March 4, 2020
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Recreating Frankenstein
Chicago’s Manual Cinema is bringing Frankenstein to Whitehorse by Grace Snider
T
he Yukon Arts Centre is presenting a recreation of Frankenstein in an upcoming show. Once heard, it is hard to forget Mary Shelley’s dark tale of creation. Published in 1818, it tells the tale of Victor Frankenstein, a man obsessed with creating life. In his efforts, he feverishly brings together bits and pieces of different people’s bodies to terrible and unforeseen consequences. As the story goes, while the
Shelleys were traveling with friends in Switzerland, cooped up one rainy day reading ghost stories out loud, their friend Lord Byron challenged each of them to write a horror story. Thus began Frankenstein. Now, 200 years later, Chicago’s Manual Cinema is bringing Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein back to life, recreating and patching together the stories of Mary Shelley and her characters Victor Frankenstein and The Creature. “We were fascinated by the story of Mary Shelley, an extraordinary woman who invented a literary genre (science fiction) in a time of huge societal change,” said Sarah Fornace, co-artistic director of Manual Cinema. “Our production explores abandonment and obsession and technical sweetness—the allure of creating the thing, or solving the puzzle that can, at times, obscure the ethical issues and broader implications of one’s work. In Mary’s story, we see reflections of Victor and The CreaPhoto by Michael Brosilow. ture. The book is Mary’s Photo provided by Yukon Arts Centre ‘hideous progeny,’ and she experiences great Manual Cinema’s Frankenstein loss in its wake. We also explore the role at the Yukon Arts Centre that motherhood plays
in the story. Wollonstonecraft died due to complications with Mary’s childbirth. Mary herself lost two children while writing the novel. Frankenstein is a novel that is told in a series of frames. Mary’s story is the outer frame of our show, but it also intersects and parallels Frankenstein as if the storylines are each the subconscious of each other”. Julia Miller, co-artistic director of Manual Cinema, said the story stitches together two stories to tell an unexpected tale about the beauty and horror of creation. (A tale she said is appropriate for younger viewers who would be fine with a PG-13 film.) Manual achieves this through a combination of shadow puppetry, live actors in camera, 3D puppets, immersive surround sound design and a live original score written for an array of percussion instruments, including clarinets, flutes, cello and vocals. All are performed live. “There are even little robots that bring the stage to life playing percussion instruments when the creature wakes,” said Miller, “who invites audiences to get onstage after the show to see the puppets up close and speak with the cast and crew. The experience is watching a feature film, but the whole thing is made live on stage in front of you … we hope the audience is moved by our story and experiences live performance in a new way that engages
electric vehicle discovery day Car show: Come check out a range of electric vehicles.
Local drivers: Meet Yukon’s electric vehicle owners. Trade show: Ask local dealerships about electric vehicles. New exhibit: See museum exhibit on history and future of electric vehicles in Yukon. Free BBQ
Photo by Michael Brosilow. Photo provided by Yukon Arts Centre
Julia Miller and Sarah Fornace are co-artistic directors of Frankenstein, coming to the Yukon Arts Centre in March and excites them” said Miller. Though the play has been performed at the Public Theatre in New York City and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, as well as in Nashville, Chile, Texas and more, this spring marks the first time it has toured Canada. Miller said “the company is excited to visit the Yukon and hopes to see the northern lights and experience local culture”.
Frankenstein shows at the Yukon Arts Centre on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at YukonTickets.com, or by calling the Yukon Arts Centre box office at 867-667-8574. Grace Snider is a lifelong Yukoner with an enduring enthusiasm for all-things Yukon!
Help Shape Yukon’s Future
Get on Board! Consider serving on one of the following boards and committees: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Carcross Housing Advisory Board Carmacks Housing Advisory Board Dawson City Housing Advisory Board Faro Housing Advisory Board Haines Junction Housing Advisory Board Mayo Housing Advisory Board Ross River Housing Advisory Board Teslin Housing Advisory Board Watson Lake Housing Advisory Board
Deadline: March 20, 2020 Contact: Cindy Schamber (867) 667-3545 ■
Dawson District Renewable Resources Council
Deadline: April 30, 2020 Contact: Catherine Ford-Lammers (867) 667-5336 ■ ■ ■ ■
Carmacks Renewable Resources Council Laberge Renewable Resources Council Mayo District Renewable Resources Council Dän Keyi Renewable Resources Council
Deadline: March 31, 2020 Contact: Catherine Ford-Lammers (867) 667-5336 ■
North Yukon Renewable Resources Council
Deadline: May 31, 2020 Contact: Catherine Ford-Lammers (867) 667-5336
Date Sunday, March 8, 2020
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Time 12 pm to 5 pm
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Location Yukon Transportation Museum, 30 Electra Crescent (on Alaska Highway by airport) Contact Yukon Transportation Museum (867) 668-4792 or info@goYTM.ca
Law Society Yukon – Discipline Law Society Yukon – Complaint Dismissal Review Committee Yukon Human Rights Panel of Adjudicators
Deadline: March 16, 2020 Contact: Michele Campbell (867) 667-3206 ■ ■ ■
Private Investigators and Security Agencies Review Board Licensed Practical Nurse Discipline Panel Registered Psychiatric Nurses Advisory Committee
Deadline: Until filled Contact: David Dugas (867) 667-5798 ■
Council of the Association of Engineers of Yukon
Deadline: March 31, 2020 Contact: David Dugas (867) 667-5798 ■
Municipal Board
Deadline: March 31, 2020 Contact: Ben Yu Schott (867) 332-3537 For application forms and more information visit www.eco.gov.yk.ca or call toll-free 1-800-661-0408 Application packages can be emailed to boards.committees@gov.yk.ca
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