Mary Shelley's Monsters Reviews

MetroWeekly- Somewhat Recommended

"...The cast, for the most part, maintains the mood of the play. Katrina Clark most adroitly manages multiple roles, including as Mary Shelley and her feminist author mother Mary Wollstonecraft, alternately narrating the tale, performing plays within the play, fiercely orating poetry, and throwing in the occasional wink to the audience."

MD Theatre Guide- Highly Recommended

"...“Mary Shelley’s Monsters” is an exemplary piece of site-specific theater that thoughtfully harnesses its unique setting to amplify a resonant and complex narrative. Levy transforms the space from a mere backdrop into an active participant in the performance. This choice is particularly effective, as the chapel’s natural elements — high ceilings, stained-glass windows, and inherent acoustics — lend a profound sense of atmosphere. The result is a production that is not only a meditation on a classic work of literature but also a powerful demonstration of the artistry possible when a creative team fully commits to their vision and their venue."

DC Theater Arts- Highly Recommended

"...At one point, Mary cherishes and sings sorrowfully to a puppet child as if her creation, and at another, she regards an action figure movie monster as if with regret. Her character has a backstory that is real; the play's two other characters' origins are solely fictional. With a playwright's egalitarian allyship to his characters and in an ebullience of eloquence, Bartlett has imagined all three in ways that taunt our understanding and tantalize our interpretation."