands Jimmy (Andrew Poston). Their scenes both planning and actually marrying right on the ball field are some of the funniest in the show.

The Bulls break their losing streak and have a most amazing season. Their road trip is hilarious and Annie’s theories about reading poetry and wearing items under a uniform make for some good laughs.

Additional actors in the show include Joel Ashur as Larry and James Moye as Skip. Nick Wyman is in the announcer’s booth as Uncle Roy.

Music and Dancing

Susan Werner’s music and lyrics are energizing as they contribute to the development of the story and the characters as well. Some of the most impressive songs include: “The Church of Baseball,” “I Believe,” “Winning,” “Every Woman Deserves to Wear White,” and “The Show.”

One of the outstanding dance numbers – Photo Credit Curtis Brown

Equally impressive are the high energy, exciting dance moments in the show. At times, you feel like you are seeing a ball game in progress danced out instead of being played on the field.

The amazing choreography comes from Joshua Bergasse. It features an excellent ensemble including: Mike Baerga, Ellie Barone, Tre’ Booker, Jacob Burns, Daniel DiPinto, Benny Elledge, Diana Huey, Ashton Lambert, Brian Shimasaki Liebson, Jessi Little, Carson Hampton Palmer, Valentina Shelton, Jake Trammel, Dori Waymer, Matt Wiercinski, Casey Wortham, and Blake Zelesnikar.

About Going to the Show

The run time of the show is approximately 2 hours, 30 minutes with one intermission. There is a suggested age range of 13+ because of a content warning involving adult language and mature themes.

There is an effects warning in place involving theatrical haze, flashing lights, strobe effects, and loud sounds which are featured in this production.

Bull Durham continues to run through November 2, 2025. Tickets may be purchased at the Paper Mill’s website.

With construction being done on site, parking is available on limited basis. Shuttle service is also available. More details are on the website.

The Carriage House is currently closed. However, three concessions are open including the Durham Dugout, Gallery Cafe, and Lobby Bar. The evening I attended was perfect outdoor weather so eating outside at the Durham Dugout made us feel like we were at ball park!

Photo of entrance to Durham Dugout – Photo by K. Nowosad
At the Durham Dugout Concessions – Good food including great hot dogs Photo – K. Nowosad

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