I saw Young Frankestein last night.
I had a very good time. It was a lot of fun. It's not a "blow me away" show but it's lots of fun and full of laughs. There are some very nice effects (the horses are funny) and Puttin' on the Ritz is a standout. I don't know how much it's changed since George saw it in Seattle but it's now running at a little less than 2 and a half hours. I sat in the next to the last row of the balcony in the old Apollo and Lyric Theatres, then called the Ford Center for the Performing Arts and now called The Hilton Theatre. I had no problem seeing with and without my binoculars.
Roger Bart is out for an undetermined amount of time due to a back problem but I was very happy with Matthew LaBanca (making his Broadway debut). I would like to see the show with Roger Bart but if I don't I won't be disappointed. He was quite good and I think they have a good cover if Bart is out for a while.
The show is basic Brooks, full of rat-a-tat jokes, some funny and some falling flat (of course Thomas Meehan had a hand in that also, being the book writer). Lots of the jokes come straight from the movie. Happily, we did not have the stupid and annoying behavior of the film fanatics who come to a show and scream when a favorite scene is about to take place (can you tell how much I dislike that infantile conduct
).
The weakest part of the show (IMHO) is the score. It's not bad by any means, but it's not particularly memorable. There are some very funny numbers (besides POTR) but I don't see them surviving outside the show.
My other "complaint" about the show is Megan Mullaly. She's fine in the the show and I know the role in the movie is small but she doesn't do a lot AND (my real complaint) for me, she was channeling Karen Walker (her character from Will and Grace) a lot. The role seems to be written that way to take advantage of the audience familiarity with her but it doesn't always work for me.
All in all, I had a good time. I left the theatre with a smile and what more can you ask for for $51.50 nowadays.
I wanted to buy a souvenir for my nephew but they were all out of the Young Frankenstein baseball cap, all they had left were the Abby Normal hats. I will go back and see if I can find a Young Frankenstein hat before Christmas. What I would really like to get is the new book by Thomas Schumacher. I saw it advertised in the Playbill. It's called "How Does the Show Go On: An Introduction to the Theater". It's geared toward kids and I think builds on the success of "High School Musical". My nephew has discovered the joys of musical theatre (he's 12) and I think he will enjoy this book. It's not due out until December 18th. I suppose I could get it that day and mail it out so it arrives before Christmas. We shall see. I'm getting my niece (his sister) something from Little Mermaid, which I see on November 14th.
And that, dear friends, with a slight detour, is my brief report on Young Frankenstein. I don't know that it will be a blockbuster but it should do well and I hope it does do well.
And now, back to the Willard L. Eccles Charitable Foundation.
