By John Farrell, Curtain Call Writer
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is the story of a man brought back to life through a miracle of science, a body revived from the grave.
Frankenstein, the Musical tells the same story, with music. So does Young Frankenstein, the movie and musical by Mel Brooks. The success of Brooks’ musical has overshadowed Frankenstein, the Musical, an off-Broadway show from 2007 that briefly toured the East Coast.
Maybe it was time for Frankenstein, the Musical to be discovered on the West Coast. And who better to do that than a man who has been, for several years now, dead at least as a producer and director? Art often imitates life. If there isn’t the smell of ozone about Ray Buffer, once the director the Relevant Stage in San Pedro (he is best known, perhaps, for Kiss Me, Kate at the Warner Grand several years ago), there is a smell of greasepaint and of sweat as he and his partner and co-producer Jonas Sills get their production of Frankenstein, the Musical off the ground in a theater in Long Beach. The theater hasn’t been used much but seems perfect to bring Buffer and a musical back to life.
That theater is on the second floor of the five-story Scottish Rite Cathedral at 8th and Elm in downtown Long Beach. The building, a large concrete structure built in the 1920s, is used by the Masons for fraternal events, and is also used for wedding receptions and other private gatherings. And, it has a theater.
The Cathedral is an historic landmark in Long Beach. Built of steel and concrete with a terra cotta exterior in the Romanesque Revival style, the five-story structure was designed by Wright and Gentry architectural firm. The auditorium is noted for its hand-painted designs and 30-foot high ceiling.
That theater is called the Ernest Borgnine Theatre, after the late actor who was a 33rd degree Mason. It was named in 2011 when Borgnine was still around, but it hasn’t seen much theater recently.
“That theater has been underutilized and it is Art in Relation’s vision to become a resident company and help the space to thrive,” Buffer said in a recent email conversation.”
Sills and Buffer are co-directors of that new acting company, Art in Relation, which is producing Frankenstein in downtown Long Beach. They also are planning, in December, a new production of Buffer’s version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which was successful several in several productions at San Pedro’s Warner Grand.
This is a rebirth of sorts for Buffer, who was producer, director and star of many productions at the Warner Grand.
“I had ceased productions of shows in San Pedro with The Relevant Stage in 2012 following Kiss Me Kate,” Buffer said. “Although very well received, it had cost more than any other show to produce and we just didn’t see the growth necessary over those four years to stay afloat. So I returned to the retail sector and gave myself a hiatus.
“I knew Jonas Sills from having seen him perform in Candide at Kentwood Playhouse, and later cast him to be in a production of Forever Plaid in 2012.
Unfortunately, that production, which would have taken place in Fullerton, had its funding yanked out from under it and we had to cancel the show. However, both Jonas and I knew we wanted to work together and we stayed in touch and became better friends over the past couple years.”
That was several years ago and Buffer and Sills stayed in touch. “… Jonas and I continued to talk and work small projects together. One day, Jonas decided he wanted to start a company that would be a collaborative art space and asked me to be his partner.
“We looked at real estate but couldn’t find a store front with apartments overhead in an area we desired to create a black box theater. So, we then looked at Long Beach Parks and Recreation and considered doing a musical in the park. Noise became an issue and so we looked at the Scottish Rite, met with them and developed a working relationship that allowed us to afford the use of the space for six performances.”
Frankenstein, the Musical is the obvious choice to open a new theatrical space on the weekend before and the weekend of Halloween. Buffer said it was a choice he made years before.
“It’s a show that I fell in love with when I first heard it after buying the cast album at a Huntington Beach Barnes and Nobles in 2009,” Buffer said.
“The show had been briefly Off Broadway in 2007, and had toured for a small time after, but was overshadowed by Mel Brook’s stage adaptation of his own classic movie, on Broadway that same year,” Buffer said.”
Art in Relation aims to shake the dust off this under-appreciated work and bring new life to it.
“It is a faithful adaptation of Shelley’s novel with serious music and operatic overtones. I sold Jonas Sills on it when he first heard it. I know Jonas’s voice well and I thought the role of Victor Frankenstein would be a perfect showcase for the purity of his voice. Likewise, I felt the role of the creature was well suited for me.
“We agreed to produce it and I would direct it, even though we had precast ourselves, we held open auditions for all roles – keeping an eye out for any talent that we might discover that could best fill the roles. We ended up with a powerful cast of strong singers and actors from Long Beach, Torrance, Los Angeles, Hollywood and even San Diego.”
The result, the return to musical life for Buffer, will be on display next week and over Halloween weekend in Long Beach. To misquote the movie: “He’s alive!
Tickets are $18.50 general admission, $25 reserved seating, $10 for guests 12 and younger. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., through Nov. 1.
Details:(714) 396-6110;www.artinrelation.com
Venue: Scottish Rite Cathedral Ernest Borgnine Theatre
Location: 855 Elm Ave., Long Beach