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Sarasota News Leader September 27, 2013 Page 124 VENICE THEATRE TO PRESENT FRANKENSTEIN BY BO LIST Venice Theatre will open its 2013-2014 Stage After being produced for Lexington SumII Series in the Pinkerton Theatre with Fran- merfest, Frankenstein went on to enjoy suckenstein, the theatre has announced. cess in Chicago where it was recommended "This new adaptation will in no way resemble by Centerstage, ChicagoCritic and Chicago the many comic versions of Frankenstein that Stage Standard, the release notes. our pop culture has grown accustomed to," a news release points out. "Audiences should expect a beautifully written drama closely based on Mary Shelley's 1818 Gothic/Romantic novel." The play will open on Thursday, Oct. 10, and run through Sunday, Oct. 27. Venice Theatre has chosen Kelly Wynn Woodland to direct Frankenstein. Her recent direction of A Behanding in Spokane in Venice Theatre's Stage II Series earned the show a 2013 Handy Award for best community theater play. "Boding well for the quality of her upcoming production, she has cast three of the four actors from A Behanding in Spokane in Frankenstein: Jeremy Guerrero as Victor Frankenstein, Steve O'Dea as the Creature and Alison Prouty as Elizabeth," the release adds. Frankenstein playwright Bo List has written and directed for venues such as the Lexington (KY) Shakespeare Festival, Lexington Summerfest — where Frankenstein premiered — and River Valley Rep, a professional summer theater company based at Marist College in New York, the release continues. He will be in Because of the depiction of graphic violence, Venice the first two nights of the show to lead Frankenstein is not recommended for children and pre-teens, the release points out. a talkback after the performances, it adds. Regarding his adaptation of the novel to the stage, List said in a 2011 interview, "If anything is surprising to the audience, it may be that the Creature speaks. In the book, it is very eloquent — but since the famous Boris Karloff creature does NOT speak (he only grunts and roars, in a fashion oft-imitated on Saturday Night Live, etc.) that's how audiences think of him. More heartbreaking is that the creature is acutely aware of his own deformities and difference and can articulate his loneliness." Performances are at 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $25 to $28 for adults and $10 to $15 for students. They are on sale at the theatre's box office, online at www.venicestage.com or by phone at 488-1115. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before all performances. Venice Theatre is located at 140 W. Tampa Ave. on the island in Venice. facebook.com/SarasotaNewsLeader