10 Things I Hate About "Young Frankenstein"

My plan was to avoid seeing Young Frankenstein.  I saw The Producers with the original stars, but had no interest in YF (other than the cast).  If there was one show I was going to avoid in the 2007-08 season it was the new Mel Brooks juggernaut.  I was going to stick to my ground.  Oops.  All it took was an email from my friend Abby offering a ticket for Tuesday night's performance to get me in the theater.  Hey, I'm easy.

I usually relish the chance to write detailed reviews of the theater I go to in New York.  However, I can't bring myself to spend the time writing anything formal for something as bombastic and juvenile as Young Frankenstein.  Instead, I present to you "10 Things I Hate About Young Frankenstein."

10 Things I Hate About Young Frankenstein

1)    It’s The Producers with a monster.   Even down to the Swedish bombshell: Ula/Inga.
2)    All of the actors are underused.
3)    Mel Brooks insists on playing every (predictable) joke (at least) three times.  I haven't even seen the movie and I knew what was coming. 
4)    Megan Mullally disappears for an entire act.
5)    The songs aren’t even remotely memorable.  Now, I’m not one to believe that a song needs to be playing in your head as you leave the theater, but it’s nice if at least ONE number makes an impact.  Feeling sick does not count as an impact.
6)    Everyone else in the audience (except for my lovely date Abby) seemed to love it.
7)    There is no plot.  Nothing is at stake.  Doctor goes to Transylvania.  He makes a monster.  The monster gets out.  Then Dracula shows up.  What?!
8)    There are back-flips, and a kick-line.  In other words: Susan Stroman.
9)    It goes on for 2.5 hours.
10)     When in doubt, write a penis joke.
11)     It’s officially called “The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein.”
12)     I hate it because I couldn’t get away with hating EVERYTHING about it: Christopher Fitzgerald is fantastic as the doctor’s assistant Igor.  And you have to give credit to the cast who was committed to the material.
13)     I hate it because I haven’t been to a show where there are more than ten reasons to hate it in a LONG time.

(Abby sums it up nicely.)

Comments

[jennifer]

so...will this last longer than "company" on broadway?

[Barbara]

To a lot of people I know it's heresy to say this, but I've never been a Mel Brooks fan. I just don't get him. I'm sure he's a lovely man but broad comedy isn't my thing. You couldn't pay me to see The Producers or YF.

[Larry]

I wasted $100 on The Producers when it first came out in 2001. Aside from a few effectively staged production numbers - in the first act, that is; I'm specifically excluding "Springtime for Hitler" - it was generally moronic, offensive, and boring. The one famous song (already named), which struck me as an example of self-hating anti-Semitism, was of course greeted by howls of laughter from the Broadway crowd, some of whom no doubt had forked over $400 to sit in the "VIP" seats.

And what a stereotyped portrayal of accountants!

[jolene]

Is Sutton Foster still there? Maybe she left to do Shrek. I like Roger Bart - he was hilarious in The Producers.

I'd never pay money to see this, although like you, I'd never turn down a chance to see a show for free!

[Dan]

This play was hilarious. Lighten up, bitch.