‘Frankenstein’ Interviews with Rose and Emily
In the final interview ahead of next week’s performances of our Sixth Form production of Frankenstein, we met with Year 12’s Emily and Year 13’s Rose, playing Clarice and Elizabeth, as they were talking through a particular scene with Miss Mayes, our Head of Drama, and rehearsing together. In this particular scene we see Victor Frankenstein’s bride post-wedding, confiding in her Maid Servant and friend Clarice about her anticipation and expectation of the night ahead. There was much talk of how Elizabeth’s wedding gown would be removed throughout the scene, the synchronisation of script and lines with movement throughout and across the stage.
After rehearsing, we spent time talking to Rose and Emily about their characters, stage props, costumes and also their excitement and focus ahead of performing next week. It was wonderful to hear how they’re getting on and feeling ahead of next week’s performances!
Year 13’s Rose, who has played many different roles in past School productions, plays Elizabeth, Victor Frankenstein’s fiancé, and now in this scene, wife. Sharing her thoughts about the character she said,
“All the characters I’ve played in the past have been so different and varied, I’ve been so lucky and thrilled to have had these opportunities – and I’m so happy to be playing this part too.”
She continued,
“I’m a real fan of Gothic, and it’s what I’m studying for English, and so this play and character really appealed to me. The play itself was written at a time when women weren’t particularly vocal and life in general was more male-driven, but Elizabeth wants to learn and explore, to understand and become her own person, for herself and for Victor – she longs to make him happy and to be a good wife, which is what she has been taught to be and expected to do since birth.”
Talking about what she feels are challenges of the role she shared,
“Finding moments of light and shade for Elizabeth has been tricky, there’s not a lot of exploration of her character in the novel, and she isn’t featured as much as one might argue she should be within the play, but it’s presented a great challenge to me in terms of presenting her to the audience as a woman who of course is afraid sometimes given the world and time in which she exists, but who desires to be more than she is already – and that can’t be told through script, it has to be suggested in the way I play her and through suggestion, tone and movement. I really hope the audience sees Elizabeth as a fully developed character, that she’s interesting and not just a figure to further the plot or there to give Victor what he needs.”
Asking her how she prepares ahead of a big production she explained,
“I’m getting lots of early nights, rest and preparing – that’s the key for me! No rituals to speak of, just being on top of my lines, and making sure everything is learned and I’m prepared.”
Year 12’s Emily plays the part of Clarice, who is not only Elizabeth’s Maid Servant, but her friend, confidant and companion in life; they share a special relationship that Emily hopes will be clear in the performance,
“She’s the lowest class of all the characters given her position, but Elizabeth gives her status through a genuine and authentic relationship, and in the scene we’ve been rehearsing today, on Elizabeth’s wedding night, we really see the bond and trust for one another that they have.”
She continued,
“The biggest challenge for me personally, is playing the role of a servant and not stepping over the line of what that represents in this play, particularly given the period it is set in and the way in which women in this role were perceived. Due to her relationship with Elizabeth you see Clarice as a friend and mentor, yet she is also a servant, spoken at not to and most definitely not respected by anyone else – she straddles two worlds and that presents one or two challenges in terms of stage presence and body language – but I’m loving it!”
Having also performed in various School productions over the last few years, Emily said,
“I’m always nervous, but excited ahead of performance week. It’s such a brilliant experience, to work with the creative team, people I’m already friends with and meet new people from School involved in the production – the whole School will be buzzing next week ahead of Wednesday and Thursday night, I just can’t wait!”
Talking about how she feels about her character and how she wants to audience to feel about her she said,
“I really hope they can see the special relationship Clarice and Elizabeth have, the intimacy they share and genuine friendship, it’s a really relatable aspect of the play and offers some rare moments of tenderness in an otherwise quite dark story. I want everyone to root for Clarice, to admire her friendship with Elizabeth – because after this particular scene things are going to change significantly, and that light that Rose spoke about is about to be dulled! You’ll have to watch to find out why – although if you’re familiar with the story, you’ll know what’s in store for everyone!”
Frankenstein will be performed on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 November in School, we do hope you’ve managed to get tickets for these sold out performances.
