Manual Cinema’s Frankenstein is presented this year as part of the Public Theater’s Under the Radar Festival. For the last fifteen years, this organization has provided a high-visibility platform to support artists from diverse backgrounds who are redefining the act of making theater. For me, Manual Cinema is far from under the radar as I have seen two of their previous productions, the extraordinary Ada/Ava and Mementos Mori. This particular production significantly upsizes the scope of their work.
This company is aptly named Manual Cinema as their work involves creating a movie by hand right in front of an audience. The cinema is black and white silent movies with music. The imagery is projected on a screen using puppetry and actors. In Ada/Ava, for example, the movie was created using four overhead projectors shined onto a screen. The entertainment is not only watching the finished, well-directed product but also the choreography of the puppeteers using their materials. The creativity is awesome to behold.
In Frankenstein, they took the four projector format and added three additional and unique sections, including a stationary camera. The musicians played an original score with numerous instruments including a five octave marimba and various implements to create sound effects. Frankenstein needs thunder and lightning after all. The show was presented in ninety minutes with less than a dozen individuals, some playing multiple roles delineated with quick wig and costume changes. The resulting cinema was detailed, visually arresting storytelling with a gorgeously moody score. A two dimensional cutout projected on a screen shed a tear and the emotion registers.
The coordination and movement by these artists was jaw-dropping in its complexity. I found myself watching the screen then focusing on the methods then marveling at the quality of the music underscoring this silent film. While the visual treats are endless, the storytelling is what makes Manual Cinema’s work so effective. In Frankenstein, they faithfully combine Mary Shelley’s famous book with a biography of how she came to create the tale. Add thunder and lightning – and a healthy dash of unspoken witticisms – and violà, a cinematic creature is born.
I follow Manual Cinema and make sure to see their work whenever possible. This production of Frankenstein opened my eyes to their future possibilities. The work is evolving on to a grander scale and continues to be very exciting theater. Ada/Ava was adorable and should not be missed. Frankenstein is a revelation and, I hope, the launching pad for more greatness and even bigger audiences to come.
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