What is a weekend?

Portland, Frankenstein, & Friendship

Portland: Driving to Portland, OR is not very difficult. I don't know why I haven't visited the quirky little city more often. The drive is particularly enjoyable when you have two good friends, a copy of The Complete Sherlock Holmes Volume One (dramatic readings happened), good music, interesting conversation, and an endless supply of movie quotes/Sherlock references.

Naturally, our first stop in Portland was Powell's Books. This bookstore is heaven for an English major. Or anyone who likes books, really. For those who don't like books: I'm almost positive this store would make you like books. It had been years since my last visit and I was very happy to be reacquainted with this enormous, yet completely charming independent bookstore. Most of my time was spent in the Blue room (Literature, Poetry, Classics) but I purchased a book from the Gold room (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Mystery, etc.). (My purchase, if you're curious: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury as part of Nerdfighteria's Summer Read. More on that later.)

On a slightly related note: Our visit to Powell's was perfectly timed. This week (June 30 - July 7, 2012) is Independent Booksellers Week in the UK. And I am still pretending to live in London.

Also, I must mention the delightful boulangerie where we took breakfast: St. Honore Boulangerie. Absolutely delicious with a wonderful atmosphere.

Frankenstein: The entire purpose of this road trip was to finally see the screenings of Danny Boyle's Frankenstein, adapted by Nick Dear and starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller. Those who know me or have been following this blog know that I have been desperate to see this play. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is one of my favorite novels, the National Theatre is one of my favorite theatres in London, and the leads are two of my favorite actors.  

And it was brilliant. Incredible, heart-breaking, beautiful, violent, and stunning. The set and lighting were wonderful (it's the National Theatre, of course they were!): hundreds of light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, perfect use of the drum revolve, fire, rain, immaculate costuming, evocative sounds and music, etc.

The lights - "The ceiling is intended to represent the
forces of electricity harnessed by Frankenstein
and to provide 'dazzling light' for the moment the
creature is born." (Source: "Emerging from the Dark")

This piece is the background music for the Creature's first sunrise, a very moving and beautiful scene that celebrates the importance and beauty of human life:

I loved how the adaptation focused on the duality of Frankenstein and his creation through the use of two actors. Cumberbatch and Miller alternated the roles of Frankenstein and the Creature for each performance, emphasizing the doubleness of their relationship. Both actors performed phenomenally, bringing something different to each role. Because they each played both characters, there seemed to be some of the Creature in each actors' Victor, and some of Victor in each actors' Creature. Seeing both performances in the same day was a perfect experience.

Even though the adaptation differed from the novel, I felt like it stayed true to Mary Shelley's text. Caught the spirit of the book. And they gave the Creature a voice, which was truly wonderful. Here are a few of my favorite bits:

DeLacey (approving) It is night in the Garden of Eden. Do you see the moon?

Creature There. There it is.

DeLacey Describe it to me.

Creature Solitary.

DeLacey That's a good word. Good.

Creature And sad, like me.

DeLacey Why is it sad?

Creature Because it is solitary.

DeLacey Why are you sad?

Creature Because with all that I read, all that I learn, I discover how much I do not know. Ideas batter me like hailstones. Questions but no answers. Who am I? Where am I from? Do I have a family?

(from Scene Eighteen)

Victor How does it feel, to be in love?

Creature It feels like all the life is bubbling up in me and spilling from my mouth, it feels like my lungs are on fire and my heart is a hammer, it feels like I can do anything in the world! Anything in the world!

Victor Is that how it feels?

Creature Yes!

A heart breaking moment in which it becomes clear that the Creature may be more capable of love than Victor is.

(from Scene Twenty-Eight)

Creature (note: reproduced here without stage directions) Don't tell me you are dead already. Master? Don't you have more stamina that that? Why we've hardly started!

Don't leave me. Don't leave me alone. You and I, we are one.

While you live, I live. When you are gong, I must go too. Master, what is death? What will it feel like? Can I die?

Oh Frankenstein. Will you forgive me my cruelty? Please forgive me. I am driven on, I cannot stop. The moon draws me on. The solitary moons! We can only go forward, we cannot go back. - Master! Drink! It's good wine. Drink.

All I wanted was your love. I would have loved you with all my heart. My poor creator.

(from Scene Thirty)

SeattleIFF Cinema is having screenings of both versions throughout July. If you can, I highly, highly recommend seeing this production. More information can be found here: Frankenstein.

Friendship: Most importantly, this weekend was a wonderful time spent with dear friends. I am completely fascinated and awed by the forming of relationships. With how they develop. It still surprises me when I make new friends or become closer with old ones--when the relational threads of my little beating heart reach out and are met with the threads of another. Surprised and shocked when the life strings intertwine, strengthening both individuals through contact.

It feels vaguely reminiscent of the Creature in Danny Boyle's production. Every time he makes contact -- with DeLacey or Victor or the Female Creature -- he shudders slightly, as if taken by surprise and yet pleased with this personal interaction. With the contact of two lives.