As part of a worldwide celebration, an English class will perform ‘200 years of Frankenstein’ on Halloween

The English Department’s British Romantic Literature class will be performing the 1823 adaptation of  “Frankenstein” on the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s novel. The play “Presumption: or, the Fate of Frankenstein” will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31 in the Peters Business Building auditorium Room 191.

While Professor Toni Wein began her career as a professional actress before getting her Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley, this is the first time she has put on a play — and the first time her students have participated in a play. She was invited by scholars in her field to participate in the celebration of the novel planned for the 200th anniversary of the publication of Frankenstein.

“This is my slightly different idea of how to actualize it as a class project,” said Wein. “While this is the first time we have mounted a production in this class, I am a firm believer in experiential learning; we have centered the course around the novel and its influences, permutations, and intellectual resonances.”

When asked who would be interested in seeing the play and if it is appropriate for children, Wein responded, “Everyone should be interested because Frankenstein belongs to us all. As to the level of scariness, can’t say. Caveat emptor and happy Halloween!”