My Thoughts on YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (Gene Wilder was there)- Page 2

[DG]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 11:24am

What was the audience reaction, overall?

[sondhead]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 11:29am

Excellent review. You liked it a tad more than me, but I think I agree with everything you said!

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 11:51am

Thursday night's audience was very enthusiastic.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 1:09pm

The audience reaction when I saw it was moderate. Everyone applauded as soon as the lights went down out of excitement, but then it was pretty much just laughs of recognition when people knew a line and the applause at obligatory spots. Then in act II, Puttin on the Ritz made the whole house go CRAZY, but after that it went back to moderate, and during the curtain call people very slowly stood up more and more depending on who was coming out.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 4:44pm

I saw it Thursday and liked it very much. And I loved The Producers.....having said that, am I the only one who thinks comparisons to The Producers are unfair?

I understand and agree there are some similarities in style and scenes but saying stuff like it's not as great as The Producers...it's a different show. I think it would be almost impossible to follow up The Producers with another hit of the same proportion.

Just my two cents.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 4:56pm

Audience was apeSH*T for the show yesterday afternoon. Especially enthusiastic responses to "Blucher (neigh)" and the Blind Hermit's shack.

Lorelai - it will invariably be compared to The Producers. There's no way around it.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 5:42pm

I know it's inevitable.....I just don't think it's fair.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 6:30pm

Lorelai - I think it's absolutely fair to compare - it's like the Producers, but not as good. And the exact same team made it, so obviously they didnt' do as good a job.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 6:50pm

As I'm sure I've already said...what I loved about The Producers was the originality. Yes, it was like the movie, but there was enough different to make it worthwhile.

And, as Thesbijean has already said, it had still that "spark" even when someone like Tony Danza was in it.

[WickedForever2]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 7:27pm

Hmm, it's interesting to me that people don't feel this lives up to The Producers. But, I don't particularly care for that show, so that must be why I don't share the feelings... I loved Young Frankenstein and would choose it over The Producers any day.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 8:34pm

How can you not compare YF to the Producers when so many aspects of it are reminiscent of The Producers?

...and, just so you know, I'm not a fan of The Producers.

[antz]

Posted: 10/15/07 at 1:38am

It sounds like some people will like this show and some will not. But very few are going to say to their friends and family, "YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS! GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!" Without that word-of-mouth endorsement, the show will not have an amazing run.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 10/15/07 at 1:50am

Comparing Young Frankenstein to The Producers is completely fine IMO, though, a proper analysis of the show should not just be comprised of the comparison.

It's the same creative team. Both shows are based on Mel Brooks films, he write both shows and produced both shows. It's like comparing two books by the same author or two films directed by the same person.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 10/15/07 at 1:50am

Comparing Young Frankenstein to The Producers is completely fine IMO, though, a proper analysis of the show should not just be comprised of the comparison.

It's the same creative team. Both shows are based on Mel Brooks films, he write both shows and produced both shows. It's like comparing two books by the same author or two films directed by the same person.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/15/07 at 10:49am

And I loved The Producers.....having said that, am I the only one who thinks comparisons to The Producers are unfair?

Same author, same lyricist, same composer, same director/choreographer, same designers, same style, similar score...when Mel Brooks is deliberately trying to make lightning strike twice in exactly the same way, how is comparing the two "unfair"? I wouldn't be surprised if a film version, directed by Stroman, is already in the works. I'm sure they've all cleared spaces on their Tony shelves already and are working on the production of Blazing Saddles.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 10/15/07 at 11:14am

^^^ Amen !!

Very well said !!!

J*

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 10/15/07 at 11:21am

Looks like this season isn't shaping out to be so great, huh?

Let's see:

revival of a show that's been done to death starring the winners of a reality show contest

musical adaptation of The Merry Wives of Windsor that was canceled during tryouts because of the star and his wife's egos

yet another Disney musical

and now an attempt to recapture the glory of The Producers (even though I will always be convinced that The Full Monty is a better show)

Throw in a revival of In My Life and you're all set

EDIT: Sorry, I completely forgot about Xanadu and A Catered Affair!!!

ANOTHER EDIT: And when I say I forgot about those two shows, I meant that they're the two promising shows of the current season. I mean Xanadu has the great press and A Catered Affair looks really good.

Updated On: 10/15/07 at 11:21 AM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/15/07 at 12:41pm

"I'm sure they've all cleared spaces on their Tony shelves already and are working on the production of Blazing Saddles."


Spoiler:

During the post-curtain call goodbye song, as they're running down the list of famous pairs ("Together Again for the First Time") they changed the line "Like Starbucks and Seattle" (where the show tried-out) to "Maybe next year Blazing Saddles!" Audience loved it.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 10/17/07 at 11:40pm

"Spoiler:

During the post-curtain call goodbye song, as they're running down the list of famous pairs ("Together Again for the First Time") they changed the line "Like Starbucks and Seattle" (where the show tried-out) to "Maybe next year Blazing Saddles!" Audience loved it. "

I actually loved that part because it was one of the few times I got a real belly laugh during the show! I loved the expression on Megan's face as well.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 9:24am

What's the show curtain?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 9:28am

A Transylvanian castle.

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 12:09pm

"The audience reaction when I saw it was moderate. Everyone applauded as soon as the lights went down out of excitement, but then it was pretty much just laughs of recognition when people knew a line and the applause at obligatory spots. Then in act II, Puttin on the Ritz made the whole house go CRAZY, but after that it went back to moderate, and during the curtain call people very slowly stood up more and more depending on who was coming out."


Pretty much the same reaction when I saw it on Tuesday night.

I also enjoyed it for what it was, the performers were fantastic, Bart's incessant and overdone screaming got old REAL quick- a little goes a long way with that.

the women were terrific, Martin was my favorite.

as for the score, I like it more than the Producers, which is not saying very much, but I still thought the Brooks may have grown since last time- not so much lyrically, just in his melody writing and overall mood of the piece.

Overall, I had a good time, and would see it again once discounts are available.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 10/18/07 at 12:46pm

I agree Pippin, the screaming was old almost as soon as he did it a second time.

[nygrl23]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 9:56am

I didn't like it as much as I hoped I would-Mel Brooks's comedy isn't really my favorite sometimes, and his songs are kind of eh. I went because of the cast, and focused on what the actors brought to the roles, and they're all terrific together. While I enjoyed the show because I liked the movie, I got this feeling that the actors were in "corporate" mode-trying to please the boss. The actors were awesome, the show just felt more moneyed than fun.

[the1liamg]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 1:58pm

Does anybody know when the original cast is contracted till? And when does the new booking period (April - onwards) open?

Thanks