by: Emma Fleming
On Thursday, April 4 Parkland’s Theatre Program hosted the opening night of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein. According to the Music Theatre International website, Brooks, a famous comedian and filmmaker, adapted his original film into a legendary Broadway musical. The musical follows the story of Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson and last living descendent of mad scientist, Victor Frankenstein. Frederick hails from New York, where he works as a traditional scientist avoiding the whacky connotation of his family name. But after the death of his grandfather, Frederick inherits the family mansion located in Transylvania. The main character travels to Transylvania to sell the estate but ends up dabbling in the work of his late grandfather.
Upon entering the Harold and Jean Miner Theatre, audience members were greeted by friendly hosts and hostesses and were handed a Young Frankenstein playbill. Following this interaction, members were directed to find a seat in the quickly filling auditorium. With an almost full theatre, the orchestra began playing the opening number. The orchestra, which sounded well-rehearsed and professional, was a nice complement to the show. The orchestra added a personal touch to the musicality of the show with the musicians never overpowering the actors and actresses. At certain points in the show, like for Frederick’s dream encounter with his grandfather or when Frederick and his mad scientist team discovered the mansion’s secret laboratory, the orchestra effectively built suspense and anticipation within the audience.
One of the most appealing aspects of the show was the set design and lighting. At the beginning of the show, there was an appealing green lighting effect that resembled that of moonlight. Along with the lighting were a convincing mountain scape and cobblestone walls that took the audience back to 1800s Transylvania. The set was eye-catching, as the lighting changed occasionally to signify a change in time and to keep the attention of the audience. Two particularly interesting details were the tree silhouettes that were casted on to the backdrop and the stark white lighting during intermission. The tree silhouettes made the outdoor scenes more believable and eerie, which added to the overall feel of the musical. Likewise, the white lighting during intermission mimicked that of a creepy operating room or laboratory. Although the lighting was a bit uncomfortable, it generated a discomfort that matched the plot of the musical. The only thing the audience needs to be wary of are the strobe light effects that occur during the play, which have the potential to be jarring.
Not only were the technical details above par, but the acting and singing also left the audience satisfied. Igor, which is pronounced “eye-gor” in the show, garnered many laughs from the audience. Played by Autumn Ellis, Igor must be one of the most dynamic characters in the show. Ellis’ commitment to the character, acting ability and singing ability brought Igor to life on stage. The whit of the character’s lines paired with the delivery of Ellis made Igor an interesting character to watch. Similarly, Frederick, who is played by Braydn Wambach, was also an entertaining character. Wambach’s singing and dancing abilities shocked the audience in a positive manner. Wambach’s confidence on stage also translated well with the audience.
The cast generated many laughs from the audience and performed believably. The musical numbers had a 1940s Broadway feel, and the singing was executed well. There were many memorable parts of the show, like Frankenstein’s dance number or Elizabeth’s “Please Don’t Touch Me,” musical number. Although the show appealed to the adult audience members and left many roaring with laughter, it is not necessarily a show for immature audiences. Because it is a Brooks piece, there are many suggestive scenes throughout the show. Brooks’ raunchy, surface humor did indeed create moments of shock and hilarity, but the show seemed to lack a strong message or deeper meaning. Overall, the musical did provide the audience entertainment. If you like comedy or are looking for a laugh, then go see the Parkland Theatre’s rendition of Young Frankenstein.
For more information about the show, for show–times, or to reserve tickets, head to the Parkland Theatre Program website at www.parkland.edu.
