Los Angeles Times - Highly Recommended
"...In Michael Manuel's harrowing performance, this Creature has a legitimate grievance against his creator, Victor Frankenstein (Kasey Mahaffy). A nearly silent, impressively choreographed extended opening traces the Creature's "birth" in a state of childlike innocence, and the abuse he endures - first from the fleeing Victor and then from the horrified populace when he ventures into an unfamiliar world."
Broadway World - Somewhat Recommended
"...A misfire, Michetti's production of FRANKENSTEIN is slow and ponderous when it should be thrilling and hair-raising."
Stage and Cinema - Somewhat Recommended
"...British playwright Nick Dear wrote a reasonably authentic adaptation of her short novel in 2011, a version currently on display in an uneven production at A Noise Within. As directed by the veteran Michael Michetti, the production's dark mood is enhanced by making the Monster (Michael Manuel) the center-piece of the tale. Set in Germany in the early 19th century, young scientist Victor Frankenstein (Kasey Mahaffy), newly married to Elizabeth (Erika Soto), has experimented with crimes against nature by obtaining newly-buried human parts and casually assembling them into an ugly whole, which he then generates into a living thing with the aid of lightning."
Stage Scene LA - Highly Recommended
"...Playwright Nick Dear humanizes the monster commonly if incorrectly known as Frankenstein in his 2011 stage adaptation of the Mary Shelley classic, an A Noise Within season opener as compelling as it is unexpectedly poignant."
Hollywood Progressive - Highly Recommended
"...ANW is opening its 2019-2020 repertory season with a, uh, monster hit. Its stage version of Mary's Frankenstein does justice to her romantic vision. One could sum up the quality and power of this rendition by quoting those unforgettable words shrieked by Colin Clive as Victor in 1931's Frankenstein: "IT'S ALIVE!!!""
Culture Spot LA - Highly Recommended
"..."Frankenstein" is one of the best stories ever written, and A Noise Within's production is one of the most electrifying adaptations you'll see. Don't miss it!"
Gia on the Move - Recommended
"...Frankenstein is not only a powerful tale of an abandoned child trying to connect with his father but an indictment of a society that condemns people for their outward appearances, thus creating the very evil that they fear."
Showmag - Highly Recommended
"...With a sterling cast and ensemble-including Erika Soto performing duel characterizations as Elizabeth and The Female Creature (and whose fluid physical movements are mesmerizing); Bojorn Johnson as M. Frankenstein; and Christian Ganiere as the child, William Frankenstein (trading off performances with Van Brunelle)-as well as an original music composition and sound design by Robert Oriol, this Frankenstein is as much a morality play as it is a horror story, yet one is not inconsistent with the other."
Stage Raw - Somewhat Recommended
"...So there's potential here for compelling theater. At A Noise Within, however, Michael Michetti's staging draws its strength from production values, rather than any soulful performance or emotional investiture from the actors. Dominated by Robert Oriol's sound design, it's an impressive spectacle, enshrouding a dry and static drama."
On Stage and Screen - Somewhat Recommended
"...The Creature is truly the protagonist of this adaptation, with Frankenstein himself not having any real presence until the second half. An extended sequence at the top of the show follows the Creature as he attempts to stand and understand the basic mechanics of human movement. Starting the story at this point is not ideal for momentum, and it takes things a while to progress in a way that feels satisfying. This production, which runs a full two hours without an intermission, would likely benefit from a breather for the audience, particularly because the first showdown between Creature and Creator does not occur until probably an hour in."
