Pierce High School drama students tackle ‘Frankenstein'

By Susan Meeker

Colusa County Sun-Herald

Mary Shelley was 20-years-old when her novel "Frankenstein" was published anonymously in 1818.

Since then, her long-suffering creature has been the subject of more than a dozen movies and just as many — if not more — stage productions.

Pierce High School drama students will tackle Tim Kelley's version of "Frankenstein" this week, in which a brilliant, young scientist battles the lonely creature he made from pieces of the dead.

"This is a play my students wanted to do," said Valerie Vandrey, whose small drama department is funded in part by public performances. "It's a pretty big play, but they've really gotten into it."

Trinica Sampson, 15, has been cast in a non-traditional role, playing the troubled Victor Frankenstein, who agrees to create a bride for the creature and unwittingly plunges his household into murder, despair and terror.

"It's a new experience for me," Sampson said. "It's strange, but playing a man is pretty rewarding."

Closely following Mary Shelley's original novel, Kelly's play takes place in the late-1800s in a chateau on the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland.

When it opens, Frankenstein has already brought his creature to life.

Pierce sophomore Justin Reis plays the creature, who seeks vengeance against Frankenstein when the scientist destroys the creature-bride promised him as compensation for his own creation.

"It's pretty cool," Reis said. "I get to kill about one-third of the cast."

Rounding out the cast are Rene Villanueva, as Henry Clerval, Frankenstein's friend; Daisy Gutierrez, as Elizabeth, Frankenstein's bride-to-be; Diana Ambriz, as Frankenstein's mother; Antonio Oregel, as Inspector Ernst; Cassie Gonzalez, as the servant Sophie; and Carolyn Jimenez, as the gypsy girl, Justine.

The entire cast is making its acting debut, but expects both horror fans and classic literature lovers to find something likable about the play.

Frankenstein will be performed at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Pierce High School auditorium.