Andrew Gower...a future Doctor Who?
If Lord Patten ever finds BBC Three on his television dial, Saturday night’s live Frankenstein spectacular would be a good place to start when the new BBC Trust chairman assesses the value of the corporation’s “youth” channel.
The crumbling ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, a 12th century Cistercian monastery in Leeds, proved a suitably dramatic gothic setting for Frankenstein’s Wedding, an ambitious modern take on Mary Shelley’s tale, performed live in front of an audience of 12,000.
Beehive joined the crowds where a real sense of anticipation – the event had been the talk of Leeds all week – built up to the 8pm screen time.
The ticket-holders, some dressed in wedding gear as requested, others wrapped up in Leeds United scarves and ferrying pints of lager from the bar, were warmed up with a DJ set from Radio 1′s Dev and a rehearsal of the wedding dance to be performed at the show’s horrific climax.
Beneath the fullest moon for 20 years, the temperature dropped markedly during the 85-minute show, appropriate for the spooky story, which didn’t skimp on the darkness at the heart of Shelley’s story.
A ghostly blue glow emanated from the obsessive Victor Frankenstein’s lab in one elevated corner of the ruins whilst the action split between live action scenes staged around the arches, music and dance sequences and pre-recorded film of David Harewood’s rejected Creature, wandering the streets of Leeds.
Mathematical equations and tweets were projected on one side of the ruin and despite the sliding temperatures, the enthusiastic standing crowd remained attentive during the scenes played out on a large screen – a London crowd would probably have drowned out proceedings with chatter.
Andrew Gower played the Doctor, engaged to his childhood sweetheart Elizabeth, with the mixture of mania and charisma, which suggested he could one day slip into the shoes of another driven TV doc…could the rising star be a future Doctor Who?
Lacey Turner, the former EastEnders actress as doomed bride Elizabeth, was an unashamedly bit of populist casting for BBC Three’s target audience. The sub-EastEnders dialogue she shared with the vicar due to marry the couple (“I just don’t want to see you get hurt”) was perhaps the one concession to the “dumbing down” that BBC Three is accused of by critics.
But the show rattled between a series of intricate set-pieces with barely a missed cue and the spectacular back-lighting of the Abbey making the building itself the real star of the show.
The debate between science and morality, with allusions to genetic modification and biotechnology, was neatly played out in scenes between Frankenstein and the vicar.
Harewood’s monster was more pitiable than frightening – perhaps because this was a family show at heart- and with his soft sonorous voice, the creature often sounded oddly like Nelson Mandela, a previous role for the actor.
Kirkstall Abbey, scene of Frankenstein's Wedding
The crowd responded to a witty turn by Mark Williams, the Fast Show actor, as Alphonse, Frankenstein’s father, played as a wealthy Yorkshire industrialist, determined to put on the society wedding of the year. And using a snatch of I Predict A Riot from Leeds’ own Kaiser Chiefs, before the wedding, was a smart touch.
It’s a shame that Frankenstein’s Wedding might have got lost amid all the excitement of Red Nose Day. It was undoubtedly the sort of event that only the BBC can pull off, a huge-scale live production involving the public, staged with wit and intelligence, which didn’t sacrifice the drama despite the enormous technical challenges.
A triumph then for BBC Three and Danny Cohen, the Controller who commissioned the project before skipping off to run BBC One. The show wouldn’t have looked out of place on the BBC’s main entertainment channel.
Frankenstein’s Wedding won’t have come cheap though, so it’s to be hoped that the BBC’s cuts won’t prevent similarly ambitious events in the future. The first test for Lord Patten when he goes in to bat for the BBC…after he’s found BBC Three of course.
Watch Frankenstein’s Wedding on the iPlayer
Congratulations to BBC THREE – excellent, innovative TV. Good choice of cast and fun mixture of pop and gothic horror – more please.
Am I alone in thinking Andrew Gower could have a great singing career? His serenade while unplugging the female ‘monster’ was very moving.
Glad the weather held out for them too!
Ghastly horror. An ordeal I would not want to go through again. Of interest only to those involved, my fellow commentators I suspect. A wonderful logistical effort but dire in every other respect, Writing, acting and pretty much everything else. A missed opportunity- sorry to be so negative but I am actually unbiased! I suspect the reviewer is not.
Astonishing piece of TV which will be no where near the awards whilst the reality tv crap will continue to feed the stupid asses or should that be masses. Repeat on BBC1 asap.
my family and i watched it together ages 16 to 65 yrs, we all enjoyed it very much. Well done bbc 3 for something new and exciting?
I disagree with you there with regard to David Harewood. I felt his performance was astonishing, given he was playing a character that, in the sub text pretty much taught himself to speak but for the company of a blind man. I think he managed to evoke fear within the audience, as well as expressing his own beautifully and did not sound like Mandela at all. The show was an absolute triumph, All the cast were simply brilliant Lacey Turner was amazing, not just because she once was ‘Stacey Slater’ but in her own right as very talented naturalistic and strong female actress.
Iwas visiting my sister in leeds for the week-end from Ireland with my friend Stephanie,we went with Siobhan AND Pippa this was a specticular event it was so memorable it willl remain with us as an event and our trip to Leeds thanks it was brillant,well done all.
proud to be from leeds what a wonderful night from start to finish enjoyed being part of a smash hit peformance from all hope we have more of this again.WELL DONE TO ALL THUMBS UP XXXX
“Frankenstein’s wedding” was just a special and wonderful evenings viewing. What a success