Megan Mullally

[Broadway212]

Posted: 8/3/08 at 11:33pm

Did anyone go to Megan Mullally's last show of Young Frankenstein. If so how was it?

[cglaid]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 12:38am

I was at the show. A nice surprise was Jim Borstelmann (usually the village idiot) was on for the first time as the Monster. Overall a solid performance. One oops was when Fred Applegate handed him the mug in the hermit scene it broke, so Jim had so inconspicuously hold it together. Megan was completely drowned out in the Surprise song but the show had great energy.

Roger Bart gave a really funny speech at the end. He said something along the lines of, "It's so nice coming out here and seeing all of Megan's fans eight times a week. I know that after doing two Law & Order guest spots, they aren't for me. And Chris over there had a three episode arc on Saved by the Bell, so they certainly aren't for him." It was cute. Seemed like they all get along nicely. Megan came out after the show (after like 45 minutes or so) while her husband waited further down the street. She signed tons of autographs and took photos with anyone who asked. She seemed to be making lots of small talk as well.

General notes: Kelly Sullivan is a disappointing Inga. Beth Leavel has a great voice and really did a nice job with Frau Blucher. It was Heather Ayers last show as well.

[TBone]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 12:56am

Thanks for the re-cap.


I saw Jim as the Monster back in May and he did a wonderful job.

[cglaid]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 1:12am

Oh that's weird because Jim told me it was his first time on and he was so nervous?

[TBone]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 1:45am

Really? Hmm...

I definitely saw him as the monster on Sunday, May 2nd.

Either way, he's still wonderful in the role.

[justafan2]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 7:23am

I saw Jim as the monster last Tuesday. He was very good---but his singing was not as deep (no pun intended) as Shuler's.
I was also disappointed with Kelly. (I miss the originals)
Great show, tho'.

[Broadway212]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 7:28am

Thanks for the review.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 10:02am

I was there yesterday as well...was lucky enough to win the lottery. Megan Mullally gave a fantastic final performance...tons of energy and her voice is truly incredible. "Deep Love" was brilliant and she held that last note (forever insiiiiide) longer than usual. And yes, Roger's speech at the end was great.

Also loved Roger and Chris. They never disappoint in this show and always look like they are enjoying themselves. In the past few times I've seen the show, Roger's performance never seems to waver...he has it down cold...but he is definitely NOT walking through. Chris seems to like to keep it fresh and do different things every day...and he is still HILARIOUS after a year in this show.

Beth Leavel was very good. Her singing voice is incredible...much better than Andrea Martin's, but I think Andrea sold the role better. I LOVED Beth's comedic timing in The Drowsy Chaperone, but it just seemed a bit off yesterday...I found that I wasn't howling with laughter in her line deliveries like I did with Andrea. That being said, it was only her second week on the job, and maybe she will improve. She is still better than Linda Mugelston, who I saw go on for Andrea once.

Kelly Sullivan was dreadful. For those of you who were complaining about Sutton saying that she wasn't doing enough with the role, didn't make the most of it, etc etc, wait until you see Kelly. All she did was stand there and smile. Her line deliveries were amateur...and I hated the way she called Roger Bart "doctor" with the emphasis on the last syllable. Her singing was OK, but I just prefer Sutton's voice. Too bad Megan left...it's all downhill from here for this show.

Overall, I had a wonderful time at Megan's final performance and feel lucky to have seen her four times in this show. I hope she comes back to Broadway again very soon!

[Broadway212]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 3:40pm

thanks for the reviews. I keep hearing that the new Inga was bad. I think the only person that can play that role is Sutton. It's good to hear that Beth is just as good as Andrea. Hopefully the new (Elisabeth) is good to.
Updated On: 8/4/08 at 03:40 PM

[jake6970]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 5:17pm

Who is replacing Megan?

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 5:27pm

They should have gotten Angie Schworer.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 5:50pm

I've seen the show from the 3rd row orch and 20th row orch. Yesterday I sat in the mezzanine because I brought my kids to see it and they don't like to be "close" for shows that have anything "scary" in them.

From the mezz, I enjoyed the show more than ever before. But I just want to be clear about this before I offer my "review": the show is definitely DIFFERENT from far away than it is up-close.

Megan was hilarious (as usual). I don't care if she was performing Elizabeth as though she were a cross between Karen Walker and Katharine Hepburn or Nancy Walker and Audrey Hepburn...she stole every scene! She's just so NUTS!!!

For me, Roger is the heart of the show and I have never felt the harsh criticism he received was ever deserved. He carries the show and is both whacky and adorable throughout. I love him, what more can I say?

Chris is remarkable! He seems to be adding things to his portrayal of Igor that make him more endearing, more insane and more "present." He and Roger have a wonderfully silly chemistry that seems deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper inside.

Fred plays Kemp and the blindman with such relish, and yet he never overstates either role. He was cracking up the other actors (and was Chris). I love when that happens.

Jim Borstleman was sensational as the Monster. I think I prefer him to Shuler. (No offense to Shuler or his fans. I adore him.) He's such a great comic, and he moves so fluidly.

Seeing the show yesterday made me realize how poorly conceived and written the part of Inga really is. It's not Kelly's fault. It's not Sutton's fault. It's a lousy part. Sutton got away with it because she's Sutton. Kelly did a fine job (especially during "Roll in the Hay") but it's a thankless and flimsy role. Mel said "Listen to Your Heart" is the most beautiful song he's ever written, and that proves, well, I'm not sure what it proves. Nevertheless, that song sucks!

I went back to see YF because of Beth. I LOVED her as Frau Bliucher! I felt that Andrea was the best part of the show when I saw it last fall, so I'm not an easy sell. It's amazing to think that Beth was offered the part quite suddenly, had 10 days to learn it, stepped in a week ahead of when she was originally scheduled to, and has only been performing the role for 2 weeks. What a pro she is! Too bad she won't be with Megan anymore because their opening scene together was magical. Beth's final joke was even funnier than when Andrea delivered it.

I happen to be a fan of Michele Ragusa's, so I will go back to see the show again. And so will my kids because they were giddy for it!

Great job, cast!!!

Updated On: 8/4/08 at 05:50 PM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 5:50pm

Post x 2!

I guess this is what happens when you post a message from your BlackBerry while on the train!

Updated On: 8/4/08 at 05:50 PM

[Elke]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 6:20pm

Thanks for all these great reviews, everyone. Wish I could have been there. I'm glad to see that people are finally standing up for this show. I think it's great and the amazing chemistry between Christopher Fitzgerald and Roger Bart is something I've rarely seen before.

Megan was excellent and I'm sure she'll be missed. But I'm looking forward to hearing / seeing how Michele Ragusa handles the part.
Updated On: 8/4/08 at 06:20 PM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 7:11pm

I should try to find out when Shuler is going to be out again because I'd really like to see Jim as the Monster.

[simon_wilkie]

Posted: 8/4/08 at 8:44pm

Saw the show last Friday and was blown away. I'm from the UK and have been dying to see the show since it was first announced, and it really didn't disappoint. I'm a huge fan of The Producers yet I'd argue that Mel has surpassed himself with YF.

Roger and Christopher were superb as Frederick and Igor. Roger is def the heart and soul of the show and is phenomenal. If he was ill on Friday, I certainly couldn't tell. As for Chris: I think the role of Igor can make or break the show. He had huge shoes to fill after Marty Feldman made the role so iconic, yet he fits into them perfectly. A great homage to Feldman whilst making the role new, exciting and his for the stage. Loved how he kept hugging Roger when he was in trouble!

As for Kelly, I really liked her. I've only ever heard Sutton sing the role, but from what I heard Kelly was her equal IMO. Although saying that I've never been overly blown away by Sutton. I agree with whoever said that Inga is a boring role. Definitely the least fun and least exciting role in the show. I think that Kelly is great and doesn't deserve the negative criticism she's getting.

I'm sad that Megan is leaving. Was very glad I caught her before she went. I really can't imagine anyone else in the role. Who have they got to replace her? The applause she got when she walked on was phenomenal and she was hilarious throughout. Elizabeth was my least favorite character in the movie- I felt Madeleine Khan's usually perfect performances in Mel's films were not up to scratch in YF, but Megan made the role funny and interesting to watch. Good luck to whoever replaces her.

I hope the show continues because it is so good. Hilariously written, great songs and a breath-taking set and special effects. Not to mention the fun everyone seemed to be having all through the show!

I hope it comes across the pond - I'm dying to see it again ASAP! Worth a trip to the Big Apple all by itself!

[Elke]

Posted: 8/5/08 at 2:41am

I hope it comes across the pond - I'm dying to see it again ASAP!

Looks like it will... http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php?sid=437