YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN 11/5/07 Press Preview Review (No Spoilers)- Page 2

[ChecksintheMayo]

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN 11/5/07 Press Preview Review (No Spoilers)#25

Posted: 11/6/07 at 11:34pm

When I saw Young Frankenstein in Seattle I came out singing "Everybody's Got the Right" from Assassins.

I started off humming "There is Nothing Like the Brain" and ended up at "Shy" from Once Upon a Mattress

[WickedForever2]

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN 11/5/07 Press Preview Review (No Spoilers)#26

Posted: 11/7/07 at 2:34am

Couldn't agree more about Fitzgerald, he's so perfect in this role. I did however enjoy Andrea's performance and found Sutton's to be a bit lacking... it's so interesting to me how we can all see the same show and walk away with such different opinions!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN 11/5/07 Press Preview Review (No Spoilers)#27

Posted: 11/7/07 at 10:42am

Something else I wanted to note was that I couldn't help but be repeatedly taken aback at the unnecessary use of obscenities in the show. Perhaps I'm not recalling THE PRODUCERS well enough, but I don't remember there being many curse words used.

I mention this because I remember thinking that THE PRODUCERS was a safe show to bring a whole family to, kids included, but I cannot say the same for YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. The instances in which swears are included feel forced and could easily be replaced with other terms, in my opinion. I think this may put a dent in the box office future, as word may get around that this isn't a show for which to invest in tickets for the whole family.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

[Pippin]

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN 11/5/07 Press Preview Review (No Spoilers)#28

Posted: 11/7/07 at 10:45am

Foster, refresh my memory of some of the curses. I honestly can't remember any right now.

"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."

[Wanna Be A Foster]

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN 11/5/07 Press Preview Review (No Spoilers)#29

Posted: 11/7/07 at 10:58am

One that sticks in my mind is Roger Bart shouting the F-word in fear of the monster. Megan Mullally's "tits" repitition in her introductory number was plain unfunny (as a lyric). The "coming" line, used first in Elizabeth's introduction (from off stage) was funny, but then she went on to repeat and try to make a further joke out of it as a lyric in her song, which by that point the joke had come and gone and it felt forced. I know the latter two are not blatant curse words, but they felt button-pushing, rather than integrated into a place that would cause laughter. It made Brooks look sort of desperate.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

[wickedrentq]

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN 11/5/07 Press Preview Review (No Spoilers)#30

Posted: 11/7/07 at 11:56am

I was there Monday as well, my first time, having never seen the movie.

I have to say though, of course it wasn't appropriate to mention in a review, but one of the first things I would say was how annoying the constant, constant applause was. I mean, I'll allow entrance applause for everyone, applause at the start of the show, etc. But I swear that audience was applauding every 5 minutes for things that I didn't even find funny! The only thing I could think is that the audience knew the movie so well that they were applauding certain lines, but that just seems silly...let's applause a line we're expecting? Then there were the people who actually stood up after Putting on the Ritz...which was certainly good, but standing-o worthy? No. A small part of me very much wonders if this enthusiasm might have been planted with critics in the house. Honestly, it's the only explanation I could think of...

Haha, as soon as Megan's song began, all I could think of was Everybody's Got The Right To Be Happy as well! It eventually changed but the beginning melody of each line was essentially identical. And I guess Nothing like the brain was supposed to reference there is nothing like a dame? If not, big copying there, too.

Anyway, as for the show itself...I was pretty bored the first half hour-hour, until the monster was created. I went with my sister who was eating everything up along with the audience, and I just really felt like I was missing something.

The creation of the monster was good, with the lights and the rising (though that scene kind of reminded me of Defying Gravity). And though the lighting was used very effectively, it hurt my eyes thoughout most of the night.

So yeah, once that happened, I got more into the show, and was able to see it more as something fun and fairly enjoyable, if not great. I think act 2 was much stronger than act 1.

As for the cast, I agree that Fitzgerald stole the show, and I too, found Martin quite funny, at the same performance. My sister, a HUGE W&G fan (the reason she saw it) announced that Megan was playing Karen Walker up there, minus the voice. She still was great, of course, but since that was something hotly debated...I thought there was differences enough, but she didn't. But she was also glad of it, so that's different.

Bart didn't bother me, and I felt like Sutton was kind of wasted. Not that she wasn't great, but she has more talent than the role demanded of her. I kind of agree with the whole they just wanted to have Sutton Foster in the show. And Fred Applegate was hilarious as the blind man. Shuler was a great monster, as well.

I've seen others write it in their past reviews, and I agree that the show just lacks...something. That spark. I laughed, but not nearly as much as most of the audience.

Still, assuming there weren't plants among the audience, and the reaction was true, they absolutely loved it, and it would seem that the show could be critic-proof, if the audience on Monday night was any indication.

"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli

[WestVillage]

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN 11/5/07 Press Preview Review (No Spoilers)#31

Posted: 11/7/07 at 12:09pm

Like you, while I was impressed with the lighting, there were times when it hurt my eyes as well. I don't know if it was the lighting, the gross over-amplification or my disappointment with the show as a whole, but by intermission, YF had given me a pounding headache.

[songanddanceman2]

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN 11/5/07 Press Preview Review (No Spoilers)#32

Posted: 11/7/07 at 12:26pm

The show is an average show with a great cast and creative team

The staging, Lighting, Costume are brilliant
The cast are great (except foster who i found dull),Bart was great in the role but lacked some spark.

The biggest problem for me was how slow act 1 was, i was falling asleep for most of Act 1 (except for please dont touch me which had me in stitches)

The show becomes what it set out to be in act 2

Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna