SHOULD I SEE IT?
What’s the Story of Young Frankenstein?The famous tale of Frankenstein, morphed through the wacky mind of comedic mastermind Mel Brooks. Here, Frederick Frankenstein, a successful young surgeon engaged to a society dame, inherits a castle and laboratory in Transylvania from his grandfather, the famed mad scientist. When he arrives, he finds himself drawn to carry on grandfather’s controversial experiments reanimating the dead. Soon, along with a crazy assortment of cohorts—hunchback buddy Igor, sexy lab gal Inga, mysterious Frau Blucher and, yes, a big green monster—Frankenstein attempts to clear the family name before the town brands him a madman.
What is Young Frankenstein Like?
Brooks calls it the “greatest show on earth” and it’s hard to argue with such grand descriptions. The laboratory set is probably unlike anything you’ve ever seen before and there are enough fun performances and show-stopping dance routines (especially “Puttin’ on the Ritz”) to satisfy most Broadway thrill-seekers. Most of the actual dialogue scenes feel like mini comedy sketches and follow the well-loved movie pretty closely, with the actors asked to recreate famous lines and moments to mostly hilarious results.
Is Young Frankenstein Good for Kids?
Thanks to Mr. Brooks, dirty jokes about sex and, more specifically, sexual organs abound. But much of it will go over the heads of many kids, who will be dazzled by the show’s over-the-top design. If you don’t mind the naughty humor, the show’s funny characters and silly plot will be right up your kid’s alley.