Young Frankenstein

Ever wondered what happens to your favourite characters after the credits roll or you reach the last page of a book?

Young Frankensteincontinues the story of some classic characters. Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Adam Jon) is the grandson of the Frankenstein famous for reanimating the dead. Frederick wants to escape his family’s legacy and insists on pronouncing his surname, ‘Fronkensteen.'

This is the musical version of a 1974 horror comedy movie by Mel Brooks. It’s a great choice for the first show in MLOC Productions’ 71st year.

Even before the overture started, the venue impressed me. The Shirley Burke Theatre is warm, inviting, and comfortable.

The show created another world so believable, that you’re happy to suspend your disbelief about the absurd goings-on.

The only improvement I could suggest - and I'm sure it only happened on the night I attended – was that Frau Blucher’s (Natalie Carden) microphone crackled throughout her songs, drawing attention away from her performance, something that could have been fixed with a quick replacement.

Of course, the highlight of a musical should be the music. In MLOC’s Young Frankenstein, this was the case. From the bizarrely romantic (?) ‘Please Don’t Touch Me’ to the ribald ‘Deep Love’, each song propelled the story forward while opening the audience’s mouth with laughter.

Anyone needing a laugh and a bunch of new tunes stuck in their head will love Young Frankenstein.

Daniel G. Taylor