by Lily Oh '27
Lightning flashes. Heartbeat echoes. The creature opens its eyes for the very first time. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has terrified and fascinated readers for over two centuries — and this fall, St. Mark’s is bringing that world to life on stage. Yes, you read that right: the fall play this year is Frankenstein, and it’s unlike anything we’ve done in a long time.
The fall play is one of the most awaited traditions of the year, and this production feels especially exciting. Instead of magic and comedy, we’re diving into something darker, more emotional — a story about loneliness, responsibility, and the ultimate moral question: what makes someone a monster?
So why Frankenstein? Director Mr. Kent explains: “Frankenstein was one of the first books I had to teach when I came to St. Mark’s. I honestly didn’t like it at first — confusing language and switching narrators. But I remember a student coming into class early after she read the first chapters where the creature takes over the narration, and she couldn’t stop talking about it. She had so much to say about the creature’s story, how cruel Victor seemed, then how cruel the creature seemed — questions, concerns, opinions — she couldn’t stop herself from letting it all out. She kept talking to everyone who came to class about everything she felt and understood. I had a whole lesson plan that I had to drop, and instead, I just let her run the class.” That moment didn’t leave him. Later, during COVID, when he watched the National Theatre Live stage version starring Benedict Cumberbatch, he fell in love with the play all over again.“I fell in love with the stage play version after watching it a half dozen times. I love how Nick Dear’s adaptation centers around the creature’s story and pushes the audience to see the world through his perspective. It limits the scope of the story for the audience but illuminates some of the most important moments. It’s also full of challenging roles for actors. The dialogue is dense (like Mary Shelley’s original text), and it forces everyone to be really clear about their actions and objectives.”
Rehearsals, as always, have been full of surprises. “Every day is a bit of a surprise,” Mr. Kent laughs. “I change my mind constantly — the shop is full of abandoned fireplaces and revolving stages. But the best moment is when actors finally put their scripts down and become their characters. There’s a pretty awesome sense of accomplishment that creeps across their faces — it’s awesome to see!” And what does he want the audience to feel when they leave? “My hope for every show is that the audience feels something. Sometimes it’s joy and laughter; other times it’s confusion or anger. It’s been a little while since we’ve performed a big-time dramatic play, so I’m excited for folks to push themselves to think deeply and have lots of questions and strong feelings when they leave the theater!”
So get ready! This won’t be a lighthearted fantasy. It will be raw. emotional. intense. And unforgettable. If you think you know the story of Frankenstein — you don’t. Not like this. Don’t just hear about it afterward. Be in the room. Come to the Black Box on November 12th to 15th to support your fellow St. Markers and experience this powerful production live!