#1
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.
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.
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