Young Frankenstein...my review- Page 2

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 2:40pm

Fitzgerald is the least well known actor in that group...probably why he's listed last?.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 2:44pm

Who is "Kemp"?

[Stagehand 15]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 2:55pm

Where would you consider the best seating for this show???

We were sitting in the third row of the balcony. Tomorrow night we're sitting in the middle of row H on the main floor. I'll be able to tell you then.

I will say that you can see the sets and lighting effects better from the balcony. From the main floor we'll be more involved in the show. I'm sure we'll be able to hear it better, too.

[cooperross]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 3:11pm

Kemp is the police inspector [played in the film by Kenneth Mars] and is played onstage by Fred Applegate.

[Stagehand 15]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 3:12pm

Were the sets really that big?

Yes, the sets were big and there were a lot of pieces. The ship, used only once, was huge.

Again, the laboratory took up the entire stage. There was the fore mentioned staircase that snaked its way down the upstage wall. Above it was a large conservative skylight. Downstage were the Dr. Frankenstein electronics, tesla coils, operating table and private study.

You have to remember that the Paramount, like many theatres built in the 1920s, has very little room in the wings. The theatre was expanded back in the early 90s to extend the upstage area but they didn't get anymore room offstage. Many of the stagehands are saying that it's like trying to fit 50 lbs. of manure into a 5 lb. bag.


Yes, the sets were big and there were a lot of pieces. The ship, used only once, was huge.

Again, the laboratory took up the entire stage. There was the fore mentioned staircase that snaked its way down the upstage wall. Above it was a large conservative skylight. Downstage were the Dr. Frankenstein electronics, tesla coils, operating table and private study.

You have to remember that the Paramount, like many theatres built in the 1920s, has very little room in the wings. The theatre was expanded back in the early 90s to extend the upstage area but they didn't get anymore room offstage. Many of the stagehands are saying that it's like trying to fit 50 lbs. of manure into a 5 lb. bag.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 3:14pm

I wonder why they decided to use a ship instead of a train...

[Stagehand 15]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 3:23pm

I wonder why they decided to use a ship instead of a train...

They do show the very front of the train. Frankenstein is never shown on it.

In the mist you see and hear the train moving from upstage to down. Then two sections of the train station come together cutting off your view of the train. This is where Igor and Frankenstein first meet.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 3:26pm

Aha. Thank you.

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 3:32pm

Thanks for the review!

[jpbran]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 3:32pm

It started at 8:03, and intermission hit at 9:55? That makes Rent's first act seem short by comparision...

Only one hour for the whole intermission AND the 2nd act? Not nit-picking, just wondering if there's going to be some scene reshuffling...

[joe5]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 3:52pm

I guess the music is not worth mentioning? Was it good or bad?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 3:54pm

I'm excited for the show, and I can't wait to see pictures of the show and hear the music. As much as I hate Mel Brooks and his money bags, I love this movie and I think it's just flat-out brillant, so I hope the stage version is the same.

Stagehand, I'm guessing they didn't try to do the whole "black and white" thing on stage like they did in the movie? Did they still keep that same charm though?

[Fanadu_Xtreme]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 3:54pm

The begging sounds like Wicked. They sing about how happy is he is dead and then they go back in time to tell the story.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 4:02pm

The show does not go back in time.

The villagers are singing about how happy they are that Frederick's grandfather is dead, not him.

[Stagehand 15]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 4:29pm

I guess the music is not worth mentioning? Was it good or bad?

*************************************************************

It's like hearing anything for the first time. You think, I like the earlier stuff better. In reality it's just that you haven't heard the new stuff enough.

The songs worked and in context songs like "Deep Love" were really funny. Others just played on the famous movie lines "He Vas My Boyfriend" and "Roll in the Hay".

I will say that in the musicals "Hairspray" and "Light in the Piazza" which both started life here is Seattle the songs and music were instantly memorable. "Hairspray" has such a great opening and every song seems to fit. "Piazza" just had a beautiful score that made it very romantic.

I didn't get that from "Young Frankenstein". I really enjoyed the music in "The Producers". It will be interesting to see if I warm up to it.

As I've said in a couple of my earlier postings I'll be seeing the show again tomorrow night (from row H) so I may come away with a totally different view. If so I will post it here.

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 5:56pm

Thanks Stagehand!

I enjoyed your early review!

[Ftworthguy]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 6:18pm

Stagehand -- YOU TOTALLY ROCK -- thanks for the in-depth review and answering all the questions. Flying up to see the show on the 28th -- CAN'T WAIT!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 7:04pm

It sounds just like the movie with nothing new but a few songs.I thought there might be more of a twist on it a la Spamalot. I suppose it is nice that they don't do the "Broadway spoof" thing that has been done to death. But is just seems rather predictable and bland from your review. I mean the only way this would be a "spoiler" is if you have never seen the film.
Thank you for taking the time to be so detailed though.

[dented146]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 7:05pm

Great review. Thank you. Did the show flow smoothly?

[cooperross]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 7:27pm

thanks for the review! I'll be seeing it the 31st and the 1st and am really looking forward to it.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 7:39pm

Did anything come out of traps in the floor?

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 7:57pm

"Somethingwicked asked about Andrea Martin as Frau Blucher. Andrea was very funny but she's not really given anything new to do that wasn't in the film."

Hmmm...

I thought the "explanation" of why they didn't use the incomparable Cloris Leachman was that they decided to go a different direction with the character.

Not so, it seems. So, basically, that was a bullsh*t answer.

Thanks for this account of the run-through. Still and all, it sounds pretty exciting.

[worrell4077]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 8:35pm

When they create the monster, do they still have the scene where they think it's a failure and then Frederick walks off and then runs back at the monster and starts pounding it and ending with I-Gor repeating the last thing Frederick said "Quiet, diginity and grace", and then the scene where there at dinner and the monster comes to life and the hear him but first Frederick thinks that it's I-Gor making a yummy sound.

So, does Frau partake in the monster making in this or is it still only Frederick, I-Gor, and Inga?

I'm very excited for this and I'm going to try for rush or lotto or whatever the 25 dollar orchestra seats turn out to be.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 8:38pm

I thought Brooks' reason for not hiring Leachman was that he didn't want to be responsible for killing her on stage.

[amoni]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 8:55pm

"What's Igor's costume like? How does the hump look?"

What hump?