Mel Brooks' 'Young Frankenstein" Musical Gets Critical Lashing
Filed under: Comedy, Music & Musicals, RumorMonger, Newsstand
I really, really love Young Frankenstein, as is obvious from my retro review here. It has always been my favorite Mel Brooks movie, and was one of the first DVDs I ever bought. The film began my love of everything Madeline Kahn; it was one of the few great movies in my youth that wasn't a retro Disney movie or '80s crapfest. It's just damned good. After all the success Brooks had with The Producers on-stage, one would think that the same success could be found with source material like Frankenstein, but unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case.In their Studio Briefing news at IMDb, there's a collection of notes from theatrical reviewers on the Broadway production, and they aren't very positive. In fact, it's looking like this musical is tarnishing all the wonder of the original film. According to Ben Brantley, the production saps the original of its joy, and definitely isn't worth its exorbitant budget and pricey premier seating; Chris Jones called it a "colossal disappointment", while even the nicer reviews still say the magic, spark, and greatness is gone. That's really a shame. On the one hand, at least we'll probably be free of a movie that is based on a musical, which is based on a movie. But it's still sad. Have any of you seen it? Is it as much of a waste as the reviewers describe?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-09-2007 @ 5:45PM
Anthony said...
I worked for the building that this show rehearsed in. While I haven't seen the show with it's grand set I did get to see it straight through with all of its dance numbers. I'd have to agree that there really is a lack of magic. More so I think it has to do with the fact that great musicals are made from mediocre movies. The Producers was very funny but nowhere near the level that Young Frankenstein was. There was a smaller expectation level. I think this show suffered from expectations that they couldn't meet.
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11-09-2007 @ 11:06PM
Curt said...
sigh... Of course it's bashed critically. the original movie is overrated and not worthy of the broadway treatment.
And no, I'm not trolling. It really is a terribly unfunny movie.
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11-10-2007 @ 12:13PM
zencat said...
I love the movie.
It's odd how poor Frankenstein always bombs on stage. Every decade someone tries to launch a big lavish Frankenstein stage production (Dracula, Phantom...why not Frank?) and they always tank. And they aren't just poorly received. They are disasters that close in a night. The Curse of Frankenstein?
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11-10-2007 @ 1:03PM
cb7296 said...
Young Frankenstein did a trial run in Seattle and I saw the show while it was here. I was apprehensive that it would be a letdown, but it was actually very funny and very entertaining. The audience completely ate it up. It stays pretty true to the movie, with the addition of some great songs. Perhaps maybe some of the early critics are just backlash against Mel Brooks and the ridiculous ticket prices for the show. For the $70 we paid it was a great night out. I'm sure I'd feel differently at $400 or whatever they are charging in New York.
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11-10-2007 @ 3:44PM
Porcalina said...
I saw it and liked it. It's not amazing but definitely a fun time.
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11-13-2007 @ 5:13PM
Bruce said...
When I saw the production in Seattle, the first act was running long and some character motivations seemed inconsistent. I saw Mel Brooks and his writing partner Thomas Meehan at the performance and was confident that they would work out the kinks. Apparently not. Still: As Elizabeth (Megan Mullally) tries to avoid Victor's embrace in PLEASE DON'T TOUCH ME, someone on the ship misinterprets her body language as a "new dance craze" and the "touchless" dance sequence is hilarious, right down to the touchless "dip" where the women all land flat on their butts. Elizabeth's second act ode to DEEP LOVE is also very funny. Andrea Martin is amazing as Frau Blücher. The best production number JOIN THE FAMILY BUSINESS, borrows shtick from THE DREAM in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. In Victor's "nachtmare," a parade of mad-Frankenstein ancestors and their assistants assemble a 20-foot-plus dancing monster puppet that made me laugh so hard my stomach ached. As for PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ, a chorus line in monster shoes is really fun. The over-the-top sets are sometimes more fun than the songs but I don't think it's fair to compare this to THE PRODUCERS and I wouldn't pay $450 bucks to see anything, so that's a moot point as far as I'm concerned.
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11-17-2007 @ 2:12PM
Marie Barrett said...
Last Wednesday, ,my two friends and I traveled from Pennnsylvania to Transylvania to enjoy "The Young Frankenstein." We all departed the theatre with a mania not only for the calibre of the production but for the music and lyrics which were outstandia.
However, just one little complaintia. Why use the four-letter F word, which, for such a marvelous production,was not necessaria.
Long live Mel Brooks and particular, his brainia.
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