By Neena Strichart
Publisher
Having the opportunity to attend last Tuesday evening’s Los Angeles premiere of a new musical comedy at the Pantages Theatre would make most people bubble with anticipation. In most cases, I too would bubble. However, learning that I was invited to the opening-night performance of the new Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein frankly (pun intended) made me a bit nervous. Why? Considering the 1974 film of the same name to be one of my favorite comedy movies of all time, I couldn’t help but worry that seeing the musical stage adaptation wouldn’t nearly reach the height of the pedestal I had long preserved for the original film version.
Throwing caution to the wind, I decided to brave it and check it out for myself. I even carted along a tougher critic, my husband Steve, who believes the movie Young Frankenstein to be a piece of cinematic brilliance. Talk about a tough audience. We were skeptical, yet hoping to have a good or at least a pleasant experience.
I don’t think there are any words in the English language to convey how crazy-good this stage production really turned out to be— from our viewpoints, anyway. I clapped and whistled for all I was worth several times but was thoroughly drowned out by Steve and the rest of the audience. I guess, had I read the press releases earlier, I would have been better prepared for the stage/musical variation of Young Frankenstein to be a good thing. Apparently, the production was named Best Broadway Musical in 2008 by the Outer Critics Circle Award, and, by the way, it also won five Broadway.com Audience Awards, including Favorite New Broadway Musical. Being stubborn, I didn’t do my homework on this one. I didn’t want to read other reviews or pay attention to the opinions of other newspapers’ critics. I wanted to go in cold— nevertheless, I sure warmed up quickly.
For those who don’t know the plot, think of it basically like this: Mel Brooks’s Young Frankenstein (stage or movie version) is to the classic tale of Frankenstein what Salvador Dali’s reworked image might have been of the Mona Lisa. Get it? Yep, lots of abstract twists and turns. Replace horror with comedy and you’ve got the right idea of the movie version of Young Frankenstein— add a few clever songs written by Mel Brooks himself, dance numbers with overly attractive men and women, a bit of R-rated language, sexual innuendo and cleavage aplenty, and you’ve got the musical stage version.
The basic premise is: Dr. Frankenstein’s American grandson Frederick, after years of trying to live down the family name, inherits and moves into his grandfather’s Transylvania castle, develops a yen for replicating his grandfather’s grizzly hobby of bringing the dead back to life, and finds himself with a hunchbacked sidekick named Igor (pronounced EYE-gore, played with perfection by Cory English). Sprinkle in a beautiful woman or two for romantic interest— Frederick’s red-haired fiancé named Elizabeth (played with comedic seduction by Beth Curry) and a sexy but ditsy blonde assistant known as Inga (aptly portrayed by Anne Horak); include the creepy housekeeper named Frau Blucher (played convincingly by Joanna Glushak) and toss in one heck of a big scary monster for good measure, and you’ve pretty much got the picture.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (he insists his last name be pronounced Fronk-n-steen) won me over in his first few minutes on stage. Played by Tony-Award winner Roger Bart, the dear doctor sang, danced and performed with great passion. Also to Bart’s credit, his characterization is strictly his own, giving homage to Gene Wilder’s film portrayal of the same role without striving to mimic, lending freshness to the overall experience, in my opinion.
Also worth discussing is the performance by another Tony-Award winner— Shuler Hensley, who realistically portrays the monster we initially fear but learn to appreciate as he evolves into a civilized creature who dances and sings with other cast members in a fully orchestrated and choreographed rendition of Irving Berlin’s “Puttin’ On the Ritz.” Now that’s monstrous entertainment!
Although Young Frankenstein will only be playing at the Pantages through August 8, don’t pass up the chance to catch a performance. It’s a perfect opportunity to entice theatre-shy husbands. No man could possibly protest going to see something created by the great Mel Brooks!
Tickets for Young Frankenstein may be purchased online at BroadwayLA.org or by phone at 1-800-982-ARTS (2787). Tickets are also available in person at the Pantages Theatre Box Office, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., just east of Vine Street as well as at Ticketmaster ticket outlets. The performance schedule is Tuesdays through Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm, and Sundays at 1pm & 6:30pm. Tickets range in price from $25 to $85. For more information, visit the Pantages Theatre’s official website— BroadwayLA.org.
