The
theatre goes dark and the conductor Robert Billig raises his baton and
we enter the world of Transylvania Heights in 1934 in "The New Mel Brooks
musical Young Frankenstein"--that's the full accepted title but will
hereafter be referred to as "YF".  Mel, with his partners in crime book
writer Thomas Meehan and director/choreographer Susan Stroman, have
adapted, and abetted, Mel's classic film "Young Frankenstein" to the
stage and you certainly won't mistake this for a Sondheim musical.

Mel
brings all his bawdiness, sexual innuendo, slapstick, shtick,
vaudeville, burlesque and borscht belt humor from the original and has
added more of the same. The only thing that is missing is a pie in the
face and I think it is just because he forgot it!

His
music and lyrics in some incidents are using the words of the original
script and even in these the bawdiness shines through. Yes the song
titles are just what you think the songs are about whether it be "Deep
Love", "Please Don't Touch Me" or "Roll In The Hay".

Some
simple lines like, "he passed away and died" or the whole Fronkensteen versus Frankenstein bits will have you moaning and groaning with a big
smile on your face unable to resist the base humor that only a Mel
Brooks would have the nerve to present to an audience and have them
loving it.

The
cast certainly works hard and they all deliver but Cory English as Igor
steals every scene he can! This man can get laughs out of lines that
don't have any in them.  Christopher Ryan, in good voice, is sort of
bland in the role of Frederick Frankenstein but then again he is up
against English, Preston Truman Boyd, as the sweet faced monster, not to
forget the likes of Synthia Link as Inga, Janine Divita as Elizabeth
and really works "Deep Love" for all it is worth. It may have been a
technical problem but in the first act Joanna Glushar, as Frau Blucher,
was hard to understand and her "He Vas My Boyfriend" song wasn't the
showstopper it should have been. In the second act her enunciation was
clear and effective.  David Benott in double roles has to be mentioned.

The ensemble of 15 or so people back up the leading players with solid support.

The
showstopper, the pull all the special routines out, have the company
shine, is the "Putting On The Ritz" number which Susan Stroman, and her
choreography, works the whole company using all the tricks of her trade
and succeeding.

"YF" is not a memorable
show to be seen again and again or, except for the "Ritz" number, music
and lyrics by Irving Berlin, are any of Mel Brooks songs destined to
become standards.  The bottom line is if you  want to have a good time,
laugh, be happily entertained, then, for one last time, "The New Mel
Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein" fits the bill.

Running time: 2 hours and 39 minutes including a 23 minute intermission--extended use of strobe lights

Future touring stops are: Schenectady, Milwaukee, Rochester, Cincinnati, Orlando, Durham, Fayetteville and Fort Meyers.

Web site:   www.youngfrankensteinthemusical.com

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