Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein the musical opened at the Croswell Opera House last night, and it is funny and tuneful.
Based on the movie of the same name, it is familiar Mel Brooks territory and the entire movie script is intact here, and then some. It’s an adult (okay, PG-13) entertainment filled with double-entendres, old-school music hall bawdy humor, and it has Mel Brooks written all over it. He co-authored the book and wrote the music and lyrics — and while it sometimes feels like some of the songs have a trunk-song quality, they get the job done.
Especially noteworthy here are Steven Antalek who is terrific as Frederick Frankenstein; Payton Miller who is outstanding in the sexpot Inga role; Jordan Treger who plays a hilarious Igor; and Kyrie Crist as Elizabeth with hilarious character development. Nobody holds back and this sponteneity and dysinhibition show in big, showy, funny performances.
The ensemble is a virtual who’s who of recent Croswell regulars, as well as some good newcomers. Heavily loaded toward college age performers the cast skews somewhat young. This was a problem with the season’s earlier offering of Escape to Margaritaville, but not so here, with a youthful energy throughout (and some mighty fine tapping, thanks to choreographer Sarah Nowak). The vocal work under the direction of Wynne Marsh and the orchestra conducted by Raymond Nowak are terrific. Mark DePietro stages the entire production expertly and the individual and group scenes are well-crafted.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing on opening night and the show could have used another tech rehearsal or two for lights and sound, which will no doubt be smoothed out by the time you see this show.
I have to mention my favorite thing of the night, which had nothing to do with the actual show, but kudos to the professional handling of a short disruption when stage haze set off the fire alarm. No big deal. But my absolute favorite moment of the night was when the two actors playing the horses in front of the carriage (in a well staged “Roll in the Hay” number) were left stranded just standing on stage by themselves for a couple minutes. Wearing horse heads, they nodded at each other, occasionally looked right or left, or turned to look at the audience with a bewildered “what the heck” effect that left me laughing so hard I actually found my sides aching. That’s live theater, and that was a moment I will never forget.
Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein continues at The Croswell Opera House, Adrian, MI through October 27th. Tickets at croswell.org or (517) 264-SHOW
Mostly Musical Theatre 
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