If the Thomaston Opera House's production of Young Frankenstein is any indicator, this musical comedy—which flopped on Broadway—might do just fine in regional theaters. The audience laughed often and heartily at the performance I attended; the libretto, by Mel Brooks (based on his film script) and Thomas Meehan, contains plenty of surefire gags. The songs, by Brooks, are catchy. And the show actually works better in a smaller venue like this one (which seats about 500) than it did in the cavernous theater where it played on Broadway (which seated more than 1,800 people). So many of the key scenes of this play involve just a couple of actors, and they play more effectively in a smaller venue. This production, featuring a simple, but effective, unit set (enhanced by well-chosen projections), put the emphasis on the script, rather than production values. And it's a very funny show. The Broadway production, with a huge capitalization and high weekly running costs, quickly closed. A more modest production might well have been more successful. At this production, I relished the way director Katherine Ray had actors running through the house, even talking to audience members; we became part of the action. The always likable Chuck Stango, starring as Dr. Frankenstein, was supported nicely by about two dozen well-chosen local actors and 10 musicians. Kate Brunetto (a senior at the University of Connecticut) was perfect as the voluptuous Inga; Cat Heidel was good fun as the stern housekeeper, Frau Blucher; Pat Henning was a delight as the blind Hermit; Suzanne Powers carried off convincingly the role of Elizabeth ("Don't Touch Me") Benning; Ray Esposito was fun, singing and dancing with Stango the vaudeville flavored "Together Again for the First Time." Veteran actor George Paris added a great deal with some terrific facial expressions. And spending some time with "Frankenstein" seems a good choice in the Halloween season. Even before the show started, the evening was a treat—Juan Cardona played the theater's famed 1926 pipe organ.
Chip Deffaa
Cabaret Scenes
October 6, 2013
www.cabaretscenes.org
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