‘A REVIEW’

CREEDE – Mel Brooks may be rolling over in his grave, with pleasure, from the nether world of the Creede Repertory Theatre’s (CRT) production of the musical version based on his famous 1974 movie, “Young Frankenstein.”

With some of finest choreography and vocals ever produced on CRT’s mainstage theatre, the production opened before a near sell-out crowd Saturday night with a cast of 14, headlined by veteran CRT actor Graham Ward as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (steen) and Matthew Tyler Horn as “The Monster.”

“Young Frankenstein” is a 2007 musical based on the film co-written by Brooks and Gene Wilder, who played Dr. Frankenstein in the big screen version. The CRT production is based on the western version revised in 2017. Wilder’s crazy hairdo in the movie was appropriately copied by Ward with the help of a wig.

Most of the original characters from the movie are featured in the musical version, including Igor with the humpback artfully portrayed by Julian Ibarra, Inga the beautiful assistant by Katie Drinkard and Frau Blücher by the ever-popular Anne Faith Butler. Throw in Alan Ball as Inspector Hans Kemp and 50-year CRT veteran Christy Brandt as the Hermit, and you have a cast of stars.

As expected, any mention of Frau Blücher brings a loud ‘winnie’ from a horse in the background.

Director Amanda Berg Wilson may have said it best in her program notes, “The musical has in its marrow all that made Brooks’ sense of humor so singular; those vaudevillian tropes, physical comedy, parody of genre, pushing of boundaries, and bawdy sexual humor.”

Those attending the musical should be prepared for some minor sexual innuendo and it is recommended for audiences age 13 and above.

With much of the production played in front of the curtain, an elaborate set design of the famous Frankenstein laboratory drew rave reviews from the audience that was left in stitches most of the night.

With outstanding vocals by many in the production, and incredible choreography by Diana Dresser, both talents are featured in Irving Berlin’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz” that was also featured in the film, as well as several other musical numbers.

“Young Frankenstein” is the second feature to open at CRT this summer as Ken Ludwig’s wildly popular “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery” continues in the Ruth Humphreys Brown Theatre just a few blocks south on Creede’s main street. Still to come are “The Importance of Being Earnest”, opening June 28, and the world premiere of “Prima’s Guide to Funerals” hitting the stage on July 12.

“Prima’s” is a comedy and is set along the waters of the Rio Grande in the San Luis Valley and was written by up-and-coming New Mexico playwright Leonard Madrid.

Also featured at CRT in its 59th season is “On the Stage of Sondheim”, a summer concert series opening on July 27, and the ever-popular improv comedy show “Boomtown.” For a full schedule and to purchase tickets, go to www.creederep.org

“Young Frankenstein” will continue on the main stage through Aug. 31.