Courtesy of Audacious Immersive
Audio By Carbonatix
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has been resurrected with an up-close and interactive show from Audacious Immersive that’s hitting breweries throughout Denver. Beer and Frankenstein – what could be a better combo for the spooky season?
“We did a lot of research trying to see different versions of Frankenstein that have been around, and there are not a lot of adaptations loyal to Shelley’s book,” says artistic director and actor Ren Manley, who portrays Dr. Victor Frankenstein. “The book is kickass, so we wanted to find a way to honor the kickass-ness of this book on stage.”
This one-hour adaptation of Shelley’s novel, written by local playwright Alyssa Bosch, combines drama, comedy and immersive elements to create an action-packed traveling trunk show. The next performances will happen at Fiction Beer Company in Denver on October 18 and 19, followed by shows at Fiction’s Parker location on October 25, 26 and 31. Audience members don’t just watch Dr. Frankenstein create his monster; they also help him, waving props and interacting with the cast to bring the ghastly creation to life.
“The actors aren’t just playing people; we are trees, fire, fog and help create the setting,” says ensemble member Joaquin Liebert. “I love Audacious because there is always a connection with the audience. Whether it’s getting them to join in on the countdown to ‘It’s alive!’ or presenting the body parts to them – all those things make the audience part of the experience. As we go, I know we’ll find even more things to do as we play with the audience and see how it works.”
The plot follows the classic story of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a scientist obsessed with creating life who instead creates a hideous monster. Wracked with guilt over his creation, Victor tries to abandon the creature, but the consequences spiral into a devastating tale of loss, revenge and what truly makes a monster.
Unlike many modern adaptations, Audacious Immersive stays true to much of Shelley’s original language and plot points, even incorporating the oft-forgotten voyage to Antarctica. This version, however, strips away much of the book’s epistolary structure (the story is told through letters) in favor of a more direct retelling that unfolds in real time.
“It was fun from a playwriting perspective to really try to keep it as true to Mary Shelley’s original vision as possible,” says Bosch. “Frankenstein has been done a lot, but I think even more so than Dracula, it’s deviated from the novel. I changed the structure so that the story was delivered in lines rather than as a bunch of narration. Because this is a play, you want to see the action rather than being told what is going on. There are as many pieces of Mary Shelley’s poignant work as I can fit in there, and I did my best to keep all the social justice themes in the story that are often cut.”
One such example is Bosch’s inclusion of the character Justine. She is a nanny for Victor’s brother, William, who is falsely accused of murder and executed by the state.
“Justine’s story is just as relevant as ever,” says Bosch. “There’s a line in the script that says ‘Let’s rely on the justices of our judges to find her innocence’ – and they don’t. That’s one of the most terrifying parts of the play. That’s real, and you don’t need the monster for that horror to occur; to this day, our justice system locks up and executes people who we find out decades later have been exonerated.”
Audacious Immersive is no stranger to taking classic stories and adding a bold, interactive twist. Known for traveling productions such as Drunk Christmas and Space Conflicts, the company has established itself in Denver’s immersive-theater scene by investing in original shows (often themed around holidays) and performing them in multiple venues.
“It wouldn’t be Audacious if it wasn’t interactive,” says Shawna Urbanski, ensemble member and company manager. “Having been with Audacious for six or seven years, I can confidently say we have mastered Drunk Christmas, and I see Frankenstein as an evolution of our style. It’s portable, like our regular trunk shows, but it’s so much more. Even though we’re not putting up set pieces, the audience becomes our set; they become the world with us.”
Despite the inherent spookiness of Frankenstein, this production has a healthy dose of humor that makes it accessible to a wide range of audiences. “The script itself is so dark and horrifying that I think the comedy is necessary to balance those heavy emotions with humor and joy,” says director Logan Custer. “Although these characters are larger than life, it’s real for them. I’d say it’s about 50 to 60 percent comedy and 40 t0 50 percent drama.”
For those who enjoy the Halloween season but don’t want a full-blown, terrifying haunted house experience, Frankenstein strikes the perfect balance between horror and fun. “Anybody who’s ever read Frankenstein or is a fan of the story will love this,” says Manley. “People who like Halloween but don’t necessarily want scare-your-pants-off terrifying; that’s what we lean into. It’s okay for children; maybe it’s a little too spooky for kids under ten, but there’s no swearing or anything.”
This welcoming and playful approach is characteristic of Audacious Immersive’s style, making the event accessible to all attendees, regardless of prior experience with immersive.
“We always try to build in an opt-in element,” Manley explains. “You don’t have to play if you don’t want to, but you can join if you do. We do theater for people who don’t necessarily go to theater regularly. I don’t think a theater head would hate our show, but we aren’t going to do the version the DCPA does. Ours is going to be a more fun and casual version of a play. But I believe theater fans will appreciate what we do, because you don’t have to sit there passively, dressed up after paying hundreds of dollars for your ticket in the back. With us, you pay about $35 and you’re right in the front row.”
Frankenstein, October 18 and 19, Fiction Beer Company, 7101 East Colfax Avenue, and October 25, 26 and 31, Fiction Beer Company, 19523 Hess Road, #103, Parker. General admission is $25, and front-row seats are $35. Learn more at audaciousimmersive.com.