Susan Granger’s review of “Young Frankenstein” (Hilton Theater: ’07-’08 season)
Cursed with high expectations generated by the phenomenal success of “The Producers,” Mel Brooks has, nevertheless, concocted a deliciously demented musical comedy, a real crowd-pleaser that‘s derived almost completely from his 1974 movie of the same name.
When young Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Roger Bart) leaves his icy fiancée Elizabeth (Megan Mullally) and travels to Transylvania to claim the family castle, he’s urged by his ancestors (who, literally, come out of the walls) to revive its monster-building tradition. At his side is a willing – and beautiful – assistant Inga (Sutton Foster) and heavily accented housekeeper, Frau Blucher (Andrea Martin), with a dubious past.
As composer, lyricist, and co-librettist with Thomas Meehan, it’s Mel’s classic vaudeville show – with kudos to inventive director Susan Stroman, who lavishly stages the production, and Robin Wagner, who designed the creaky, elaborate old laboratory.
Mel’s tunes are bouncy and his lyrics get laughs, but the most memorable musical number revives Irving Berlin’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” which is greatly expanded from the film version. And the funniest running gag involves Frau Blucher’s singing “He Vas My Boyfriend” and two guys dressed as horses, tossing their heads and neighing on-cue.
Familiar to TV audiences from “Desperate Housewives,” Roger Bart plays Dr. Frankenstein straighter than antic Gene Wilder did on the screen but – for Broadway – that works just fine – and Christopher Fitzgerald is absolute perfection as humpbacked Igor. Schuler Hensley makes an amusing monster, while Fred Applegate scores in dual roles as the blind hermit and the armless police inspector.
As for the inflated ticket prices, the whole front row at the Hilton Theater is reserved for student tickets, costing $25, so to pay that absurd $450 for premium seats, you gotta be crazy – or very, very rich!