Review: I, Victor at The Bridge House Theatre 

Review: I, Victor at The Bridge House Theatre 

Summary

Rating

80

Excellent

A modern re-telling of possibly the most famous gothic horror story ever written, which is simultaneously both hilarious and deeply tragic.

We’ve all either heard or read of some kind of adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: or The Modern Prometheus – from the book, to Boris Karloff’s famous account of Frankenstein’s monster, to Peter Cushing’s unforgettable performance as Victor Frankenstein in the Hammer Horror films, to adorable adaptations such as the 1984 and 2012 film versions of Frankenweenie. This incarnation, I, Victor, is a one-person performance, set partially in Geneva and also modern-day London.

I, Victor tells the story of Vic (Ellis Jupiter) who appears in almost all black goth attire, with a set which is just as Gothically themed. Vic has lost the love of their life Liz. The details of Liz’s death are unknown, but we know that Vic is obsessed with mending their broken heart by (quite literally) breaking other individuals – finding them, having sex with them, and then killing them, all for the sake of taking individual body parts so that they can put a body together for Liz and, through the use of electricity, bring her back to life.

Although advertised as a production with ‘bad jokes,’ it truly is these ‘bad jokes’ which enhance the story, along with director Saskia Kraftowitz’s attention to smaller details; there is Vic’s nervous fidgeting with their gloves and the fact that Vic cannot seem to hold eye contact with anyone other than Liz. 

The production is filled with references to gothic literature such as Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven, along with numerous references to Shelley’s original novel, such as the name Liz, short for Elizabeth, the woman who Victor Frankenstein is in love with. There’s a character with Wollstonecraft in their name (a reference to author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley), along with other references which include piecing together disembodied parts from other bodies and a trip to the graveyard to find a body or, in this case, the head of Liz.

While the production is filled with humorous lines such as “Ding a coin inside my ribs and see what happens”, along with references to modern day pop culture such as songs, clubs, and everything that could assemble the perfect True Crime podcast, there is also a real sadness to the play. Although Vic may seem funny and even giddy at times, performing karaoke with a dildo and dancing around the rubbish on the set, they have hit the lowest point in their life, and they will go to whatever extent they need to – even if it means taking the lives of other individuals – to bring Liz back. At times Vic movingly appears to hear and speak to the disembodied voice of Liz in utter anguish as all Vic wants is to be with her again.

The ending presents Vic at Liz’s funeral, just prior to Vic’s obsession. Vic must appear to be simply grieving, although the audience knows that their spirit has been completely broken. We are all Vic in some way, having grieved the loss of a loved one, and while we can only wish to bring that loved one back, we empathise with them in so many ways.

I, Victor can be summed up in one word: phenomenal. From the very beginning to the end, the magic of great writing and superb acting makes Vic’s story entrancing and this gothic tale one which cannot be missed. 

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Produced by After the Day
Written by: Issy Flower
Directed by: Saskia Kraftowitz
Dramaturgy by: Ellis Jupiter 

I Victor has finished its run at The Bridge House Theatre. Follow After the Day theatre company on Instagram to find out about future productions.