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Alisha Ricks
22 October 2015
Young Frankenstein
In this review I will explain the plot, set, lighting design, costumes,
characters, and music/sound effects. I may also be referred to as the
theatergoer. As well as introducing some info on the time period and the
setting(s).
The musical Young Frankenstein was written by Mel Brooks and set in
1934. The show plays from October 8-30, 2015. The beginning takes place in
New York, while the rest of the musical takes place in Transylvania.
Dr. Frankenstein (played by Addison Welch), who is the great grandson
of the late Victor Frankenstein (played by Jason Campbell), who was the
original creator of the first Frankenstein monster. Although Dr. Frankenstein is
not wanting to participate in the creation of a new monster, to the point
where he even pronounces his name Fronk-en-steen, instead of the
transitional Frankenstein. Dr. Fronk-en-steen is then called to claim the estate
of his late grandfather in Transylvania. There he meets the staff and finds his
grandfathers secret room where he created the original monster. After Dr.
Fronk-en-steen reads his grandfathers book he realizes that his theory could
indeed work.
There were multiple set pieces used in this production. There was the
outdoor background screen that came down for all of the outside scenes.
Accompanied with a fog machine. There was the main set inside of the
mansion of the late Dr. Frankenstein. This set was massive, there were

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various staircases and doors on the set that the actors were using a lot.
There was a bookcase to one of the sides that the actors could go through.
This massive set was also used for the laboratory. Another set piece that was
used, was a rolling set that acted as a hut for a blind man. All of these sets
were moved on and off of the stage by the tech. crew.
The lighting was absolutely phenomenal. There were flashes for the
lightning, which were bright white lights that would flash fairly quickly. When
a song with a lot of dancing would start, the lights would be blues, purples,
greens, etc. The candles would flicker a yellow/orange type of a color. There
were also torches that would glow as well. And there was a small spark when
a match was lit.
Costumes were appropriate to the time period. The men all wore suits
and or slacks, and a nice shirt with a tie. And the women mostly wore long
dresses with gloves. When Dr. Fronk-en-steen, Inga (played by Arielle
Schmidt), Frau Blcher (played by Lisa Ann White), and Igor (played by
Trevor Dean) were in the lab, they wore lab coats, occasionally pared with
some gloves. When Inga wore pajamas, it was a long white gown, with a seethrough robe with it.
Dr. Fronk-en-steen is a renowned medical professor in New York, also
the great grandson of Dr. Frankenstein. Inga is a German girl who is at the
castle to assist Dr. Fronk-en-steen. Igor pronounced

I-gore, is a hunchback

who is the great grandson of Igor, calls Dr. Fronk-en-steen master. The
monster (played by Dave Hanson) was the creation of Dr. Fronk-en-steen

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with the assistance of his great grandfathers notes. Elizabeth Benning

(played by Angela Avila) is Dr. Fronk-en-steens girlfriend.
Music and sound effects played a huge part in the musical. So timing
was everything for the actors. There was a sound effect for the horses when
they werent settling in the barn. With the hunchback there was a sound
effect with his hump that was a metal clanking sound. And for the town
constable there was a sound for his fake arm and leg.
Overall, the musical was entertaining and I would recommend it to
others to see. My favorite part was probably the lighting with the thunder,
visually and auditory. The village idiot was always hysterical to watch. When
he waved at Igor when he was carrying the dead body was hilarious.