Watch Benedict Cumberbatch in Frankenstein for Free, Courtesy of the National Theatre
Theater looks, to put it mildly, a little different than it used to, but don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s ceased altogether. Broadway closures are taking a significant toll on the industry, but as Stephen Sondheim’s 90th-birthday YouTube tribute proved, you just can’t keep a bunch of theater devotees down.
One of the delightful new possibilities is watching past theater productions featuring incredible talent. This Thursday, as part of its National Theatre at Home series, London’s National Theatre is streaming a 2011 production of Nick Dear’s Frankenstein. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Frankenstein’s creation, and Jonny Lee Miller plays Frankenstein himself—some of the time, that is, since the two actors seamlessly alternate between parts for the weeklong run of the show, which is helmed by Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, and Steve Jobs director Danny Boyle.
Initial reviews for Boyle’s production of Frankenstein were excellent, with the Guardian calling it “a humane, intelligent retelling of the original story in which much of the focus is on the plight of the obsessive scientist’s sad creation, who becomes his alter ego and his nemesis.” The Hollywood Reporter noted: “Cumberbatch nails Frankenstein’s air of innate superiority, and he makes heartbreaking the Creature’s aching search for wisdom and compassion.”
It’s hard to find much of a silver lining in the coronavirus pandemic forcing theaters to close their doors, but it could be a democratizing moment for the industry: A production from the archive, which would have commanded hefty ticket prices, will be easily available to the public, with viewers around the world getting to enjoy Cumberbatch and Miller’s performances without even leaving their homes. Previous installments of the series have included Richard Bean’s One Man, Two Guvnors, starring James Corden (who won a Tony Award for the performance), and Twelfth Night, featuring Tamsin Greig as Malvolia.
You can stream Frankenstein on the National Theatre’s YouTube channel at 2 p.m. ET starting on Thursday, April 30.
Originally Appeared on Vogue
