Frankenstein, or The Vampire’s Victim

Frankenstein, or The Vampire’s Victim

Frankenstein, or The Vampire’s Victim (sometimes called Frankenstein, or The Model Man) is a musical burlesque in three acts written by Richard Henry (a pseudonym of Richard Butler and Henry Chance Newton). The music was composed by Meyer Lutz. The piece is a burlesque loosely based on the 1818 Mary Shelley novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus and the Adelphi Theatre drama based on the novel.

Opening at the Gaiety Theatre, London on 24 December 1887, the production was a flop, closing after a week. It starred Nellie Farren as Dr. Frankenstein and Fred Leslie as a monster who is in touch with his feminine side. The Victorian audiences found the piece too feminist in tone. In addition, the public was annoyed at George Edwardes, who had reduced the size of the inexpensive “pit” in favour of more “stalls”.[1] The piece also featured Marion Hood as the doctor’s love interest Tartina; E. J. Lonnen as the vampire Visconti; Emily Cross as Mary Ann; Sylvia Grey as Tamburina, goddess of the sun; Sybil Grey as Vanilla; the dancer John D’Auban as Demonico; and Frank Thornton as Schwank.

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