Matthew LaBanca on for Roger Bart, 10/20 Young Frankenstein matinee

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 5:51pm

Matthew LaBanca on for Roger Bart as Frederick Frankenstein in today's 10/20 YF matinee, and he was *amazing,* I really enjoyed his performance!

...and whoever on here mentioned Sutton Foster's "Roll in the Hay" being worth the price of admission alone, you were right, I loved her, loved this number! The show itself I thought the first act ran too long, and I don't get why Megan Mullally, much as I love her, gets the second to last bow, but overall I did enjoy it, and I would totally lotto again.

Suttonstein down, Hunterstein happens next week!

[worrell4077]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 5:54pm

"Hunterstein happens next week!"

When are you going to see the other Frankenstein? I'm going on the 27th.

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 5:58pm

The 24th, Wed.

[Here I Am]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 6:05pm

Isn't it a little early in the run for people to be missing performances already??

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 6:23pm

*shrug* maybe it was planned...fyi, ATC is saying that Bart is out both shows today.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 6:24pm

Anakela: You won the lotto? How busy was it?

[Here I Am]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 6:25pm

Yeah true. It could have been planned early on. Maybe he has to film something...

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 6:30pm

Anakela: You won the lotto? How busy was it?

This is actually still part of the previews lottos, where they did the lottos for (10? 12?) of the previews performances, and pulled all of the names on one day, about six weeks back or so? The lotto for today's show didn't happen today.

I believe the regular daily day-of show schedule of lottos starts next week sometime.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 6:56pm

I saw the show this afternoon as well and thought that the understudy did a really good job. Andrea Martin and Sutton Foster really stole the show. Overall I really liked it. I'll probably go back in January. Highlight for me though was having Tom Meehan and Mel Brooks sitting two rows in front of me during the second act.

EDIT- I used "really" too much in this post, I apologize. Updated On: 10/20/07 at 06:56 PM

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 10/20/07 at 11:24pm

I've heard he was great. Updated On: 10/21/07 at 11:24 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 12:42am

I saw the show this evening... Matt stepped in for Roger again. Apparently Roger hurt his back..according to the casts ( I stage doored tonight) I have tons of pics... So wait for my 10/10 Reports on Farnsworth Invention, Young Frankenstein and FB : Rude Awakening (for my Broadway Birthday Bash Special ) I will post it next week, all in one thread..

1 more show for me -FB: Rude Awakening tomorrow on my big day.

J*


Updated On: 10/21/07 at 12:42 AM

[heil myself!]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 12:29pm

Oh God, any word on how long Roger's gonna be out for? I'm going on 11/07, I figure nobody's gonna be using their understudies the night before opening night.
Updated On: 10/21/07 at 12:29 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 12:42pm

He's due back November 8.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 12:44pm

I was at the matinee also. The first row was empty. I can't say I was crazy about it and would have been mad as hell if I'd spent $450 for a single seat. The score was servicable, and, IMO, Strohman's choreography was routine. I, too, thought that Mullaly shouln't have had the next-to-last curtain call. I'll take Xanadu any day.

[heil myself!]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 1:09pm

"He's due back November 8."

NOOO!! I'm gonna miss him by ONE DAY??!! Are you sure about this? Where did you here this???

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 1:13pm

I was at the matinee also. The first row was empty.

The first row where was empty? I was sitting first row center orch at yesterday's matinee, in the lotto seats, which were full. (...actually, there may have been one empty seat that someone sitting elsewhere filled after intermission, but the first row orch wasn't empty.)

[billygoatgirl300]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 5:11pm

My parents and I saw the matinee yesterday as well. I thought Matthew LaBanca was great in the role.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 5:18pm

I was sitting 3rd row orchestra, left side, four seats in. The entire first row looked empty to me, but I wasn't paying too much attention by the time the 2nd act rolled along. Anyway, that's what I saw when I was paying attention. What I also noticed that the people who were sitting to my left were not there for the 2nd act.

[once a month]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 5:25pm

Talk about a mediocre production! I am so disappointed by the whole thing, except Andrea Martin. Come on, wouldn't maybe three 'new laughs' have been too much too ask? The hype for this show CLEARLY does not match the payoff!

[DDdirector]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 5:40pm

I saw Saturday's matinee as well and thought LaBanca did a good job in a thankless role. He has a lot of stage time but the supporting cast certainly has a lot more "laughs" and better bits. Andrea Martin steals the show. I would go just for her performance. Sutton Foster did well and "Roll In The Hay" was a highlight. Technically/design wise the show is wonderful, I'll give them that. Too bad the material doesn't match it, particularly the score.
Mel Brooks/Meehan were in a few rows in front of me for the second act and quickly ushered out at the end of curtain call. They were one of the first ones to stand up for curtain call.
Unless the show gets some pretty amazing raves, I would expect a discount to be popping up soon after opening. It's worth another venture at discount prices.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/21/07 at 5:50pm

Isn't November 8th the opening night?