"Young Frankenstein" - by Mel Brooks - Theatre at the Mount (Gardner, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Isaac Swanson as “Frederick Frankenstein” overlooks Jeremiah Riordon as “The Monster” in a scene from the Mel Brooks musical "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN" now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through March 8, 2026. Photo Credit: Paige Fowler Photography)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“Hershey's have their choc'lates and Liptons have their teas, but when it comes to making monsters, you can't beat the Frankensteins!"
- Mel Brooks
Theatre at the Mount
Presents the Mel Brooks Musical
"YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN"
Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks
Conceived by Mel Brooks
Based on the Film "Young Frankenstein" Written by Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks, based on Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein."
Producing Director Gail Steele
Cast Includes: Isaac Swanson as “Frederick Frankenstein,” Amy Oldenquist as “Inga,” John Sweeney as “Igor,” Julie Bouchard as “Frau Blucher," Jeremiah Riordon as “The Monster,” Autumn DeSisto as “Elizabeth Benning," David Allen Prescott as “Inspector Kemp,” Ryan Malyar as “Victor Von Frankenstein,” Chay Tower-Hughes as “The Hermit,” Steve Piscitello as “Ziggy.”
Additional Creative Team:
TBA
Performances:
February 27, 2026 through March 8, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Mount Wachusett Community College, 44 Green Street, Room 182, Gardner, MA.
TICKETS:
Tickets are available online at mwcc.universitytickets.com or by calling # 978-630-9388.
For additional information contact Professor Gail Steele at 978-630-9162 or g_steele@mwcc.mass.edu
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Theatre at the Mount (TAM ) offers up a shockingly silly comedy which is the Mel Brooks musical, "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN," now playing in Transylvania…that is, Gardner, MA...for a limited time.
This is a simply fabulous production featuring great music, top-notch production values and enough laughter to wake the dead.
The show "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN" is a hilarious take on the classic horror story genre, combining zany antics and a witty script, leading to an unforgettable, hilarious adventure in Transylvania.
The musical version of "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN," based on the 1974 film written by Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder, opened on Broadway in 2007.
Following juggernaut success with his musical adaptation of “The Producers,” Mel Brooks, with co-writer Thomas Meehan, took on another one of Brooks’ iconic movies, "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN," to adapt to the stage as a musical.
While not faring as well as “Producers” in popularity, "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN" still has many laughs and memorable tunes to keep audiences smiling.
Artfully directed at TAM by Terrie Hyde, with music direction by Emily Stratton and choreography by Dawn Ross, rollicking musical numbers include “Roll in the Hay,” “Join the Family Business” and (for fans of the film) the almost obligatory, “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”
In the village of Transylvania Heights in the 1930s, villagers rejoice over the death of local mad scientist, Victor von FRANKENSTEIN.
However, villagers learn that Victor von FRANKENSTEIN has willed everything to his grandson, Frederick (Isaac Swanson), who wants nothing to do with the family’s notorious legacy.
Leaving his position as science professor at a prestigious college to settle his inheritance, Frederick travels to Transylvania where he almost immediately stumbles into the “family business” of creating monsters from dead body parts.
There he meets Victor’s loyal henchman Igor (John Sweeney), beautiful lab assistant Inga (Amy Oldenquist), and the mysterious Frau Blucher (Julie Bouchard) - cue horse whinny.
Will Frederick repeat the mistakes of his grandfather, or will he succeed where others have not?
Are you not familiar with the biggest rule of the horror genre?
Of COURSE he will repeat the mistakes.
Swanson nails every comedic beat and with a marvelous voice excels musically in his opening patter song, “The Brain.”
In fact, all the leads seem to have an instinctive grasp of Brook's music and masterful flow of comedy dialogue that it greatly elevates the material.
Sweeney is perfection as Frederick’s faithful sidekick, the hunchback Igor (pronounced "Eye-gore") who is equally obsessed with bringing life from death.
So, he and Frederick become kindred spirits as they seal their partnership in the upbeat “Together Again.”
As Frederick meets Inga, instantly she joins him at his inherited castle as his lab assistant.
Oldenquist impresses as she conveys the ‘bouncy’ number "Roll in the Hay."
Another captivating performance comes from David Allen Prescott as the small Transylvanian village’s looney lawman, “Inspector Kemp.”
If there is a single casting match made in Heaven, though, it would have to be Julie Bouchard as the ominous and hysterically funny Frau Blu…um, “Frau B.” as her comedic interpretation of the character is unparalleled.
The TAM ensemble for "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN" helps propel virtually every scene and musical number and are vital to nearly every moment in the show.
The most familiar musical number from the movie is the Irving Berlin classic, “Puttin’ on the Ritz” which comes half-way into Act Two with the ensemble executing with great intensity.
Lighting and sound cues augment the extraordinary set design which expertly utilizes the entire TAM stage space.
(Photo: Julie Bouchard as “Frau Blucher," Autumn DeSisto as “Elizabeth Benning," and John Sweeney as “Igor” in a moment from the Mel Brooks musical "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN" now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through March 8, 2026. Photo Credit: Paige Fowler Photography)
While much of the musical's Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan translates the motion picture well to the stage, a couple of the characters lose their film impact on stage.
First, there is Frederick's high maintenance fiancé Elizabeth Benning, hilariously played by Autumn DeSisto, but played on screen by the legendary Madeline Kahn.
In the musical, DeSisto absolutely nails the musical numbers “Please Don’t Touch Me,” and "Deep Love" but the songs themselves do not equate to that same comedic take that Kahn was able to provide sans the musical's score.
Another character in a similar situation is that of The Monster (Jeremiah Riordon) him…er, itself, played in the movie by the iconic Peter Boyle.
The classic "FRANKENSTEIN's Monster," as represented in the musical adaptation, seems closer to either "Herman Munster" or the animated "Groovie Goulies" Monster, while Boyle's performance on film was singular - unique from any other homage or parody that had come before or since (and yes, I'm also looking at you, Christian Bale).
Again, this is a minor complaint and takes away nothing from the fine performances rendered by both TAM actors DeSisto or Riordon - the material just falls short.
In Brooks' defense, though, it would most likely take the wisdom of Solomon to choose successfully what should stay or go when adapting these iconic films to musicals.
(Photo: Isaac Swanson as “Frederick Frankenstein” overlooks Jeremiah Riordon as “The Monster” in a scene from the Mel Brooks musical "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN" now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through March 8, 2026. Photo Credit: Paige Fowler Photography)
With the combined talents among the Theatre at the Mount cast, creative team and production staff, "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN" is most definitely a monstrous musical delight.
"YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN" continues at Theatre at the Mount until March 8th, 2025. So make sure to catch the first train to Transylvania - or rather, Gardner - to see this electrifying show.
Tickets are available online at mwcc.universitytickets.com or by calling # 978-630-9388.
For additional information contact Professor Gail Steele at # 978-630-9162 or g_steele@mwcc.mass.edu
BUY TICKETS
Approximately two hours, 30 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
Mel Brooks’ madcap comedy collides with Mary Shelley’s classic monster tale in "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN."
Victor Frankenstein, the mad scientist of legend, has died and left everything to his grandson, Frederick, who wants nothing to do with the family’s notorious legacy.
To settle his inheritance, he travels to his grandfather’s castle in Transylvania, meeting the grandson of Victor’s loyal henchman, Igor; the beautiful lab assistant, Inga; and the mysterious Frau Blücher.
Before long, Frederick is sucked into his grandfather’s experiments and succeeds in creating human life.
But by the time they realize that the Monster’s been accidentally given an abnormal brain, the Monster has already escaped, seemingly set to terrorize the countryside like the Frankensteinian monsters before him.
Will Frederick repeat the mistakes of his grandfather?
Or will he succeed where the others have not and turn his Monster into a dapper, intelligent man about town?
"YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN" is a hilarious take on the classic horror story, combining zany antics, a witty script, and high energy comedic performances for one unforgettable, hilarious adventure in Transylvania. (STAGEAGENT)
Mount Wachusett Community College
444 Green Street
Gardner, MA. 01440
