Young Frankenstein the Broadway Musical

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Young Frankenstein the Broadway Musical

By: Larry Mondello

November 8, 2007 launched the opening of the Broadway musical Young Frankenstein. The musical is an adaptation of the 1974 film by Mel Brooks, starring Gene Wilder. Based on Mary Shelley’s horror novel published in 1818, the Gothic story was first made into a science fiction film in 1910. It has since been made into motion pictures, comics, theatrical performances and even a mini series. And of course there have been many sequels to the Gothis Story, which indluces Young Frankenstein the movie, and now the Broadway musical.

This comical spoof of the classic novel by Mary Shelley portrays a young but well respected, New York brain surgeon that decides to carry on the “family business” after learning that he has inherited his mad scientist grandfather, the original Dr. Frankenstein’s castle in Transylvania.

After arriving at the castle, Dr. Frankenstein's grandson begins crazy experiments, among them transplanting a live brain in a cadaver. The experiment works, but the brain in defective. The story then follows the newly-created monster as he rampages throughout the village, but also find himself in many crazy situations.

The majority of the plot of this musical is largely adapted from Mel Brooks’ 1974 film with the same name. There are just a few minor variations. The movie depicts the young Dr. Frankenstein as a lecturer at a medical school. In the musical, he is a brain surgeon. Although these are different careers, they do offer him equal qualifications to fulfill the task laid before him.

There is a quick scene in the movie version where the monster encounters a young girl. This scene has been edited from the musical version. However, the creature still meets the blind hermit. These scenes were similar to scenes in the original Frankenstein movie. And the blind hermit meeting is hilarious.

In the movie, Elizabeth and the monster get married as do Frederick Frankenstein and Inga. In the musical version, although these four do pair up as already mentioned, the play ends before any nuptials take place. The musical has been expanded and has more scenes and longer scenes due to the musical numbers added to the Broadway production. And although the movie was very funny and really a classic in its own right, the Broadway musical adaptation was given even more humor, making it absolutely hilarious.

Mel Brooks was as involved in the production of the Broadway version of Young Frankenstein as he was of his 1974 film. After realizing how well his musical production of The Producers fared, he decided to do the same with Young Frankenstein. Brooks teamed up with Thomas Meehan and together they created the parody of Brooks’ earlier film.

Both the musical and movie have received awards and nominations for awards in this wacky comical adaptation of what was originally an extremely serious horror film that left no room for comedy.

The Broadway musical production of Young Frankenstein is largely adapted from the hysterical movie version starring Gene Wilder. If you liked the movie, you ought to love this musical.

Note: Although Young Frankenstein performed a pre-Broadway engagement in Seattle August 7 – September 1, 2007, there has been no indication that the humorous musical will be showing at any other venues outside New York City. In New York City, however, the play is performing both on and off Broadway.