Review: 'The People Vs. Frankenstein' Asks Who the Monsters Really Are

Attleboro Community Theatre's "The People Vs. Frankenstein" is a spellbinding courtroom drama with a touch of gothic horror in the mix. The play made its world premiere on February 28.

Writers Nicola Cuti and Kevin M. Glover pay tribute to author Mary Shelley's classic about the demented Dr. Frankenstein and his frightening creation by asking what would happen if the monster had to fight to survive in a court of law.

Geoff White (Scrooge in 2023's "A Christmas Carol") is Frankenstein's monster, Maxwell Berg, accused of the strangulation murder of Victor Frankenstein on a whaling ship off the coast of Boston. For the defense: charming Southern lawyer Cornwall Bellini (magnificently played by the show's director Anthony J. Cox). The prosecution is represented by the bombastic Alexander Coopersmith (John Softcheck).

Ernest (Anthony Gaudette), Victor's handsome and emotionally tormented brother, is present to see Berg punished for his crime.

Olivia (Ruthie Withers) is sympathetic to Berg, and hopes that he is freed. She tells Ernest he has been blinded by devotion to Victor, who "pushed the boundaries of science" by reviving the dead.

Witnesses are called. Shocking revelations are made. Berg is made out to be a savage animal, an "affront to nature." We learn he rescued many children from a burning orphanage. Despite that information, Berg appears doomed, until a surprise witness is brought in for his defense.

The pacing is taut and the characterizations are well-defined. Cox, a veteran actor and director, underscores the drama with maximum dramatic tension.

White, who mostly communicates in grunts, has a menacing physical presence, yet there's a tenderness lingering just under the surface of this damaged man. Christopher Verleger ("Picasso at the Lapin Agile") is wonderfully acerbic as the no-nonsense Judge Gardener.
Angel Connell gives a chilling turn as the deceptive ship captain who testifies against Berg.

The real standout in this production is Marissa Simas ("Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery") as the cunning and manipulative Petra. This is a woman who dishes the dirt on Victor Frankenstein and Maxwell Berg. Her recalling of the time she spent with these two men is thoroughly captivating. Sporting an Eastern European accent, Simas is darkly humorous in the role, which could easily have slid into caricature. The fact that it did not is testament to the skill of the performance.

"The People Vs. Frankenstein" weaves justice, vengeance, and romance into a twisted and enthralling theatrical experience. A story like this makes us question the way we judge others based solely on their appearance. Sometimes the real monsters are the ones who look absolutely ordinary.

"The People Vs. Frankenstein" runs through March 16 at Attleboro Community Theatre, 71 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA. Running time is two hours, 15 minutes with intermission. For tickets, call 508-226-8100 or visit attleborocommunitytheatre.net.