By Venus Zarris

Young Frankenstein was the second movie that I ever snuck to see. It was playing at a theater in walking distance from my home and a gang of us decided to see if we could get in. This was after strict instructions that I was NOT allowed to see the film. Why does that always make it so much sweeter?

We loved it! We laughed at the naughty parts, knowing they were the reasons why it was forbidden, even if we didn’t completely understand all of the jokes. We sat through it twice. It was THAT MUCH FUN.

For those who love it, Young Frankenstein, is iconic. I went to the Chicago premiere of the musical with a friend who told me that it was his grandmother’s favorite film. She would scream laugh while watching from start to finish. His father still refers to his ‘abby-normal’ family to this day, an appropriation from one of the film’s classic scenes.

For many, this is sacred territory. Even though the film’s original creator, Mel Brooks, wrote this musical rendition, stepping into the comic shoes of actors like Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, Teri Garr, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle and Gene Wilder takes some fancy footwork.

So how does The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein hold up?

It’s an unquestionable good time and an unquestionable imitation. Taken on its own, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein is visually delightful, fast paced and funny. The music is not overwhelming, but rather formulaic Broadway-show-tune-send-ups of the funnier scenes from the film. The performances are solid and mostly enthusiastic but few capture the brilliance of the original film performances. Half of the time I got the feeling that Brooks was lazily relying on the familiarity of the material and the other half I felt he was cleverly mocking the very formula that he was employing for this reanimation.

This is a musical parody of a comic parody of a horror classic. If you can muster a triple suspension of disbelief then you will have fun.

Tony Award Winners, Roger Bart and Shuler Hensley reprise their roles from Broadway. They’re funny, not sidesplitting. Bart’s low-key approach to Dr. Fredrick Frankenstein is so casual at times that it feels almost phoned in. Hensley’s monster is one-dimensionally funny. Cory English, as Igor, sells it like his life depends on it and creates a frenetic wave of silliness that reaches the back row. Anne Horak is charming as Inga.

But it is Joanna Glushak that steals the show as Frau Blucher. Her comic timing is brilliant. She manages to take the absurdity of Leachman’s original film character and play her with the broader strokes needed on stage, without loosing the nuance. She hits the mark only alluded to by most of the other actors. That is, acting larger for the stage while keeping the depth and intelligence of the humor in tact.

Robin Wagner’s Scenic Design creates a dazzling touring rendition of the world of Young Frankenstein. William Ivey Long’s Costume Design is terrific. The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein is a technical treat, with a few extra whistles and bells that really excite.

No doubt, Mary Shelley was rolling over in her grave when Young Frankenstein was first released. No doubt she is turning over to the other side with The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein. But in both cases, the upset in her eternal rest is to our benefit.

The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein may not be a brand new creature, but it is a toe-tapping fun ride. This is entertaining schmaltz. If you’re a purist devotee of the original film you won’t be happy. If you’re a forgiving fan of the original then you will enjoy the delightful, albeit cheesy, homage and the fantastically show stopping rendition of “Puttin’ on the Ritz” will knock your socks off!

3 STARS

(“The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein” runs through December 13 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph Street. 800-775-2000)

Young Frankenstein “2009″ (Chicago) Tickets - Broadway in Chicago

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