“Young Frankenstein” is vaudvillian schmalt


HARTFORD — Schmaltz, schmaltz, and a touch of that old vaudevillian razzle-dazzle is what you can expect with Mel Brook’s “Young Frankenstein” at the Bushnell Memorial Theater through Sunday.
Very much like the popular 1974 movie by the same name, and pretty much like any Mel Brooks vehicle one can imagine, it is the tried and true comedy formula that has made Brooks the comic legend that he is today.
For those unfamiliar with the plot, young Frankenstein, played by Roger Bart, is a doctor in New York in 1934 who has inherited his deceased grandfather’s castle in Transylvania. He goes to see the castle and decides to continue in the family business, eventually realizing that the apple doesn’t fall too far from the spooky family tree.
He brings a monster (Shuler Hensley) with a somewhat compromised brain, to life, and then does his best to help the poor creature fit in.
It’s a pretty simple premise stretched into two acts and plenty of clever and witty songs written by Brooks.
Both Bart and Hensley played their same roles on Broadway, and are doing a decent job keeping their characters alive on the road. Hensley’s singing voice is so excellent, it’s a shame it isn’t really heard until almost the end of the show.
The supporting cast is fine, including Frau Blucher, (neighing horses not withstanding) played by Joanna Glushak, who practically channels Gloria Swanson from the film “Sunset Boulevard,” and sings the torch song “He Vas My Boyfriend” like nobody’s business.
The other two woman, the mad cap Elizabeth, (Beth Curry) and flirty assistant Inga, played by Anne Horak, also are fine, hamming it up with the best of them.
The song “The Brain” was a feisty perky tune, that is pretty representative of the rest of show with the lines, “Though your genitalia are apt to fail ya, you can always depend on the brain.”
The best song of all wasn’t written by Brooks, but Irving Berlin’s “Puttin on the Ritz,” which they milk for all it’s worth — Nothing like seeing a green monster in tucs and tails with a top hat in a chorus line.
Cory English is appropriately goofy as the hunchback with a moveable hunch, Igor, with the requisite limp and plenty of mugging.
Also solid is Brad Oscar as the silly Inspector Kemp and the Blind Hermit.
The supporting chorus does a dandy job of dancing and singing. The men in particular are such excellent dancers that they feel woefully under-utilized in the show, with choreography and direction by Susan Stroman.
They did a nice and inventive turn during the dream sequence of incorporating a gigantic moving monster puppet, a la Julie Taymor.
Rocket science this isn’t, but there is plenty of sexual innuendo and naughty, naughty jokes along with some profanity, making this show unsuitable for kids.
It feels kind of like a guy’s comedy, with lots of bright lights, Tesla-like electrical coils and thunder and lightning sounds, along with plenty of long, long legs and oodles of ample bosoms prominently displayed.
The costumes, of which there were many, were exquisitely made, particularly for the women, with detailed, well-constructed German frocks and beautiful sequin gowns, by William Ivey Long.
But oh, just one more night of technical rehearsal would have been a good idea. The show started 20 minutes late and two times during the performance it was delayed because the large set pieces, particularly on stage right, just would not budge. Another time the screen wouldn’t drop and the stage crew were clearly seen along with the actors.
The actors made a joke of it, but really that shouldn’t happen and hopefully won’t in future performances.
Other than the technical glitches, there are no surprises in the predictable performances, but there’s a certain comfort in getting what you expect from a Mel Brooks show.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

3 Stars
Theater: The William H. Mortensen Hall at the Bushnell Memorial Center
Location: 166 Capitol Ave. Hartford
Production: Written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan. Music and lyrics by Mel Brooks. Directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman. Scenic design by Robin Wagner. Costume design by William Ivey Long. Lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski. Sound design by Jonathan Deans.
Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes with one 15-minute intermission
Show Times: Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with matinee performances Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., through Oct. 11.
Tickets: From $15 to $82. Call 860-987-5900 or visit their website at www.bushnell.org. Adult language and situations, for mature audiences only.
ACTOR…CHARACTER
Roger Bart … Dr. Frederick Frankenstein
Shuler Hensley … The Monster
Cory English … Igor
Brad Oscar … Inspector Kemp, Blind Hermit
Beth Curry … Elizabeth
Joanna Glushak … Frau Blucher
Anne Horak … Inga