SirNotAppearing Visits Young Frankenstein - 4/23

[SirNotAppearing]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 9:15pm

PREFACE- A devoted Producers fan, I was determined to see Young Frankenstein, original cast intact. And today, I went.

THE STARS -
Roger Bart: Jesus, I love Roger, but boy, was he annoying. Seriously, how many times can one use that high-scratchy voice shtick before you want to hang yourself? His singing was fine though, and he has good chemistry with all the stars. Just eh. He's getting a little tired, though- I swear I saw him put a mock gun to his head during the "Blazing Saddles" line in the encore, as if to say he didn't want to do another Mel Brooks show.

Megan Mullally: First of all, WHY is she top billed in this show? She's in one scene in Act I, and they sprinkle her in in Act II. They gave her the big bow on the lift and everything. She was okay-she was a little weak during "Don't Touch Me", but hit her stride in her scenes with the monster.

Sutton Foster: I LOVE THIS WOMAN! Really, she was great with what they gave her. She should be top billed. However, she did play Inga as a bit of a slut during "Listen to Your Heart", which I disliked. She's also having trouble holding her accent.

Andrea Martin: Hilarious. She's really settled into this role, and it does her good. She's not afraid to play around anymore-during her speech introducing "Puttin' On the Ritz", people kept laughing for no reason, so she started doing a fake "he he he" in between, gaping right at the audience. (Side note: this was an EASY audience. People were laughing at every line, especially if Megan said it or if it was the setup for a big joke they knew from the movie).

Chris Fitzgerald: Please give this man a Tony. He's manic, madcap, and marvelous as Igor. It's a shame he gets no recognition for it-low billing, and a crappy bow.

Justin Patterson: He was the understudy for Shuler as the Monster. He did fine-good with the dance steps, and good with the random grunting. I never saw Shuler to compare him to, so yeah. He doesn't really look the part-he's thin, and he was clearly wearing HUGE lifts on his shoes. He was really nice in person, though. He was the only real star that actually came out the stagedoor, besides one of the swings, Craig Waletzko, and two ensemble ladies. That was disappointing.

All in all, the production was fine. Not awful as Brantley would have you believe but fine. The show is technically amazing, and the music is fine, but there's just something missing, despite the best efforts of Brooks, Stroman and Co.-who hammer in EVERY SINGLE JOKE with huge grins and high spirits, like they're playing for a group of terminally ill children who are also allergic to subtlety. But that's what the audience wants-like Spamalot, most of the people around me had seen the movie, giving huge applause whenever the SETUP to a hilarious joke came (someone still needs to explain the horses whinnying to me). The Act I finale was also underwhelming. However, tourists will still love it.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS-
-That number with the ghosts is FREAKING COOL.
-The old lady in back of me on line calling Roger Bart a "nelly little queen".
-That staircase spinning around during "Don't Touch Me".
-That flashing light thingy during "Puttin' On the Ritz"
-The sets are great.

[sally1112]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 9:24pm

Roger Bart was on vacation when I went, but I agree with most of your thoughts. Andrea Martin is priceless. She had me laughing in every scene she was in.
Chris is great too. I wasn't impressed by his performance on The Today Show but he more than made up for it when I saw him in person.

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 9:31pm

VEry good review-- I'm dying to see this!

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 9:36pm

Shuler wears huge lifts on his shoes too.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 9:41pm

My mom and her boyfriend are seeing it tomorrow night, I helped them book the seats MONTHS ago. Here's hoping they LOVE it just as much as I did! I'll keep you well-informed.

Good review, thanks for sharing your thoughts, Sir.

Also, as an aside, before "Puttin' on the Ritz", when Andrea addresses the audience, the whole "he-he-he" bit (ss you put it) has been happening since ... the show opened. Nevertheless, it's utterly hilarious - I should know, I have THE MOST distinctive laugh, ever, and she called me on it!

Best,
- Mike

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 9:53pm

Blucher is the German word for glue...

Hence, horses whinny when they hear it.

[SirNotAppearing]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 9:57pm

Uh uh.
http://www.snopes.com/movies/films/blucher.asp

Posted: 4/23/08 at 10:33pm

I'm actually really interested in seeing this show because it's all about the glitz and glamour, so I want to see the plot and the actors. I feel like there are so many "names" is this show, so it would be interesting to see how everyone did. And I have never seen the movie, so I probably wouldn't understand most of those jokes, but hey, if they aren't subtle...

Thanks for the review!

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 12:17am

Glad you liked the show!

[kel62286]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 12:52am

I have to agree with you on Chris- He stole the show. I too thought Megan would be in it more, and her performance felt very Will & Grace. One thing that I loved most about this show was the sets and effects, most of which you mentioned. I never saw the movie, but the guy behind me would say the punch line out loud before it happened - Annoying!

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 1:11am

I have seen the show through "other means" and loved what i saw and when I go in august Im really thinking of seeing it. Im a huge sutton fan though and shell be gone and that kills alot of the appeal for me. Im glad you enjoyed though! I do agree chris should get a tony though, at least a nomination if not a win he steals the show. I also loved Andrea Martin!

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 1:14am

Sorry SirNotAppearing,

I heard that from some TV program, so I guess they were poorly informed.

I apologize.

[kate2]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 2:02am

I agree 100% about Roger Bart, SirNotAppearing!

[Elke]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 2:47am

Thanks for your excellent review, SirNotAppearing. I agree with a lot of your comments, except those regarding Roger Bart. I do like him in the role, but maybe I'm biased. I do respect your opinion though. We can't all like the same things.

Oh and you're right: that staircase spinning around during "Don't Touch Me", that IS cool! :)


Updated On: 4/24/08 at 02:47 AM

[legally_popular]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 12:50pm

Megan is the biggest ‘name’ out of all the stars, but considering how little she’s in it, I was shocked how they gave her the second to last bow (and from the lift) during curtain calls. I wonder if they’ll change it when she leaves…?

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 6:29pm

I saw YF last week and absolutely loved the performances of Roger Bart and Christopher Fitzgerald (neither of whom I had seen in any stage production before). They really played well off each other, the ad-libs were cracking and the energy of the whole cast was hugely infectious (particularly impressive in an auditorium the size of the Hilton IMHO).

I wasn't expecting to be so entertained given the reviews I'd read, but I guess that just goes to show that you should make your own mind up. I tend to prefer musicals / plays which make me laugh and this one DEFINITELY didn't disappoint on that score!

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 7:25pm

Roger Bart was out when I saw the show, but Jon Patrick Walker did a terrific job ! For those who are not sure, go and see the show ! It's not nearly as bad as the reviews have you believe and me and my friend had a really entertaining evening ! Actually, I enjoyed it way more, than the sooooo over-rated "The Producers".