SHEPHERD EXPRESS

“Stylishly immersive... deeply dramatic and atmospheric”

“Skylight Music Theatre harnesses the power of Shelley’s story with impressive visuals that stalk their way through a condensed 90-minute stage narrative... Seth K. Hale brings a strong sense of human gravity to the title role of Victor Frankenstein... Miss Kyle Blair brings a towering, powerful presence to the stage in the role of Frankenstein’s creature... Stephanie Staszak does a remarkable job lending the stage warmth and tenderness in the role of a woman who is deeply concerned with the distance she’s feeling... The visuals are a flashy combination of furniture, scenery and well-executed animated projections which provide a richly immersive atmosphere for a very powerful horror story... Scenic designer Jonathan Berg-Einhorn has cleverly crafted a gorgeous performance space that contrasts the grand architecture of human intention with the shadowy darkness of reckless human ambition.”

MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL

“Eerily relevant”

“Skylight Music Theatre’s Frankenstein: The Musical is a pair of interlocking tragedies, one eerily relevant, the other inherently human. Hewing closely to Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, this musical gives us unbridled tech bro Victor Frankenstein (Seth K. Hale), who unleashes unintended devastation upon his world, and The Creature (Miss Kyle Blair), born into confusion with a father who immediately abandons him.”

“The Creature sings and speaks the most elevated, philosophic words in the show, working out his existential crisis in front of us. Also, the musical is a running dialogue between creator and Creature... (Seth K.) Hale... is a strong presence.”

“Composer Mark Baron and writer-lyricist Jeffrey Jackson respect Shelley’s novel to the point of including her frame story, with a sea captain (Joe Picchetti) sharing the tale in letters to his sister. Cossetted by his family, the brilliant Victor Frankenstein never grows the conscience needed to govern his scientific work until it's far too late, despite the exhortations of his friend Henry (Jonathan Riker). I am not sure Victor deserves the love of fiancée Elizabeth (the glowing Stephanie Staszak). Elizabeth and a blind man (Rick Richter) are the only two characters who show basic human kindness to The Creature.”

“Skylight artistic director Michael Unger directed this production, with his typical flair for staging and deploying the ensemble.”

BROADWAY WORLD

“Frighteningly affecting and beautifully drawn”

“This Frankenstein, directed by Skylight artistic director Michael Unger, is not about laughs or scares but — with music by Mark Baron and book and lyrics by Jeffrey Jackson — it explores the character of the characters and the inhumanity in humanity. As one character put it, the difference between what we can do and what we should do.”

“As the title character, Seth K. Hale’s voice matches the power of the obsessed scientist’s mania and the depth of his pain as he experiences the consequences. And Miss Kyle Blair’s performance as the creature is frighteningly affecting and beautifully drawn.’

“The portrayal of the victims of Frankenstein and his creature as more than just a body count adds even more depth to the production. Textured performances by Stephanie Staszak, Johathan Riker, Rick Richter, Ashley M. Rodriguez and Mars Schultz ensure each loss is felt.”

“The atmosphere of light and shadow created by lighting/projection designer Smooch Medina guides the power of imagination to frightening places more than literal acts of violence ever could.”

URBAN MILWAUKEE

“Powerful! Sweeps us up in its technical skill and storytelling”

“Though originally created for off-Broadway, this new version of Frankenstein, The Musical has the Skylight Music Theatre stamped all over its future showings, which I genuinely expect. Technically and in singing it has been put together so craftily that it is two-thirds on the way toward important theatrical recognition.”

“At the start the musical forecasts the strange Arctic conclusion of the original work but it also establishes the character of Victor, played well in all his moods (romantic and gloomy) by Seth K. Hale.”

“The music is both harsh and harmonic with sweeping lines and intersections for this good cast of singers... The emotional balance between dark and light is provided by contrasting melodic and chorale lines, such as a lyric soprano rising in normalcy against the violent backdrop. The soprano is mainly from Skylight veteran Stephanie Staszak as Victor’s sweet (and doomed) love interest. Also having strong uplifting vocal effect are young Mars Schultz as the boyhood member of the Frankenstein clan and Jonathan Riker as Victor’s best friend (and ignored conscience).“

“But the standouts are Hale as Victor, compelled by his science ego to play God in creation, and Miss Kyle Blair as The Creature, who is brought back to life by Victor and pursues him with feral snarls and clutching hands. Hale is vocally strong as Victor moves back and forth from catatonic guilt to anguished defiance, continuing his operating room experiments despite his remorse. Blair sings magnetically as he contorts, stares the audience down and kills those his creator loves. It is a hulking twisting performance that drives the show.”

“There are... strong vocal moments from SaraLynn Evenson in several motherly roles and from Ashley M. Rodriguez as the maid who suffers a fate worse than death. The entire crew is worth praising as is the small orchestra under music director and keyboardist Janna Ernst.”

“The production should be recognized for how it often sweeps us up in its technical skill and storytelling.”