The film comedy Young Frankenstein was a big hit in 1974 and endures as a cult classic. As he did for his Broadway hit The Producers, Mel Brooks wrote the music as well as lyrics and story for this scary, sexy and very silly musical comedy version.
The story of a man, a monster and the women who loved them is much the same. “If you like the movie,” said Rae Robison, stage director of the HSU show, “you will like the musical more. The spirit and even much of the dialogue remain the same, but there are different takes on some of the scenes and characters are expanded. But mostly there’s singing and dancing galore—including tap-dancing monsters and monster girls.”
But even those who have never seen the film (which includes, Robison says, members of the cast) can enjoy the music, the mayhem and patented Mel Brooks humor. “It’s just so funny,” Robison said. “Every night at rehearsals I am laughing until my face hurts.”
Eric Standifird (who starred in Anything Goes at North Coast Repertory Theatre last year) leads a large ensemble cast as the original monster-maker’s American grandson, Frederick Frankenstein (“My name is Fronk-un-steen!”) Ashley Adams plays his lovely lab assistant Inga and Sasha Shay is the mysterious Frau Blucher—both are HSU alums. Anna Duchi (as Frankenstein’s fiancé Elizabeth,) Keith Brown (the mechanically enhanced Inspector Kemp) and Christopher Moreno (the strange servant Igor) are all HSU students.
A well-known local actor plays the Monster, but his identity and what the Monster looks like are being kept secret as a surprise for audiences.
Elisabeth Harrington is musical director, and Paul Cummings directs the 10-piece band. Both are HSU Music Department faculty. New HSU Theatre, Film & Dance Department faculty Derek Lane is set designer.
Costume designer Marissa Menezes, dance choreographer Lizzie Chapman, sound designer Charles Thompson and assistant director Shea King are among the HSU students involved in the production. HSU alum Telfer Reynolds is lighting designer and Jayson Mohatt is technical director.
Young Frankenstein is a co-production of the HSU Music and Theatre, Film & Dance departments, with TFD chair Margaret Kelso as producer. The two departments stage a musical theatre show every other year.
Parental advisory: The Young Frankenstein film was rated PG. There is even more sexual humor and hijinks in the musical, as part of the pre-Halloween fun. The show is up close and personal in Gist Hall Theatre so two Saturday matinees are added because of its limited seating.
Young Frankenstein the musical is performed at Gist Hall Theatre on the HSU campus Thursdays through Saturdays (October 17-19, 24-26) at 7:30 p.m. with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (Oct 19-20, 26-27.) Tickets are $15/$10 students and seniors from the HSU Ticket Office (707-826-3928). For more information, visit hsustage.blogspot.com.