Young Frankenstein (2007)
Category: Broadway Play
Young Frankenstein on Broadway
From what I have been told, Mel Brooks’ Broadway rendition of his 1974 film, Young Frankenstein has left few empty seats and garnered rave reviews since its opening last October 2007. Last night’s performance, (my first-ever Broadway musical) was no exception, as from my “front of the stage” aisle seat, it seemed safe to say that the Hilton Theatre (formerly the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. It also used to be two separate theatres: the Lyric and the Apollo prior to the 1998 renovations) was filled to capacity.
Plot:
Transylvania Heights, 1934 Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced “Frahnkensteen”) (Roger Bart), a high pitched professor of anatomy at the prestigious Johns, Miriam & Anthony Hopkins School of Medicine in New York City, and only living relative of the recently deceased 101 year-old Dr. Victor Von Frankenstein (Kevin Ligon), receives summons to journey to Transylvania in order settle his late grandfather’s estate. Reluctantly, Frederick leaves behind his work and self-centered fiancée Elizabeth (Emmy and 3-time SAG Award-winner Megan Mullally who is also “Karen Walker” on NBC’s Will & Grace) and travels to Transylvania where he meets Igor (pronounced I-Gore) (played by the entertaining Christopher Fitzgerald), the seductive and limber laboratory assistant Inga (Sutton Foster), and Castle Frankenstein’s caretaker/his Grandfather’s girlfriend Frau Blucher (Insert horse “Hiiiiihhh” here) (Andrea Martin). After some hard sales pitching and dancing by his ancestors, Frederick decides to continue the family business.
Frederick Frankenstein (Roger Bart) checks up on The Monster (Shuler Hensley)
Frederick also continues his grandfather’s work and creates The Monster (Shuler Hensley)–to whom he risks everything in order to give The Monster some semblance of a life.
Review:
February 1, 2008.
Simply Awesome!
A production worthy of its 16 million dollar investment. It was a spectacle (though I could have done without the pyrotechnics) that I appreciated so much more from my great vantage point as I could see everything: the adhesives that kept their wigs on, the microphones mounted on their foreheads or resting on their ears, saliva going left and right, and yes, even very evident veins.
Not to mention almost getting my feet trampled by The Monster as he ran from the stage to the lobby.
Like I said.
Simply awesome!
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