Frankenstein's Wedding: Live in Leeds is a curious beast. Instead of being either a musical or a dramatized play performed live and on location in front of a crowd of a few thousand on-lookers, it tries to be both, and the result is an unsatisfying fudge. On several occasions elaborate song & dance routines based on recent pop songs last barely a minute before being suddenly curtailed by Frankenstein's father matching on stage and ordering everyone to stop. To add to the general sense of confusion, the cast acknowledge some of the TV cameras but not others (the idea being that the wedding is a society event being covered by a news crew from Look North), and sometimes break the fourth wall to directly address the watching crowd. And the production wasn't entirely live either, with a number of pre-recorded segments breaking up the action and depicting either flashbacks or dream sequences.
As for the cast, Jemima Rooper is her usual reliable self, in a role that she's a perfect match for. In fact, I strongly suspect her part was either tweaked or substantially rewritten after she was cast, tailored to make it more suitable for her. Plus we get to see her bouncing around the stage, singing a couple of songs. Lacey Turner is simply splendid as Frankenstein's bride Elizabeth, and if her performance here is any indication, she's going to be one of the few ex-soap actors who goes onto bigger & better things instead of disappearing into obscurity. Mark Williams' portrayal of the groom's father as comic relief from Oop North makes him a jarring presence, but it isn't his fault - he's just playing the character as written. Likewise, the fine actor David Harewood is hampered by the fact that Frankenstein's creation seesaws between being a remorseful, tormented soul and an implacable, vengeful nemesis - sometimes within in the same scene.
So, in conclusion... a bit of a mess. Although to be fair, the moment when the entire crowd join in with Victor and Elizabeth's first dance is genuinely magical.
As for the cast, Jemima Rooper is her usual reliable self, in a role that she's a perfect match for. In fact, I strongly suspect her part was either tweaked or substantially rewritten after she was cast, tailored to make it more suitable for her. Plus we get to see her bouncing around the stage, singing a couple of songs. Lacey Turner is simply splendid as Frankenstein's bride Elizabeth, and if her performance here is any indication, she's going to be one of the few ex-soap actors who goes onto bigger & better things instead of disappearing into obscurity. Mark Williams' portrayal of the groom's father as comic relief from Oop North makes him a jarring presence, but it isn't his fault - he's just playing the character as written. Likewise, the fine actor David Harewood is hampered by the fact that Frankenstein's creation seesaws between being a remorseful, tormented soul and an implacable, vengeful nemesis - sometimes within in the same scene.
So, in conclusion... a bit of a mess. Although to be fair, the moment when the entire crowd join in with Victor and Elizabeth's first dance is genuinely magical.
