Frankenstein (one-act)

Frankenstein (one-act) by R. N. Sandberg

(2)
Productions (58)
Drama
|
55 - 60 minutes
2 W, 3 M,  (5-9 actors possible: 2-4 W, 3-5 M)
Content Notes: Mature themes, violence
Set: Unit set

Set in the icy polar regions where scientist Victor Frankenstein has chased the creature he brought to life, this highly theatrical and emotional play traces Frankenstein's path to the final confrontation with his intelligent, articulate, sensitive, and powerfully violent child. (A full-length version of this play is also available.)

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $55
Standard Edition $11.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99
Archival Video License $75

*The per performance fee begins at $55. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.


Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

Play Details

Set in the icy polar regions where scientist Victor Frankenstein has chased the creature he brought to life, this highly theatrical and emotional play traces Frankenstein's path to the final confrontation with his intelligent, articulate, sensitive, and powerfully violent child. (A full-length version of this play is also available.)

  • Drama
  • |
  • 55 - 60 minutes
  • 2 W, 3 M,  (5-9 actors possible: 2-4 W, 3-5 M)
  • Content Notes: Mature themes, violence
  • Set: Unit set
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-338-0

Published Reviews

"An intriguing drama ... delving into the powerful subtext of the novel ... transcends the monster-story foundation to become a complex psychological drama."

Variety

"Sandberg has taken Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and turned it into an intriguing drama that operates on several levels. By delving into the powerful subtext of the novel, this Frankenstein transcends the monster-story foundation to become a complex psychological drama."

Variety

"The grand darkness, moral perplexities and extravagant conceptions of Mary Shelley's early 19th-century Romantic novel retain considerable power... Sandberg's arrangement of flashbacks works well, with fever dreams and actual memory merging in a macabre dance..."

Karen Mathieson, The Seattle Times

"CRITIC'S CHOICE -- The deft adaptation of Frankenstein by Seattle playwright R. N. Sandberg has been given an ingenious, effective production by Intiman Theatre."

Wayne Johnson, The Seattle Times

"Sandberg, in an extraordinarily high-minded new stage version, reclaims much of Shelley's original poignancy and tragedy without dropping its real horror."

David Kochanasz, Capitol Hill Times

"Can anything be salvaged from Mary Shelley's mistreated creature after The Munsters and I Was a Teenage Frankenstein? The answer ... is yes. ...Sandberg focuses all attention on questions at the heart of the story -- the responsibilities of creation, the limits of science, love, misery, and revenge. ...Do not go ... looking for a fun fright show; expect to be challenged."

Bruce Barcott, The Weekly

"Sandberg's situations and dialogue set off thoughts about parent and child, God and creation, science and technology, theory and practice... His adaptation of Shelley's sprawl of physical incident and emotional effusion is ingenious..."

Joe Adcock, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Production History

MAY 01, 2025 - MAY 03, 2025
N/a
Ottawa, ON Canada
N/a Ottawa, ON Canada
OCT 24, 2024 - OCT 26, 2024
Veterans Memorial High School
San Antonio, TX United States
Veterans Memorial High School San Antonio, TX United States
OCT 23, 2024 - OCT 24, 2024
West Career and Technical Academy Wrangler Theater
Las Vegas, NV United States
West Career and Technical Academy Wrangler Theater Las Vegas, NV United States
SEP 02, 2024 - SEP 02, 2024
NTU Halll 4 Muse
Singapore, Singapore
NTU Halll 4 Muse Singapore, Singapore
JUN 28, 2024 - JUN 29, 2024
Bonner Springs High School
Bonner Springs, KS United States
Bonner Springs High School Bonner Springs, KS United States
OCT 30, 2023 - DEC 30, 2023
Superior Public Schools
Superior, NE United States
Superior Public Schools Superior, NE United States
MAY 04, 2023 - MAY 04, 2023
PVHS Trojan Theatre
Pahrump, NV United States
PVHS Trojan Theatre Pahrump, NV United States
NOV 11, 2022 - NOV 13, 2022
STEM Players Troupe
Downingtown, PA United States
STEM Players Troupe Downingtown, PA United States
NOV 04, 2022 - NOV 12, 2022
Searcy High School
Searcy, AR United States
Searcy High School Searcy, AR United States
SEP 17, 2022 - OCT 30, 2022
Arts in the Open
Boulder, CO United States
Arts in the Open Boulder, CO United States
MAY 11, 2022 - MAY 11, 2022
The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind
Staunton, VA United States
The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind Staunton, VA United States
MAY 05, 2022 - MAY 05, 2022
Freshman Drama Xavier High School
New York, NY United States
Freshman Drama Xavier High School New York, NY United States
MAR 06, 2022 - APR 06, 2022
St. Joseph's Institution Inter
Singapore, Singapore
St. Joseph's Institution Inter Singapore, Singapore
OCT 22, 2021 - OCT 30, 2021
Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI United States
Cardinal Stritch University Milwaukee, WI United States
OCT 14, 2021 - OCT 31, 2021
North Springs Charter High School
Sandy Springs, GA United States
North Springs Charter High School Sandy Springs, GA United States
MAR 25, 2021 - MAR 26, 2021
Franklin High School Drama Club
Franklin, MA United States
Franklin High School Drama Club Franklin, MA United States
OCT 30, 2020 - OCT 30, 2020
Camrose Composite High School
Camrose, AB Canada
Camrose Composite High School Camrose, AB Canada
DEC 05, 2019 - DEC 05, 2019
Spoto High School
Tampa, FL United States
Spoto High School Tampa, FL United States
NOV 13, 2019 - NOV 14, 2019
Episcopal School of Acadiana
Broussard, LA United States
Episcopal School of Acadiana Broussard, LA United States
NOV 01, 2019 - NOV 02, 2019
Spoto High School
Riverview, FL United States
Spoto High School Riverview, FL United States
OCT 24, 2019 - OCT 25, 2019
Mohave High School
Bullhead City, AZ United States
Mohave High School Bullhead City, AZ United States
OCT 04, 2019 - OCT 26, 2019
ShoeString Community Players
St Helens, OR United States
ShoeString Community Players St Helens, OR United States
OCT 03, 2019 - OCT 03, 2019
Westwood High School Actors Theatre
BLYTHEWOOD, SC United States
Westwood High School Actors Theatre BLYTHEWOOD, SC United States
MAR 14, 2019 - MAR 16, 2019
Westside High School
Clear Fork, WV United States
Westside High School Clear Fork, WV United States
MAR 12, 2019 - MAR 12, 2019
Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School
Kelowna, BC Canada
Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School Kelowna, BC Canada
MAR 01, 2019 - APR 25, 2019
Veterans Memorial High School
Mission, TX United States
Veterans Memorial High School Mission, TX United States
JAN 28, 2019 - JAN 29, 2019
Tamalpais High Drama Department
Mill Valley, CA United States
Tamalpais High Drama Department Mill Valley, CA United States
JAN 19, 2019 - JAN 26, 2019
Westside High School
Clear Fork, WV United States
Westside High School Clear Fork, WV United States
DEC 01, 2018 - DEC 01, 2018
Foote Theatre School
Edmonton, AB Canada
Foote Theatre School Edmonton, AB Canada
NOV 09, 2018 - NOV 11, 2018
St. Pius X High School
Albuquerque, NM United States
St. Pius X High School Albuquerque, NM United States
OCT 26, 2018 - OCT 27, 2018
Oldenburg Academy
Oldenburg, IN United States
Oldenburg Academy Oldenburg, IN United States
OCT 03, 2018 - OCT 07, 2018
Wayne State College
Wayne, NE United States
Wayne State College Wayne, NE United States
MAR 03, 2018 - MAR 03, 2018
East Boston High School
East Boston, MA United States
East Boston High School East Boston, MA United States
MAY 24, 2017 - MAY 30, 2017
FFCA High School
Calgary, AB Canada
FFCA High School Calgary, AB Canada
MAY 04, 2017 - MAY 04, 2017
FFCA High School
Calgary, AB Canada
FFCA High School Calgary, AB Canada
DEC 01, 2016 - DEC 01, 2016
YES Prep North Forest
Houston, TX United States
YES Prep North Forest Houston, TX United States
MAY 12, 2016 - MAY 12, 2016
Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate & Vocational School
Toronto, ON Canada
Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate & Vocational School Toronto, ON Canada
APR 26, 2016 - APR 30, 2016
Hunting Hills High School
Red Deer, AB Canada
Hunting Hills High School Red Deer, AB Canada
APR 21, 2016 - APR 23, 2016
Fort Smith Little Theatre
Ft. Smith, AR United States
Fort Smith Little Theatre Ft. Smith, AR United States
APR 14, 2016 - APR 14, 2016
Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate & Vocational School
Cambridge, ON Canada
Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate & Vocational School Cambridge, ON Canada
FEB 29, 2016 - MAR 14, 2016
Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate & Vocational School
Kitchener, ON Canada
Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate & Vocational School Kitchener, ON Canada
DEC 03, 2014 - DEC 05, 2014
Campbell County High School
Gillette, WY United States
Campbell County High School Gillette, WY United States
NOV 10, 2014 - NOV 11, 2014
The Thalian Blackfriars
Athens, GA United States
The Thalian Blackfriars Athens, GA United States
MAY 15, 2014 - MAY 16, 2014
Saint Ignatius College
Drysdale, VIC Australia
Saint Ignatius College Drysdale, VIC Australia
OCT 30, 2012 - OCT 31, 2012
First Presbyterian Day School
Macon, GA United States
First Presbyterian Day School Macon, GA United States
APR 13, 2012 - APR 14, 2012
Wilson High School
West Lawn, PA United States
Wilson High School West Lawn, PA United States
JAN 15, 2012 - JAN 30, 2012
Texas City High School Theatre
Texas City, TX United States
Texas City High School Theatre Texas City, TX United States
MAY 18, 2011 - MAY 20, 2011
Jefferson High School
Los Angeles, CA United States
Jefferson High School Los Angeles, CA United States
APR 01, 2011 - APR 30, 2011
Hamilton High School
Hamilton, MS United States
Hamilton High School Hamilton, MS United States
MAR 25, 2011 - MAR 25, 2011
Barrington Recreational Theatre
Barrington, RI United States
Barrington Recreational Theatre Barrington, RI United States
NOV 04, 2010 - NOV 07, 2010
Spencer County Middle School
Taylorsville, KY United States
Spencer County Middle School Taylorsville, KY United States
OCT 28, 2010 - OCT 30, 2010
Western Hills High School Auditorium
Frankfort, KY United States
Western Hills High School Auditorium Frankfort, KY United States
MAR 26, 2010 - APR 01, 2010
MacArthur High School
Houston, TX United States
MacArthur High School Houston, TX United States
FEB 21, 2008 - FEB 23, 2008
Thornton Fractional North High School
Calumet City, IL United States
Thornton Fractional North High School Calumet City, IL United States
NOV 01, 2007 - NOV 02, 2007
Milton High School Theatre Department
Milton, VT United States
Milton High School Theatre Department Milton, VT United States
JUL 14, 2007 - JUL 14, 2007
Barrington Recreational Theatre
Barrington, RI United States
Barrington Recreational Theatre Barrington, RI United States
JAN 26, 2007 - JAN 29, 2007
Davis High School
Kaysville, UT United States
Davis High School Kaysville, UT United States
FEB 26, 2005 - FEB 26, 2005
City Theatre Of Independence
Springfield, MO United States
City Theatre Of Independence Springfield, MO United States
MAY 01, 2025 - MAY 03, 2025
N/a
Ottawa, ON Canada
N/a Ottawa, ON Canada
No professional productions.