Young Frankenstein Sells Out at Elmwood Playhouse

Two weeks into their four week run, Elmwood Playhouse’s production of Young Frankenstein completely sold out all remaining shows. This musical romp follows the eponymous (young) Dr. Frankenstein as he begrudgingly returns to Transylvania to manage his grandfather’s estate. The musical originally opened on Broadway in 2007 and follows a storyline similar to the 1974 film. 

Elmwood’s production certainly does not struggle under the weight of this show’s two and a half hour run time thanks to the sharp-witted direction of Jason Summers. There are hijinx and wisecracks abound, leaving audiences laughing out loud. Audiences may also find themselves dancing in their seats to the small but mighty live orchestra and the well-tuned voices of the cast, lead by Musical Director Katie Luekens Chan Chee. Designed by Steve Loftus, the Young Frankenstein set is a feast for the eyes. It is ever changing, transforming the intimate Nyack theater into a winding Transylvanian castle that may or may not be haunted. 

While the cast as a whole is strong, there are standout actors of the production. One such standout was the role of Igor (or perhaps Eye-gor?) played by Tom Beck Jr. He snatches the reins of the role with such pleasure and joy that audience members feel borderline jealous of the fun he is having. While this role could easily slip into a caricature, Beck keeps Igor grounded in humanity. This tether of humanity ultimately allows Beck the freedom to go as wild as he does. 

Inga, played by Grace Callahan, also walks the line of caricature versus humanity. The bouncy blonde character who captures the attention of Dr. Frankenstein has her share of female-anatomy-focused quips. Callahan could have leaned into the Playboy bunny-esque role that Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan have written her, but instead Callahan’s performance steers more Barbie movie. Callahan portrays Inga as seemingly enjoying her beauty as a part of herself, but it is just that – a part of herself. She also prides herself on her intelligence, mentioning her “master’s degree in laboratory science from Heidelberg Junior College”, and plays a large part in the laboratory mischief of Dr. Frankenstein. She is sexual and smart and a hard worker, and deftly implements these into her creation of a well rounded female character.

Director Jason Summers shares that he “…would love to invite anyone looking for a fun escape to join us for Young Frankenstein. It’s two and a half hours of nonsense that will keep you laughing. What could be better than that?”. 

While you may be able to snag a seat off the waitlist, those unlucky enough to miss this show have plenty of chances to enjoy live entertainment at Elmwood Playhouse. Up next for the theater is Tony Award winning The Humans by Stephen Karam. Reserve your tickets at elmwoodplayhouse.com or call 845-353-1313. Other live entertainment opportunities can be found on page 12 under “Spotlight on Rockland Theater”.