Young Frankenstein

Young Frankenstein 

Backwell Playhouse  

1st November 2024 

Written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan 

Music and lyrics by Mel Brooks 

Produced by Nailsea Musicals 

Directed by Keren Arnold 

Choreography by Charlotte Clark 

Noda Rep Mike Purnell 

I’d completely forgotten how quaint, quirky and cosy The Backwell Playhouse is. I  did Dames at Sea there 30’ish years ago, and our paths haven’t crossed since. So  thank you Nailsea Musicals for getting me back there. It was a lovely feeling to be  back. Thanks also for the lovely warm welcome from Alison and all the front of  house team. 

I do have a bit of history with Young Frankenstein. I saw it on Broadway a long  time ago which was quite a big production in comparison to the Westend version  of recent years, which was more in keeping with your own production. As we left  my partner looked at me and said I enjoyed that more than I did in the Westend,  and as I was still aching from laughing at your production, I thought yes I must  agree. I really did.  

It was a great choice of show for a small club and the important thing was to cast  it perfectly, which you most certainly did. You attempted to take the show to  another level using projections, which on the whole worked a treat but obviously  some of the lighting bled the picture and by using a screen cloth it became quite  rippled and tended to take the projection out of focus. In saying that I still think the  intention was excellent just needs a bit of fine tuning. I really appreciated the brave  attempt at this in order to keep the show moving at a fast pace and that it certainly  did.  

I thought the set worked really well for you, and was very in keeping with the show  and the atmosphere was created extremely well with lighting, so it really felt like we  were in the castle dungeons. I felt this show is extremely well written, particularly  the humour, and I’ve got to say you drained every last bit out of that. This had real  laugh out loud moments and for the most part comedy timing was absolutely spot  on. I’ve not laughed so much in ages. This was true testament to all four leads and  supporting characters I really don’t think you missed a trick.  

How Keren Arnold got through this process in one piece I have no idea. Director  and musical director and taking on a lead part! Wow I hope you’ve had a well  earned rest. Since my position as Noda Rep this I believe is the first musical I’ve  been to of yours other than the Panto. If you keep going in this direction I think  you’ve a bright future ahead. Keep picking the right shows but still challenging  yourselves at the same time. Great work. 

Musical Director  

Wise choice to go for good backing tracks for this production given the space you  had. The harmony work was excellent and I thought everyone kept up accents  throughout the singing. I was wondering if the company had enough fold back as  timing was lost a couple of times. I know in my past history sometimes this gets  forgotten or maybe never quite high enough for the cast to hear. But I felt everyone  was extremely well drilled. The solos were extremely good, and crazily wordy at  times, but were very well rehearsed and brilliantly executed.  

Choreography  

With the space you had I thought you did a cracking job. I really enjoyed the chair ography in the laboratory and thought you made the whole company look good  throughout. We always had interesting pictures to look at. I loved “Together Again”  simple but extremely effective. Good job done.  

Lighting/Sound 

These two jobs seemed pretty tip top. There were times I’d have liked the volume a  little louder overall just to give that extra support and mic volumes could have just  notched up a bit. But timings felt pretty spot on.  

Lighting certainly gave us atmosphere when needed and I liked the closing in on  solos so the characters weren’t exposed and this draws us into them. Good work.  

Props and costumes 

Costumes felt pretty spot on. Such an arduous task but the effort certainly paid off.  Props nothing stood out to me as being wrong, so all I can say good job done.  

Dr Frederick Frankenstein 

In your bio you described Frankenstein as a really challenging role. Well there was  no doubt you rose to that challenge and then some. It was as if this could have  been written with you in mind. Your timing and pace was cracking. You had this  character down pat. You and Igor were just the perfect double act as “Together  Again” proved. The comedy and your energy was just flawless. You kept us  engaged throughout. A nice light baritone voice. This was a very considered  performance. Very enjoyable.  

The Monster  

What fun you had with this part. You looked absolutely fantastic. Big plus for  makeup team. Great costume too. We loved you. Putting on The Ritz was just the  show stopper we needed. Brilliantly choreographed and executed by yourself. You  seemed to have great fun with this character in fact as much as we did watching  you.  

Igor  

Have you managed to straighten up yet? You kept that bent over character (with a  moveable hump) all the way through. Great comedy timing and a rather nice  singing voice too. Great energy which helped the pace move along nicely and were  quite the team player especially with Frankenstein throughout. Great. 

Inga  

Wow what a busy show this was for you. I always find it’s difficult to comment  when you have had to direct yourself in a role. This is not criticism just an  observation I just felt you lost character whilst not involved in the dialogue but you  wouldn’t have known this unless it was pointed out to you. You’d directed  everyone else to keep in character which they did very well. It is just one of the  pitfalls of being in and directing. But when you were involved in the action we had  you 100% I maybe would have liked just a little more twinkle in the eyes especially  when Frankenstein was fawning over you. You played it as though you didn’t  notice at all, but I felt she was well aware of what was going on. Good comic  timing and very nice voice. Roll In The Hay was great fun.  

Elizabeth Benning  

You knew exactly where to hit. Big and brash. Perfect. Great energy and Please  Don’t Touch Me was hilarious. Always looked well turned out and kept the energy  up right through to your act 2 entrance. And hit us between the eyes again with  “Surprise”. This character certainly made her mark. Well done.  

Frau Blucher  

This characterisation was superb. You had her spot on. Thank you Leslie Joseph  and good night. You knew exactly how to deliver every line and every punch line  you knew just the right timing to have maximum impact. I ached from laughing.  Playing her so straight worked a treat. Any attempt at taking her over the top you’d  lose the subtlety. Very enjoyable. Congratulations.  

Kemp/Hermit  

What two great characters for you. I honestly didn’t realise it was you as Hermit.  Kemp was extremely funny and I loved how you played Hermit with sincerity, made  it even funnier. Good strong voice.  

Felix  

What a talented young man. They are like gold dust. Don’t let him go. Strong stage  presence with a lovely light baritone voice. Always completely focused and  obviously a great team player. I look forward to seeing more of your work in the  future.  

Director 

Congratulations on providing us with a great night of entertainment. You created a  great pace throughout. I only saw one dead spot whilst Frau Blucher was taking  Frankenstein to his room. One more little walk across and enter from the other side  would have covered that rather than leave us with nothing. But that is a small nit  pick on what was an excellent show. You must have found it a mammoth task  doing so many jobs I was really surprised there was no mention of an assistant  director, this may have just been useful whilst you were acting yourself. But overall  you did an excellent job. I take my hat off to you. Well done.  

This was truly a great night out at the theatre. We could ask no more. The  enthusiastic audience were willing you on, and everyone rose to the challenge. 

Thank you so much for inviting me.  Hope to see you all soon  

Best wishes 

Mike. X

 

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