The New Mel Brooks Musical Review

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By Elli Davis, March 19, 2010

Young Frankenstein

Based on the story and screenplay by Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks and on the original motion picture by special permission with TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX.

Princess of Wales Theatre

Now through April 26th

3 1/2 *****

Young Frankenstein by Tomas Fano

There is a great deal of talent on stage during this latest musical at the Princess of Wales. Read the programme and you can see that some of the leads in Young Frankenstein are here directly from the Broadway production. While this is not unique, it usually means that we are going to see a well polished production. Indeed this is true. You will recognize Frederick Frankenstein not only because he created the role on Broadway for which he was nominated for several awards and deservedly so, but also because Roger Bart played the recurring role of the devious pharmacist, George, on Desperate Housewives. Cory English appeared on Broadway as Igor and is a perfect assistant and foil for Mr. Bart throughout the evening. While Joanna Glushak did not appear on Broadway as Frau Blucher, she is as wonderful in this hilarious role as OSCAR award winner Cloris Leachman was in the film version. Yes, there is a lot of talent on the stage.

But who is the real star of the show? Many people would immediately say Mel Brooks. This writer disagrees. The true star of Young Frankenstein never appears on stage. Director and Choreographer, Susan Stroman is the star of this show.

Young Frankenstein is full of Mr. Brooks’ humour. The occasional Yiddish word thrown in as verbal icing on a skit. His music is tuneful but very predictable. Listening to some of the songs you know what then next note is going to be. Some of the lyrics are very clever and others are just shtick. Nothing wrong with shtick but after a while you can guess the next line or the next verse just by following the rhythm of the piece. All hail Ms. Stroman. She make an Abbot and Costello-like skit into a charming moment of Dr. and Assistant playing one ups man ship.

She cleverly turns a hayride into a risqué romp through the mountains. She turns Irving Berlin’s Putting On the Ritz into one of the funniest moments of the night. The monster become real and the entire chorus joins in his joy in top hat and tails.

Some of the performances of noteworthy due obviously to Ms Stroman’s constant attention to detail. Nothing is taken for granted and every scene is staged making use of both talent and space. Working with predictable material she has salvaged this show. You can sit back and enjoy the silliness knowing that someone made it fun. There is plenty of Brooks’ double entendre and Ms Stroman seems to make it a triple entendre just for fun.

Go. See. Laugh. But don’t expect to be amazed except by the direction.