Frankenstein Q&A
They came in and sat down in chairs in the middle of the stage. There was the presenter with a laptop and a screen to the side.
Ben was carrying a Corona bottle and a pack of crisps. Jonny looked well pleased.
The presenter explained how the Q&A would proceed. She had a few clips of the play to show as well as some questions, and then she would open the questions from the audience.
First clip is the Creature’s birth. We see Jonny struggling to get to his feet, and we get a long, nice shot of his ass. The girl next to me wolf-whistles and everybody laughs. Jonny puts his head in his hands. They also show a little bit of Ben’s creature.
The presenter asks how they developed the physicality of the creature. They again mention going to schools of autistic children, as well as Toby Sedgwick as director of movement.
The presenter talks about the book. They ask who in the audience has read it. A lot of people raise their hands. Danny looks doubtful in a teasing way. The presenter mentions that in the book, the story is mainly focused on Victor’s POV, so why did they change it to give the Creature the main role? Boyle says that the movies, no matter how good, created an image of the creature that has become skewed over time, and they wanted to go back to the original idea of the book, of an educated Creature. They wanted to re-address the balance.
Ben brings up the issue of Victor’s mother’s death, while taking care of his cousin, and his obsession with creating life from death. He believes that is why he doesn’t want to listen when his father brings it up, and that his mother’s death was the first spark of what developed afterward.
Second clip is of the Creature with DeLacey. Ben feels extremely embarrassed and says how awkward it is to watch himself.
Presenter asks about the makeup. Ben says it takes 2 and half hours (?!), and Jonny adds that it’s less 45 minutes for him, because he has no hair. Ben pretending to be annoyed says I’m sorry for keeping my hair for another role I have coming up. Here the presenter says she has two comments from her mother: one for Ben, to say hello to Sherlock (Ben: “I’ll pass it on.”) and one for Jonny, that she really wanted to see him in the buff. There’s much laughter.
They bring up the question of Original Sin and Ben has one of his long rambles, ending with a pretty passionate speech about there being people in this world, who live in such situations that they have to sin to survive, and then what is the meaning of sin, should these people be punished for sinning, even if it’s for survival.
Third clip is of Victor and the Creature meeting for the first time. Jonny says that watching it on screen is very difficult, because the music, the lighting, the performance, it is all done to the audience, and not meant to be filmed. He says Danny would probably not directed it the same way if it was for a film. “It’s all about being in the room.” He says. A girl from the audience asks them to add more performances so people can get a chance to see them in the theatre. He says he would love to. Lots of applause. He then mentions that they did have amazing feedback from around the world about the NTLive.
Presenter asks who is their favorite character to play. Ben says it’s pretty obvious who his favorite character is, but refuses to say it outright (Note: it’s the creature, of course). Jonny teases him about it and he admits that he loves playing Victor apposite Jonny’s Creature. “I love playing with his creature.” he says. Cue lots of laughter and Ben freezes in place. Jonny takes the beer bottle from Ben’s hands and takes a swig. Ben pretends to be drunk.
Presenter asks about performing in the buff. Jonny admits it was hard (I could hear sniggers here) and they were both terrified about it, but that Danny told them that people would think “what guts” of them. They praise Andreea (Padurariu, who plays the female creature and also has a naked scene) for being the first to be brave enough to choose to go naked in rehearsals and how that gave them courage.
The presenter opens the questions to the audience. I didn’t take detailed notes here, and most of them are available in YouTube, so I’ll just list the questions:
- how did their performances evolved throughout the play’s run and what does Danny have to say about it?
- what are the differences in acting/directing for a theatre production and a film?
- how did Danny direct both actors in both roles? Individually or together?
- was the play written with the Olivier stage in mind?
- a teacher from one of the schools for autism that they visited asks what other schools they went to.
At this last question Ben praises her for the care they give to their pupils and asks for a round of applause for her.
The Q&A ends.