"I shall give an answer to the question so very frequently asked me How I, then a young girl of eighteen, came to think of, and to dilate upon, so very hideous an idea as Frankenstein?" One-hour program consists of a 40-45 minute monologue in-character, followed first by a question and answer period with Mary Shelley and then by a question and answer period with the scholar/presenter.
A Fascinating and Enigmatic Person With this program, you enter her mind and imagination of English writer Mary Shelley (1797-1851). Mary Shelley may be best known as the author of Frankenstein, but there is much more to be learned about her, both personally and psychologically. As well as becoming a significant author in her own right, Mary Shelley bore the combined burden and blessing of being the only offspring between eminent authors Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin. Likewise, she enjoyed both attention and passion, and sustained rejection and isolation, for becoming the wife of the outspoken and controversial poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. As Mary reveals her process as an author in creating work, you learn how she viewed the world around her and how, in turn, the world treated her. The year is 1844. Imagine you are English visitors just returning from Italy, and you are about to be welcomed into the parlor of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. A Message for Today In addition to a compelling personal story which would make many articles in The National Enquirer seem tame, Mary Shelley s work raises ethical questions that are, if anything, more pertinent today than they were in her lifetime. The Ethics of Science and Technology Mary Shelley s science fiction is nearly reality today. What is a scientist s responsibility toward his/her creation? What happens when an abandoned creation turns into a monster? What is society s responsibility to monitor or manage a scientist s inventions? continued next page
When does the society have the right to step in? It is not the invention, it is the abandonment of the invention to irresponsible use that turns a creation into a monster. Many of our scientific creations have no voice, and have been released to the whims of nature and the marketplace. Mary Shelley s monster had a voice. And yet he was unsuccessful at pleading with his creator for the attention he needed to avoid becoming a terror. The author gave voice to the concept of our creations. Will we listen to her? Social Responsibility At the outset of his experience Frankenstein s Creature exhibited tremendous compassion. He did not become a monster until he had faced repeated rejection. Many people in our society, through poverty or circumstances, are abandoned or abused. We wonder why they lash out, why some become criminals. What responsibility does society have to a creature, a human, who otherwise doesn t have any nurturing? On a less extreme scale, but one that applies in our daily lives, to what extent are we able to accept people who are different from ourselves? Frankenstein s monster was spurned solely based on his looks, even though he managed to learn the customs and the language. What does it take for us, as humans, to see past another s outward appearance or culture which might be strange to us to see who is really inside, to find the commonality of our experience? Mary Shelley raises these questions within the context of having lived most of her life as an outsider. Charm and Poignancy As you expressed a desire to know my opinion of Mrs. Shelley, I will take the present opportunity of saying, that I rarely, if ever, met with a woman to whom I felt so disposed to apply the epithet bewitching. I can of course merely speak of appearances, but she struck me in the light of a matured child; a union of buoyancy and depth... Her hilarity, contrasted with the almost sadly profound nature of some of her remarks, somewhat puzzled me... I doubt her being a happy woman, and I also doubt her being one that could be distinctly termed melancholy... She reminded me of no person I ever saw but she has made me wish the arrival of the time when I am to see her again. Letter from Maria Jane Jewsbury to Anna Jameson dated 18 June 1830
The Kansas City Public Library staff was gratified when this program drew a large and diverse audience appealing across race, gender, age, and background. The level of questions revealed the intensity of audience interest. Afterward, many people commented about the quality of the presentation, the obvious depth of research, her clear delivery, and exquisite costuming. I, and our enthusiastic audience, will long remember Frontczak s Mary Shelley portrayal as a programming highlight of the "Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature" traveling [Smithsonian] exhibit. Margaret Clark, Director of Adult Programs, Kansas City Public Library It s one thing to read a finished book, but it s quite another thing to hear someone describe the path from not having written a book, to having written one. It makes me understand how easily it could have been me or one of my friends doing something equally as extraordinary. It s good to understand that it never begins as extraordinary from the point of view of the creator. Chelsea Boyle, pre-college student
Storysmith Susan Marie Frontczak brings history and literature to life, creates stories from thin air, and hones personal experience into tales worth telling again and again. She presents to university, corporate, school, family, and theater audiences across the U.S. and internationally. Her living history of Marie Curie has likewise earned high praise. Whether inventing stories off the cuff, infusing poetry with fresh breath, or presenting a honed dramatic performance, Susan Marie lives up to her motto, Give me a place to stand, and I will take you somewhere else. For more information, visit www.storysmith.org