1-actor play in Pittsburgh explores iconic movie monster in 'Karloff'

Halloween may be over, but Prime Stage Theatre aims to entertain horror fans with “Karloff: The Man and the Monster,” a one-actor play exploring the life of renowned movie monster Boris Karloff.

Opening Nov. 5 in the New Hazlett Theater in Pittsburgh’s North Side, the production explores the 60-year career and enduring legacy of the actor who played the monster in “Frankenstein” and Imhotep in “The Mummy” and was the original television voice of Dr. Seuss’s “The Grinch.”

Written by Randy Bowser and directed by Art DeConciliis, the multimedia one-act stars David Nackman. Although the playwright performed the Karloff role in the premiere, he developed the piece for the general theater market.

“‘Karloff’ is a deeply personal look into Boris Karloff’s life. In theatre we often want to play against our type. This is a person who knew his type, embraced it, and shared it with the world,” said Tina Marie Cerny, Prime Stage managing director. “Today, not many people know who he is, but they know the Grinch. I am beyond excited to show how much he is ingrained into our cinematic and theatrical history.”

“This is a must-see performance for all Karloff fans, horror fans and younger audiences to discover this incredible person and his wit. Karloff was the true icon of horror movies as ‘the monster’ and the original voice of The Grinch,” said Wayne Brinda, Prime Stage producing artistic director. “When we made the decision to open our 25th season with ‘Karloff’ … I was pleased to learn that we would be celebrating the 90th anniversary of the first Frankenstein movie starring Boris Karloff, which opened on Nov. 21, 1931.”

Curtain time will be 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 14. The Nov. 12 show will be audio-described, while the Nov. 13 show will be interpreted.

The play will be available for streaming Nov. 15-28.

Tenderness and menace

Best known for his roles in horror films, “Karloff rose to the challenge by playing the unloved creature with both tenderness and menace. Despite the fact that his face was hidden by makeup, his powerful performance earned him critical acclaim and made him a sensation,” according to a Prime Stage release.

“He brought humanity and vulnerability to all his performances, but especially in his portrayal as Frankenstein’s monster. Karloff was able to communicate a powerful sense of yearning in the creature of human warmth from his creator,” the release said. “He conveys its forlorn sense of confusion through his extraordinary eyes without dialogue.”

”From the high points of his movie career to the challenges of his personal life, the play is a roller coaster ride that is both humorous and heartfelt, providing the audience with an honest view of the man behind the monsters,” DeConciliis said.

Nackman is co-founder and creative director of Performance of a Lifetime, a boutique consulting firm in New York City. An accomplished actor, director, designer, writer, performer and professional coach, Nackman specializes in visual design and presentation delivery.

He has performed on stages around the country, including The Theatre Factory in Trafford.

“Working on this production has been a high point of my career as an actor. Playing Karloff is an exhilarating challenge — Randy Bowser’s script reveals much more about the man than most of us ever knew, and the work of bringing him (back) to life has been filled with surprise and delight,” Nackman said.

In its return to live theater, Prime Stage decided to mount a one-actor production “as a proactive measure to limit staff and actors to exposure to the covid-19 coronavirus.” The production is endorsed by Sara Jane Karloff, the only child of Boris Karloff, who is famously protective of her father’s legacy, Prime Stage said.

Tickets for opening night are pay-what-you can. Other performances are $33, or $18 for students. To purchase, visit primestage.com.