One of the benefits of working at MS is discounted services through Passport Unlimited. On top of the discounts, often we get shots at advance tickets to shows and thus it is that last night Vicki and I went to see Young Frankenstein at the Paramount Theater .
We had great seats, we were in Mezzanine 2 Section 22 Row J Seats 7 and 8. What amazed me were the number of empty seats. When I have seen shows there before it has always been in packed houses. I don't know how it was down on the floor, but last night sections 21, 25, 31, and 35 were absolutely empty and sections 11,14,31, and 32 were maybe half full and the other sections all had some seats available. Right after the start of the show there were a number of people who moved down to better seats.
This a musical and there was lots and lots of music. There were 23 songs many with that definitive Mel Brooks flair. None of the music or songs are spectacularly memorable, but they all were enjoyable. The best number was Don't touch me sung by Megan Mullaly. Much of the choreography was very good, though some was better suited for the screen than the stage. What tended not be that enjoyable was how long some of them dragged on. This has always been a problem for Mel Brooks, knowing when to cut something short.
It has been a while since I have watched the movie but the show appears to follow the movie story line fairly closely. One thing is the innuendo is much more in your face, updating it for the 21st century and the fact that he was not working with... against movie censors. The sets were very good, often spectacular. There were a number of special effects created for the show, some of which worked and other which did not. I get the feeling they are still working out the bugs.
I found most of the costuming to be a as expected. Since you go in know what to expect they could not play with them too much. with some of the Village scenes giving us a very odd mixture of styles through the ages. There were a couple very good costumes, the one that stood out to me was the one on Victor Frankenstein, other than an odd poof in the butt area, even I would wear than one. And while not really spectacular in the normal sense, there was on lab coat that I thought looked cool and I would like to have. On the other hand the make up for the creature was awful. Uneven on the face and the bald skull cap was poorly applied, overall not a great effort.
The show is two acts with a total 19 scenes. For the most part each scene is vignette from the movie. Litte effort is made to stitch them together, it is expected that you have seen the movie, know the story, and that is why you are there. Most of the 'funny' bits from the movie are included as are all the important characters. Each time someone the crowd knew entered for the first time there was laughter and thunderous applause, even before they did anything.
Overall the acting was good, though I did have a touch of trouble with the lead, I could not decide if he was trying to replicate Gen Wilders performance or mix it with a little Don Adams - Agent 86 ... or even throw in a bit of Chef Ceasar from Teatro Zizanni. Inga was bit tall, at times she seemed to be as tall as the creature. But it was a thoroughly enjoyable cast.
This run of the show is in preparation for opening on Broadway, working out the kinks as it were and there were a few. Special effects that did not work just right, the whole book case scene had a few problems with timing (the bookcase did not rotate to start with, the timing got off so Inga was not putting the candle back at the right time, Fredrick was not 'blocking' the case at the right time.), people were continually dropping props that they then had to scoop up as if it were natural, there were points when props such as stethoscopes got caught on clothing and caused some problems.
In the end it was a fun show and I enjoyed myself. If they cut a few of the dance/song routines down and bit and get the bugs worked out of the various stage bits I think it will do well.
Update: I chatted with a friend from work who saw the same performance. From his vantage point (Main floor Row 0, Stage right), he had a very good view ot the bookcase mistakes. His take on part of it was that Dr. Frankenstein did not so much miss the mark in 'blocking' the bookcase but was hesitant to stick his face in there until he was sure it would stop. Probably very wise on his part.
This a musical and there was lots and lots of music. There were 23 songs many with that definitive Mel Brooks flair. None of the music or songs are spectacularly memorable, but they all were enjoyable. The best number was Don't touch me sung by Megan Mullaly. Much of the choreography was very good, though some was better suited for the screen than the stage. What tended not be that enjoyable was how long some of them dragged on. This has always been a problem for Mel Brooks, knowing when to cut something short.
It has been a while since I have watched the movie but the show appears to follow the movie story line fairly closely. One thing is the innuendo is much more in your face, updating it for the 21st century and the fact that he was not working with... against movie censors. The sets were very good, often spectacular. There were a number of special effects created for the show, some of which worked and other which did not. I get the feeling they are still working out the bugs.
I found most of the costuming to be a as expected. Since you go in know what to expect they could not play with them too much. with some of the Village scenes giving us a very odd mixture of styles through the ages. There were a couple very good costumes, the one that stood out to me was the one on Victor Frankenstein, other than an odd poof in the butt area, even I would wear than one. And while not really spectacular in the normal sense, there was on lab coat that I thought looked cool and I would like to have. On the other hand the make up for the creature was awful. Uneven on the face and the bald skull cap was poorly applied, overall not a great effort.
The show is two acts with a total 19 scenes. For the most part each scene is vignette from the movie. Litte effort is made to stitch them together, it is expected that you have seen the movie, know the story, and that is why you are there. Most of the 'funny' bits from the movie are included as are all the important characters. Each time someone the crowd knew entered for the first time there was laughter and thunderous applause, even before they did anything.
Overall the acting was good, though I did have a touch of trouble with the lead, I could not decide if he was trying to replicate Gen Wilders performance or mix it with a little Don Adams - Agent 86 ... or even throw in a bit of Chef Ceasar from Teatro Zizanni. Inga was bit tall, at times she seemed to be as tall as the creature. But it was a thoroughly enjoyable cast.
This run of the show is in preparation for opening on Broadway, working out the kinks as it were and there were a few. Special effects that did not work just right, the whole book case scene had a few problems with timing (the bookcase did not rotate to start with, the timing got off so Inga was not putting the candle back at the right time, Fredrick was not 'blocking' the case at the right time.), people were continually dropping props that they then had to scoop up as if it were natural, there were points when props such as stethoscopes got caught on clothing and caused some problems.
In the end it was a fun show and I enjoyed myself. If they cut a few of the dance/song routines down and bit and get the bugs worked out of the various stage bits I think it will do well.
Update: I chatted with a friend from work who saw the same performance. From his vantage point (Main floor Row 0, Stage right), he had a very good view ot the bookcase mistakes. His take on part of it was that Dr. Frankenstein did not so much miss the mark in 'blocking' the bookcase but was hesitant to stick his face in there until he was sure it would stop. Probably very wise on his part.
An additional review by nebula5.
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Only blooper I noticed was during the hermit scene - someone was moving around backstage, casting a big shadow on the backdrop; probably not intentional.
I think I spotted the same lab coat.