Parked “Up North” with friends, we decided to take in a local production of the musical Young Frankenstein. The venue was the Old Town Playhouse in downtown Traverse City. The company’s mission is to be a volunteer-based organization promoting quality community theater experiences for the people of Northwest Michigan by providing educational opportunities and entertainment in the theatrical arts. I saw the original Broadway cast of this show and thought it a rather bland affair. This version was infinitely more entertaining and, importantly, much more fun.
Young Frankenstein is based on the very funny Mel Brooks film from 1974. The movie was a riff on 1930’s horror films heavily doused in Borscht Belt humor. Young Victor Frankenstein, a brain surgeon in New York, is the only remaining heir and has inherited the family castle in Transylvania. The musical added in songs of varying quality, the best one (by far) is “Putting On The Ritz.” That song was also in the movie.
Why is the Old Town Playhouse’s version of this show much more enjoyable than the original? This musical seems much funnier in a more intimate setting. Broadway’s Lyric Theater is ginormous, this venue is 277 seats. The very funny “Roll in the Hay” performed on a traveling wagon was lost on the big stage. Here the number is staged up close, the moving wagon is pantomimed and as Inga, Danielle Pelshaw yodeled like a pro.
On the whole, the singing in this production was excellent. Inspired clowning all around, especially by Steve Ford as Igor. I have to give the best in show award to John Klapko who played Frankenstein’s Monster. This character can make you laugh out loud. In the hands of Mr. Klapko, the laughs were elevated into guffaws. His vocalizations, physical movements and facial expressions hit the comedy bulls-eye.
The creative team has staged a high quality production. I particularly loved the set design by Matt McCormick. He not only captured the essence of the castle and the laboratory, but he also allowed for cleverly efficient scene changes for what I imagine was a relatively modest budget. For a troupe of volunteer players putting on a nicely orchestrated musical with a $28 top ticket price, this Young Frankenstein is a grand value. I will be back to the Old Town Playhouse. Kudos to them and their donors who keep our theaters alive.
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