Some pretty awesome dudes have played the part of sinister Jonathan Brewster, a man carved up by his own personal plastic surgeon to avoid the police and so resembling Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s Monster (a self-referential joke as it was Boris Karloff who played Jonathan in the play’s original production). So, we’ve got Karloff and then there’s Raymond Massey (in the 1944 movie version) and Abe Vigoda who also appeared in the role, lending both their amazing eyebrows and dark glaring eyes.

 

The most recent addition to that list performed the part this weekend in my local high school’s drama department production of the play. This kid playing Jonathan did an amazing job. He employed some great, old-school horror hand gestures, hunched around the staged and had a wonderfully slow and menacing delivery of his lines.

 

Also, of note: the girl who played Aunt Martha (one of the mad cap spinsters). She did a masterful job with a daffy Edith Bunker read of the part. Talk about frightening. Ooh, Aaaarchie...

 

All in all, the play was/is great fun. If you have never seen it performed and missed STCE’s production this past weekend check out the film. It’s a great and goofy Halloweenie picture to see.