#dave douglas

Douglas and Morrison strive to attain the near impossible: retell a universally known and exhausted story in a way that has not yet been imagined. The creativity and cleverness of Morrison’s editing and the chaotic restrain of Douglas’ ensemble let the audience fill in the gaps of a loose outline, rather than using straight-forward and rote storytelling to force-feed them something they have already eaten. It is really the only way that Frankenstein could be retold. At this point, the story is so obvious, it has its own Halloween industry.

What has been lost over the years is its actual meaning. Frankenstein is a discourse on humanity, not a simplistic mad scientist/monster scenario. The Creature is a wholly formed being but has the disadvantage of being devoid of prejudicial feelings and cultural boundaries. He is seen as a monster because he has no side to choose and no understanding of why he needs to choose one. In the hands of Douglas and Morrison, this story seems amazingly fresh, vital, topical, and necessary. It’s exhilarating, weary, and thought provoking. When was the last time anybody could say that about a Frankenstein retelling?