Young Frankenstein- Page 3

[EganFan2]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 3:11pm

I don't care much for Kristin Chenoweth (OK, I don't care for her at all), but I must say this role has her name written all over it (Elizabeth, not Inga).
Updated On: 10/11/06 at 03:11 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 3:16pm

They should just re-hire Gene Wilder.

Even so, they're still gonna ruin it.

[worrell4077]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 3:42pm

I am so looking forward to this. So, Kristen is doing Elizabeth and Sutton is reading for Inga, that'll be interesting. I'm really looking forward to Roger Bart as I-gor, I've always had a feeling that they would pick him, but I think I'm really excited for Cloris Leachman.

I really hope they name someone for Frankenstein soon. I think that Hugh Jackman would have be an interesting and probably a great choice for Frankenstein. For some reason, I can see Kelsey Grammar as Frankenstein, but I don't know.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 4:50pm

I wonder if they'll do a hair color "swap."

Inga should be a beautiful, blonde Swede, and Elizabeth should (probably) be a brunette. It will help if Kristin doesn't come off as a blonde "cutie-pie" trying to act sophisticated and aloof. That would be terrible (for the "don't touch me" fiancee).

I actually think Sutton will be great, and bring out the girl-next-door "earthiness" of Inga (and her great knockers).

Someone like Krakowski doesn't do earthy well... she would probably be better suited for the Elizabeth role, actually. But it's a moot point now.

Updated On: 10/11/06 at 04:50 PM

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 6:07pm

So everyone already planning on seeing this based on casting alone...

Is anyone else getting the impression that that's what Mel Brooks is after? Awesome cast that will hopefully make people look beyond what could possibly be not so great material?

I know it's early, and that cast alone definitely makes me want to see it...but I gotta be a little bit cynical about the all star cast.

[broadwaybound882]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 7:28pm

First of all, I don't see Mel Brooks as the type to do TOO much stunt casting. Remember, when he grew up, he was immersed in a Broadway without stunt casting. I also have to say that Sutton in this production wouldn't do a darn thing for me, she should just stay with Drowsy. Second, if Ms leachman (which would be still great if she can do this Frau Blucher (neigh!!!!!!!!!) thing) really can't physically perform the role get Carolee Carmello to do Blucher, she'd be wonderful. I'm looking forward to Roger and Shuler, however, the same applied with Producers, don't be surprised if these names aren't attached to the Broadway musical we will see seeing as how while it may be one year, much can change and probably will after this 1st workshop. Lastly, Drew Sarich would make the perfect Young Frankenstein. I could just imagine him saying "Hearts and Kidneys are tinker toys!"

[Holly2]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 7:41pm

Drew would be intersting or maybe Norbert Leo Butz. I can't see Hugh Jackman in this role. Gene Wilder was great but he wasn't the classical leading man type that Jackman is. As for Fallon or Cavanaugh, can either of them sing? I'm not trying to insult them but I honestly don't know if either has the voice for a Broadway show. Does anyone know if they are singers?

[JACXR71]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 9:24am

From today's Page Six:

Perfect Pitch?

CAN Greg Kinnear sing? The question has come up now that we've learned Mel Brooks was in L.A. this week talking to Kinnear about playing the lead in the Broadway version of "Young Frankenstein." The Post's Michael Riedel has reported that, with first-choice Hugh Jackman too busy making movies, Jimmy Fallon and Tom Cavanaugh are under consideration for the role created by Gene Wilder in the 1974 comedy classic. Among the songs in the show is Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz."

[Jon]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 10:58am

Kinnear can definitely sing - and dance. He did a great rendition of "Summertime" in that Farrelly Brothers movie about the conjoined twins.

Tom Cavanagh was in the revival of SHENANDOAH and also replaced Hunter Foster in URINETOWN.

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:12am

Okay...let me just say that you got my attention with Greg Kinnear.


BUT


Is this a good property to musicalize? The film, if you break it down, is a VERY episodic piece, with NO character development. It is a fantastic movie, but i really don't think it'll hold together onstage without some major rewrites.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 11:21am

Some of the remarks on this thread are pretty hateful and jealous. To say the show is going to stink before the scripts have even been printed is what I would expect from a twelve-year-old kid, which I sometimes suspect there are plenty of around here.

Mel Brooks created a great movie classic and has created a gretest-number-of-Tony-awards-musical based on another of his films. I'd rather be forced to sit through endless performances of "The Producers" with the worst cast imaginable than have to watch a single performane of the two musicals the teenies rave about on this site (R and W).

So give the man some credit, a chance and while you're at it, your respect. If my wife had passed away so sadly and, I suspect, horribly, I'd be in a cave somewhere for years.

Sorry to flame, but for once I'm a little steamed.

[leefowler]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 12:06pm

allofmylife:

Classy reply. I don't have a problem when people post negative stuff about shows they've seen, even in previews, but it seems bizarre to post negatively about shows that not only have you not seen, but have not even been finished yet.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 12:16pm

I'm not really sure if we look at the character of Inga in the same way, best12bars, but I understand what you're saying.

Also, I could sort of see Toni Collette or Rachel York as Elizabeth.

[ken8631]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 12:25pm

Sutton would be fine actually. Won't she still be busy with "Chaperone" though?

And what's Gene Wilder doing anyway? Maybe available?

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 12:33pm

"The film, if you break it down, is a VERY episodic piece, with NO character development."

Oh, MisterRussell...

Very episodic? Agreed. But no more so than the original Universal "Frankenstein" film.

No character development? Don't agree with that at all.

Fredrick Frankenstein faces "who he is," comes to terms with his ancestry, and does a complete change in his beliefs and priorties from the beginning of the story to the end (including his taste in women!).

Elizabeth transforms from the frigid, "perfect" fiancee, into a freaked out Bride for the Monster.

The Monster changes from a childlike creation to a pipe-and-slippers bed partner for his Bride (via a brain transplant).

Inga changes from the innocent Swedish farmgirl into a partner and love interest for Fredrick.


Other than the fact that no one changes skin color or religions during the story, I think it's covered.

Updated On: 10/12/06 at 12:33 PM

[Jon]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 12:43pm

I think the biggest difference between PRODUCERS and YF is that PRODUCERS wasa movie about a Broadway musical - and was perfect for adaptation into a Broadway musical. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is a movie that is a tribute/parody of another MOVIE. A good deal of its charm was that it was shot in black-and-white, using some of the actual sets from the original Frankenstein movies (the laboratory gadgets, for example). It was a movie for movie lovers.

[jess20882]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 1:18pm

maybe someone already said this (i didn't, admittedly, read every single post in this thread) but what about michael cerveris in the role of dr. f? just a thought...

[devonian.t]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 3:39pm

I worry that it ends up looking like Dance of the Vampires- hokey peasants etc.

Love the movie and would go to Frau Blucher the Musical like a shot. YF is one of my favourite movies and I hope the show matches its endless brilliance.

Would Dr F be a suitable role for Hunter Foster?

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 3:51pm

Jon--That's a very good point! It was an homage and a skewering of a dawning film genre---"The monster movie."

Kinda like "Singin' in the Rain"... which was also an homage and a skewering of a dawning film genre...and didn't work so well on stage.

But The Producers (and Singin'... and even 42nd Street and Sunset Blvd.) would all fall under the "backstage/behind-the-scenes story" category. They all knew they were working on shows or films, as part of their stories.

Young Frankenstein makes ongoing "winks" to the fact that it's spoofing a film, but the actors (as characters) don't go home at the end of the day in the plot, etc.

One of the biggest adjustments for me (as you have pointed out) is going to be seeing this story in COLOR. Something Mel Brooks was so against when making his film. He KNEW it wouldn't work well at all.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 3:53pm

Gene Wilder is in his 70s at this point which is way too old for the role.

I think Fallon is all wrong for it -- plus he can't act.

Hunter Foster is an interesting choice, though.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 3:54pm

Hunter Foster- for true.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 4:05pm

Toronto's Michael Therriault (Dora winner for Producers and Lord of the Rings) is a dead ringer for Gene Wilder and a talent to boot. Too bad he is in process of negotiations for Lord of the Rings in London, because he would have been perfect.

Akiva

[DG]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 5:18pm

Has Norbert been mentioned for Frankenstein?

[jess20882]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 5:26pm

Ooooh NLB would be GREAT!

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 6:02pm

I really like the idea of Greg Kinnear.