Two people who have worked on one of the longest running shows on television are lending their minds to a new play in Stratford, Ont. Playing at the sixty seat Here for Now theatre, ‘Frankenstein’s Daughter’ features two actors and only one set. “It’s a lot more intimate. It’s 60 seats. It’s the set you see behind you, and I love that kind of theatre,” Michael J. Gellman, the director of ‘Frankenstein’s Daughter’ and co-owner of Process Theatre, said. The show is billed as a ‘dark comedy,’ but television fans might recognize the play’s writers from a different kind of comedy. Dan Castellaneta and Deb Lacusta wrote the play. Castellaneta is known for his role as Homer Simpson, and several other characters, on long-running animated comedy, The Simpsons. Meanwhile Lacusta has written several episodes of the show. Their latest work is a far cry from the iconic Springfield family. “When you write something for The Simpsons, it goes through a major rewrite process,” Castellaneta explained. “You hand in a script, and a roomful of writers will rewrite it. So, it’s not necessarily going to come out the way you envisioned it.” Frankenstein’s Daughter stars Jim Annan and Alastair Forbes as two characters who are separately invited to a cottage without knowing the other person will be there. Annan said the one set production is nice to see in addition to Stratford’s larger theatre offerings. “I think it’s exciting to have an alternative that’s not necessarily competition,” Annan said. “[It’s] a great side dish to [Stratford Festival] and especially to have comedy and to have that option and to have just a lovely little 60 seat theatre.” Gellman, who recently moved to Stratford with his wife and co-owner of Process Theatre, Deborah Smith, said he’d like to continue producing plays locally if there is an audience for their work. “We hope to keep going here in Stratford because it’s home and it’s nice to be able to create theatre at home.” Frankenstein’s Daughter runs from Oct. 16 until Oct. 26. Castellaneta and Lacusta will be at the premiere.
