Mirvish Productions – Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein

Reviewed by Paula Citron

The official title is The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, and I had a very good time. If you enjoyed the original 1974 movie, you are guaranteed to like the musical version. This is, after all, a Mel Brooks show, so there is going to be snappy dialogue and double entendres galore.

The plot, such as it is, revolves around Victor von Frankenstein’s grandson Frederick inheriting the Transylvanian castle. Frederick, a prominent New York brain surgeon, gets around his questionable heritage by calling himself “Frahn-ken-steen”. Roger Bart and Shuler Hensley repeat their original Broadway roles as Frederick and the Monster respectively, and they are terrific.

Director/choreographer Susan Stroman can never do wrong in my book, and the show is visually clever. The 1930s costumes are gorgeous, and I particularly liked Mel Brooks’ songs which are period rip-offs.

Young Frankenstein may not be rocket science, but it sure is entertaining.

Young Frankenstein continues at the Princess of Wales Theatre until Apr. 18.

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The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein
Mirvish Productions
Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan (based on the 1974 screenplay by Brooks and Gene Wilder)
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks
Directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman
Starring Roger Bart, Shuler Hensley, Cory English, Brad Oscar, Beth Curry, Joanna Glushak and Anne Horak
Princess of Wales Theatre, Mar. 17 to Apr. 18, 2010
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