Shelley's Ghost

In 1823 a stage adaptation of Frankenstein by Richard Brinsley Peake entitled Presumption; or, The Fate of Frankenstein was produced at the English Opera House in London, with considerable success. Mary Shelley saw it with Godwin and Jane Williams on 29 August, shortly after her return to England, and was greatly entertained. She also approved of the way the Creature, played by T.P. Cooke, was represented by a series of dashes in the advertising, as seen in this playbill.

‘But lo & behold! I found myself famous!’ Mary wrote to Leigh Hunt on 9 September,

Wallack looked very well as F ­– he is at the beginning full of hope & expectation – at the end of the 1^st Act. the stage represents a room with a staircase leading to F workshop – he goes to it and you see his light at a small window, through which a frightened servant peeps, who runs off in terror when F. exclaims ‘It lives!’ – Presently F himself rushes in horror & trepidation from the room and while still expressing his agony & terror –––––––– throws down the door of the labratory, leaps the staircase & presents his unearthly & monstrous person on the stage.

She noticed that everyone stayed until the performance was over.