Young Frankenstein IS a Good Show!- Page 2

[Tir Na Nog]

Posted: 11/9/07 at 11:40pm

I did not like "Frankenstein" but I also thought "The Producers" was extremely overrated.

YF is not going anywhere. Even the worst reviews couldn't kill this show.

Let's not forget that the #1 show on Broadway right now (Wicked) did not exactly get the greatest reviews when it first opened.

[antz]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 2:02am

I thought YF was just an ok show (I didn't think the Producers was that great either). I still enjoyed it, but I don't really disagree with the critics.

Funny, I loved the cast, choreography, costumes, set, and found the score to be the weakest part of the show. Oh well, apart from the $450 premium price, the show will survive the critics for a while, but it won't have a terribly long run.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 11:26am

Brooks will not kill the show. Yes, people are disgusted with his ticket prices and peeved at his not reporting his grosses (which by the way is NOT his obligation) but that will not kill the show. The reviews were, as expected, mixed, but with few exceptions, they were not TERRIBLE. They simply echoed what we have all said, that the show could have been so much better.

It will run and play well to tourists and to probably 40% of the tri-state area audiences. Their advances are fine and they have just released 100,000 tickets at $120 (giving up on that lot at the $450 premium price). I would not shed tears for the production yet. I am only sorry this show did not reach the heights to which it aspired. While I do not subscribe to the idea that everyone should expect a wonderful show just because the Producers was so successful, I did love the movie and there was a lot in the film that one could see translated to the stage.

[mc1227]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 4:32pm

I agree Sam. I believe the creative team misjudged the audience and believed that anything they did post-Producers would be considered gold. There could have been so much more in the show that would have been better. The only thing holding this production together is the talent of Fitzgerald, Martin and Mullaly, IMO. A disppointment but certainly not a flop.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 11/11/07 at 12:04am

<< AM NY , a free paper, called it a monsterous bore >>

I couldnt agree more !!! Just got back, and I honestly, dont ever remember looking at my watch so many times during a show !!

"August: Osage County" seemed shorter !! (helped that I loved that show !!)

Anyway... the jokes seemed forced, and Roger Bart just killed me ! I mean, could you yell anymore !!?? It was tough listening to him after awhile.

So glad that I only paid balcony price !!! Was in Row D, on the aisle--pretty nice seat.

The women are good- (Mullally sings the heck out of "Deep Love", and Sutton is very good on "Roll in the Hay" , but IMHO, Christopher Fitzgerald is the reason to see this show if you are going to.

Score was extremely mediocre.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/11/07 at 12:45am

You really think people will be wanting refunds and will not buy tickets?

Um...does anyone remember Spamalot getting VERY VERY mixed reviews and becoming a phenomenon? Or Wicked? Or Beauty and the Beast?

And they all (including YF) have something in common in that they are all based on VERY popular films that all have cult followings. Young Frankenstein ticket holders, I think, will still go to the theater to see it. Most people don't even read the reviews, especially for a monster of a show like this that is bound to have tons of tourist appeal. I really don't think they have to worry about posting a closing notice just yet. This show isn't going anywhere for a while.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 11/11/07 at 12:52am

I could be wrong, but I think in general, the reviews for "Spamalot" were better than the reviews for "YF"-

I dont consider myself a huge "Spamalot" fan either, but think its much better than "YF"- (At least with the original cast- have not seen it in quite some time)

[guymy13]

Posted: 11/12/07 at 9:48pm

Hmm, I'm really looking forward to this show. What I've seen so far (on the Today show) seemed pretty fun to me. Testing1232, I'm glad to hear that Balcony row D isn't bad, as that's where my seats are. I was worried the view wouldn't be good. Hopefully I'll like the show more than you did, though. However, I'm sure it will be no Xanadu :)

[Testing1232]

Posted: 11/12/07 at 9:51pm

<< Hmm, I'm really looking forward to this show. What I've seen so far (on the Today show) seemed pretty fun to me. Testing1232, I'm glad to hear that Balcony row D isn't bad, as that's where my seats are. I was worried the view wouldn't be good. Hopefully I'll like the show more than you did, though. However, I'm sure it will be no Xanadu :)
>>

The view was great. I was in D 101, and it was perfect.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 11/12/07 at 9:57pm

"It's not so much that it's a bad show; it's just mediocre. I don't think anyone's going to be in pain seeing it, just disappointed. Me, I'll take Xanadu any day."

EXACTLY! I saw both this weekend. YF is just not that different from the movie to make it a "great" show. Same lines, same characters, there just was no suprise.

Half of the time I felt I was watching Karmann Ghia instead of Viktor Frankenstein, and Karen instead of Elizabeth. Don't get me wrong, I love both actors, but too similar to previous roles.

I'll do my own little review next weekend (have a tradeshow starting this Wedns, no time now).

Xanadu was FANTASTIC, loved it so much......and it had nothing to do with Cheyene Jacksons thighs staring me in the face......just a fun, FUN show.

More on both later

Updated On: 11/13/07 at 09:57 PM

[Testing1232]

Posted: 11/12/07 at 10:02pm

<< "It's not so much that it's a bad show; it's just mediocre. I don't think anyone's going to be in pain seeing it, just disappointed. Me, I'll take Xanadu any day."

>>

Uh-oh, get ready to be called a "fangirl"- :))

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/12/07 at 11:10pm

This past weekend, I saw YF, Xanadu and The Little Mermaid, which I enjoyed the most of the 3. Frankly, no one is more surprised by this than I AM!

[Mouses Magic]

Posted: 11/12/07 at 11:27pm

^^ Your wording is a little weird to me, or it could be that I have been up for 27 hours so im losing it ha ha. Either way, which show did you enjoy the most out of the three?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/12/07 at 11:43pm

"...The Little Mermaid, which I enjoyed the most of the 3."

Does this clarify?

I haven't been up for 27 hours, but since Saturday, I have only had about 8 hours sleep total, so we're close.

Updated On: 11/13/07 at 11:43 PM

[Macy2]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 10:59am

I have to respond to the comparisons between this show and "Spamalot". I just saw YF and I saw Spamalot forever ago with the original cast (except Sara Ramirez who was out -hahahaha) and Spamalot was by far a more clever, more fun adaptation of Monty Python's movies than YF was of its movie predecessor. The score to Spamalot was a riot -- even if you're not a Monty Python fan (I even have "His name is Lanc-e-lot, he likes to dance-a-lot" in my head at the moment) but Mel Brooks' songs in YF merit maybe a chuckle or two, but were by and large a yawn. I just think that as far as creativity goes, YF felt slapped together and lacking, while Spamalot was surprisingly witty and overall a more entertaining show.

Updated On: 11/13/07 at 10:59 AM

[Mouses Magic]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 12:33pm

Thanks for clarifying Miss PennyWize! Cant wait to see it in Jan!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 7:29pm

pennywise, you REALLY liked Little Mermaid better than Xanadu??? Why I would have thought Xanadu would be better for you, with that very handsome man sitting next to you.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 8:34pm

Excuse me, Elphaba, but I happened to be sitting next to THREE "very handsome" men at Xanadu!!! (Not to mention the one on the stage.)

Remember, I had a handsome man sitting next to me at MERMAID, too. (That is, if age 5 qualifies as a "man.")

[Elphaba]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 8:48pm

Yes, but I am the Mary, the other two at YF were Rhodas, and I can't count the little one as he beats us all!

oh you had to mention Cheyene's thighs you just HAD TO!
That image is just burned into my retinas!

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/13/07 at 9:41pm

How about You be the Mary, one can be the Rhoda and another the Phyllis. (And we know who is who, don't we?)

This thread is SUPPOSED to be about YF, not Cheyenne Jackson's thighs. So let's get back on topic:

Roger Bart is absolutely adorable in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, but since we never see his thighs, we can't really compare them to Cheyenne Jackson's, whose thighs are superb.

There. Back on track.