As much as I love seeing the classics I also love seeing something new. I love it even more when that premiere comes from talented teens in high school productions. For just one more performance such is the experience one can have at Riverton High School with their new production of The Clockmaker’s Daughter. This is a fresh and exciting take on the Frankenstein mythos and one worth checking out if you have a chance.

In this musical a man named Abraham Reed is struggling to deal with the grief over losing his daughter so he creates a robot daughter to replace place her. This daughter he names Constance and he tries to keep her inside the house so only he can interact with her and to ostensibly keep her safe. Unfortunately for Abraham his creature is too strong-willed for that and she also turns out to be a talented seamstress and dressmaker, which the town is in need of.

The production at Riverton is directed by Clin Eaton and he works with his large cast to keep things moving and the audience engaged in the story. It can be a challenge with high school productions because they are usually performed in large cavernous auditoriums. Such is the case here but Eaton has the actors out in the aisle and stretched out across the entire stage. This keeps it from feeling too static or boring.

This is a show that has a stronger Act II than Act I as she is mostly inside in the first Act so not much is happening. Constance is payed by Cece Heiner and she has nice chemistry with Carter Reid as Will Riley- the young man who falls for the enigmatic Constance. I was particularly impressed with the final scene when Heiner has to hold her arm up in a frozen stance for a long time. That seems like an easy thing but it would be really hard! Andrew Chapman plays Abraham capturing a stubborn father well and Apollo Pearson is deliciously selfish as the town’s major dressmaker Ma’ Riley.

With a show like The Clockmaker’s Daughter it is easy to compare to other properties like Frankenstein or Beauty and the Beast but it’s fresh enough with good songs (particularly in that Act II) to be worth a watch. My favorite songs of the musical are “If You Could See My Heart” and “Where You’ll Be.” They also have a professional live band at Riverton which always helps elevate any musical. The choreography is by Kelsey Phillips Harrison with costumes by Jeanette Meisenbacher and Melodee Curtis.

The last show of The Clockmaker’s Daughter is April 27th and tickets can be purchased here.

The Clockmaker’s Daughter has book, music and lyrics by Michael Webborn and Daniel Finn. It first premiered in London in 2015 and then again in 2019 in a concert recording.

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here