'Young Frankenstein' comes to life at Theatre Macon
Comedy icon Mel Brooks' 1974 film "Young Frankenstein" is reanimated as a musical comedy for the stage at Theatre Macon. The show opens tonight and runs through April 23.
"I'm a big Mel Brooks fan; most theater people are," said Theatre Macon Director Jim Crisp. "I've always considered his 'Young Frankenstein' the best of all his films. So many people know the film; it cuts across so many generations. People my age know it, and people in high school know it because it's just so clever, so witty and so funny."
The horror-comedy satire pokes fun of earlier film versions of Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein" and other iconic horror flicks from the black-and-white years of celluloid entertainment.
"It's just a perfect send-up of those wonderful 1930s Boris Karloff horror movies that my generation grew up with," Crisp said. "I had my eye on this 'Young Frankenstein,' and when it became available, I said, 'Golly, let's do that.' "
The story begins in 1934 when Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Bryson Holloway) of New York -- so ashamed of his family's dark past that he insists on his name being pronounced "Fronkinsteen" -- discovers his infamous mad scientist grandfather Dr. Victor von Frankenstein has died and that he must travel to Transylvania to put his family's affairs in order.
"This story is his journey toward accepting his legacy and his inheritance and becoming a true Frankenstein," Crisp said.
The young Frankenstein is joined along the way by the hunchback Igor (Patrick Cheek), and he hires a beautiful, yodeling lab assistant named Inga (Holly Spires).
But, alas, he cannot escape his past. At the Frankenstein castle, he meets the mysterious groundskeeper, Frau Blucher (Georgia Olson), whose name when spoken frightens the horses. That night, his ancestors visit him in his dreams. In the music number "Join the Family Business," the spirits implore him to continue the family tradition of bringing back the dead.
Upon waking and discovering his grandfather's lab, the young Frankenstein decides to continue the ill-fated experiments and sends Igor to the cemetery and the local "Brain Depositary" to fetch parts for his monster (Matt Astin). The lurching Igor accidentally destroys the scholar's brain he was sent for and at the last minute swaps it with an abnormal one.
"I was looking for a show that would offer a lot of actors an opportunity to participate, but a show that would also offer a number of leading roles, which this show does," said Crisp. "The actors in all the key roles are very experienced, very polished performers. They have done a lot of shows with us, and they deliver the goods. They are some of the best performers in the area."
Athens Carter and Ellen Wilson co-direct the live orchestra, and Colby Marshall-Zampa choreographs the nearly 30-person cast through the many dancing numbers.
"One of the big music numbers is a version of 'Puttin' on the Ritz' where the Frankenstein monster tap dances with a chorus of other people," Crisp said. "It's campy and fun and just thoroughly entertaining. It just comes under that heading of 'just come to the theater and forget your troubles.' "
"Young Frankenstein"
When: 8 p.m. April 8-9, 15-16 and 22-23; 7:30 p.m. April 14 and 20-21; 2:30 p.m. April 10
Where: Theatre Macon, 438 Cherry St.
Cost: $25 adults, $20 seniors (60 and up), $15 children/students through age 22
Information: 478-746-9485; www.theatremacon.com
This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 7:18 PM with the headline "'Young Frankenstein' comes to life at Theatre Macon ."