Skipped out on working on the election last Saturday afternoon to go see Giles Davies (my favorite actor on the planet, bar none) at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, performing in a one-man play, Frankenstein.
Giles is always incredible – yet this performance is his best ever. He plays the captain of the ship, Dr. Frankenstein and the doctor’s closest friend, the monster and several minor characters. All the costume and persona changes are done right in front of us. A simple sip of water and he is no longer the frightened Dr. Frankenstein, but the calm and concerned captain.
I wanted to see Giles, but wasn’t sure I wanted to see the play. I have never really liked horror productions unless they’re also comedy. Which this decidedly was not.
It was an intimate look into the heart of the monster, and his search for his own humanity. Giles played him with just the right touches, physically, mentally, spiritually. This tragedy had much of beauty in it, and much of what makes us human.
Two more evenings, November 6 and 7. Go.