By Mary Ann Bourbeau
RED BANK – It’s alive! And it’s coming to the Count Basie Center for the Arts May 3 – 12. The “it” in question is the monster in the Mel Brooks musical, “Young Frankenstein,” presented by Phoenix Productions. In the story, Frederick von Frankenstein, grandson of the infamous Victor von Frankenstein, inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. With the help of his hunchbacked sidekick, Igor, and a beautiful lab assistant named Inga, he becomes a mad scientist just like his grandfather and creates a monster out of dead body parts. If you’ve seen Brooks’ 1974 movie, you’ll surely remember the hilarity that ensues among these characters along with Frau Blucher, the Transylvania castle’s housekeeper, and Elizabeth, Frederick’s fiancée.
The musical version of “Young Frankenstein” garnered mediocre reviews when it opened on Broadway in 2007. Critics felt the gags landed flat and the songs were disappointing. But Phoenix Productions aims to change all that.
“I’m a big fan of the movie,” said director Joseph Stefanelli. “I think the Broadway show was cursed being Mel Brooks’ follow-up to ‘The Producers.’ The expectations were very high.”
Stefanelli is taking the show back to its movie roots, making it a little darker and scarier than the Broadway incarnation.
“Mel Brooks loves horror films, and I think that’s what the Broadway production missed. You still want to create scary moments, get the audience creeped out and then have them laugh when it’s appropriate. We have very 3-D sets. There are a lot of places for characters to hide and surprise the audience in a very interesting way. For people who love the movie, this is going to be a real treat.”
The musical numbers include titles such as “Transylvania Mania” and “Roll in the Hay.” In “He Vas My Boyfriend,” Frau Blucher reminisces about her stormy relationship with Victor. “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” where the monster puts on his top hat and tap shoes, is a showstopper.
“The songs are hysterically funny,” said Stefanelli.
Stefanelli, an English teacher at Brick Memorial High School, has directed shows at several area community theaters, and this will be his third production with Phoenix.
“The people at Phoenix trust their artists and they trust my vision,” he said. “They’re very supportive.”
In preparation for the show, Stefanelli decided to go back and re-read Mary Shelley’s classic novel, “Frankenstein.”
“I hadn’t read it since college,” he said. “The truth is that the (Brooks’) story is very loyal to the novel. As an English teacher, that’s very cool to me.”
Nick D’Ambrosio, another longtime fan of Mel Brooks, stars as Frederick.
“As a film major and theater minor, Steven Spielberg and Mel Brooks were big influences on me,” he said. “Mel Brooks is so funny! I keep going back to the movie and finding layers and layers of jokes, unusual gags, puns and wordplay, in a style they just don’t make anymore.”
The Tinton Falls resident said he usually plays comedic roles and is looking forward to playing the straight man this time out. He wants to give the audience some of what they loved in Gene Wilder’s film performance, while also putting his own stamp on Frederick.
“Just doing an impression of someone else isn’t bringing any new life to the role,” he said. In his sixth show with Phoenix Productions, Michael Macintee’s transformation into the monster included shoes with 6-inch lifts. Although he lives in Budd Lake, he doesn’t mind the long commute to Red Bank because he loves performing at the Basie and is also a big fan of Mel Brooks’ movies.
“I’ve admired Mel Brooks since I was a kid,” he said. “I couldn’t name a favorite movie, though. That would be like asking you to name your favorite child.”
He is inspired by Peter Boyle’s performance in the movie, but is also putting his own spin on the role.
“When you see this show the way our creative team has taken this version, it will definitely match the image of what “Young Frankenstein” is in your head,” said Macintee. “This cast is one of the funniest I’ve worked with. They really ‘get’ the show. You’re guaranteed a good laugh!”
Tickets for “Young Frankenstein” are $22 – $36. For more information, visit thebasie.org.
Arts and entertainment reporter Mary Ann Bourbeau can be reached at mbourbeau@tworivertimes.com.
