Avon Players’ ‘Young Frankenstein’ Electrifies!
The world of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one of true terror. As one of the most significant and influential works of Gothic Horror, Frankenstein blends science fiction with that of a true monster story. A story that has been adapted time and time again, with the same bone-chilling chills from Shelley’s original work. Which makes it the perfect story for a musical comedy adaptation, right? That’s right, Young Frankenstein the Musical serves as a quasi-sequel to the horror story that came before it, which looks to deliver in flashy dance numbers and side-splitting laughs.
Truly, Young Frankenstein the Musical is an adaptation of Mel Brook’s 1974 film of the same name, both of which feature the director’s iconic humor. Having all the beats you’ve come to expect from the story, Avon Players pulled out all the stops to bring audiences all the toe tapping, and dare I say hay rolling, they could possibly want. With director Joy Oetjens’ unique eye and a talented cast and crew, Young Frankenstein is a lively piece of Avon Players history that we won’t be forgetting about anytime soon.
[Warning: spoilers from Avon Player’s Young Frankenstein are below!]
The prodigal (grand)son returns!
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Eric Rodman) bears the insurmountable weight of legacy, which he has been trying to outrun his entire life. As the grandson of the infamous Doctor Victor Frankenstein, Frederick has done everything in his power to distance himself from his monster-making relative, even going so far as to change the pronunciation of his name. However, no matter what he does, he cannot escape the shadow of Victor’s actions or the monster he created.
As a scientist and professor in New York, Frederick is sure that he’s finally put his grandfather behind him. That is, until the news of Victor’s death reaches him. Not only has his grandfather passed away, but Frederick must now travel to Transylvania to settle some affairs. So he quickly says goodbye to his comfortable life and his fiancée, Elizabeth Benning (Hosanna Phillips), who is way out of Frederick’s league, and sets off to rid himself of his family’s legacy once and for all.
However, it’s never that easy, and when Frederick arrives in Transylvania, fate has something else in store. Stumbling upon his grandfather’s work on the original “monster,” Frederick decides to try his hand at perfecting it. With the help of his trusty henchman, Igor (Jeff Stillman), the mysterious housekeeper, Frau Blucher (Jill Blazis-Sloan), and the beautiful lab assistant, Inga (Emily Brown), he might just become the greatest scientist in the world.
While this rag-tag group of silly scientists does succeed in their task, Young Frankenstein is nothing short of musical hijinks, so it doesn’t quite go to plan. As The Monster (Steve Grady) begins to find life, the people of Transylvania begin to have flashbacks to Victor’s experiments. Can Frederick and his team save The Monster before it’s too late, or are they doomed to repeat his grandfather’s mistakes?
Young Frankenstein’s cast brings this Avon Players production to life
As with so many Mel Brook works, Young Frankenstein lives and dies on the strength of the actors who embody the characters. Brook’s films and shows are so specific in their humor that not everyone can nail both the jokes and the pace, which is the foundation on which they are all built. Comedic timing in everything in Young Frankenstein, as the musical volleys between fast delivery of joke after joke, while at other times a joke is dropped, leaving room to breathe as audiences digest what was just said. This means that any production of Young Frankenstein needs a cast that is at the top of its game if the show is to go off without a hitch.
Avon Players’ Young Frankenstein excels in this department, with a cast that not only does a good job, but a great one. These characters are larger than life, almost caricatures in their portrayal, which I could absolutely see as both a challenge and a lot of fun to do.
Take our Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, for example. As a character, he’s quite possibly the driest of the bunch, whose comedy comes from being the straight face amongst the group. He’s entering into a world that borders on creepy, but in a funny way, and everyone is just slightly off their rockers. He’s purposefully stiff, pushing back against the burden of the name Frankenstein, but loosens up and embraces a different side of life as the show progresses. This is an unbelievable amount to balance, but somehow Eric Rodman does so with ease and grace. Rodman’s impossible to look away from, as he’s clearly having the time of his life in the role, and his passion for Young Frankenstein is apparent.
However, Dr. Frankenstein wouldn’t be anything without his comedic pairing with Igor. Jeff Stillman brings such a refreshing nature to this role, one that is almost so silly that you can’t help but roll your eyes as you’re laughing uncontrollably. Igor is definitely a role geared toward the laugh, which Stillman volleys between leaning into it and showing restraint with professional precision. You could feel this actor reading the audience in every scene, determining within moments what they needed, while also staying true to the show he was in. There’s great sincerity in Stillman’s performance, which was welcomed in a show such as this one.
Avon Player’s Frau Blucher, Jill Blazis-Sloan, also had impeccable comedic timing, keeping up with that of Igor easily. As a character, Blucher is intentionally scary, which is a large part of her humor. Her name is one that scares horses at just the mention, and probably should chill the bones of all those around her. Blazis-Sloan holds steady and firm in the rigid spookiness of Blucher, which makes what she says a joke even more hilarious, and perhaps just a bit cutting with the delivery.
Emily Brown is a definite highlight of Avon Players’ production of Young Frankenstein. Stepping into a role such as Igna can be difficult for a variety of reasons, but Brown brings both complexity and well-roundedness to the role and does so professionally. She’s not just a love interest; she’s most definitely not a damsel in distress. She’s confident in who she is and what she brings to the table, which can also be said for the actress in the role. Where Igna feels one-dimensional in the film, Brown makes her a complete person, showing just how much love and work she’s put into her performance.
And where would we be without The Monster himself? Steve Grady has made a role that originally felt flat in the film into something that brings life to Young Frankenstein. He’s incredibly charming for a monster, and his physical comedy was on point. I can’t think of anyone better to play the role, as Grady understood the assignment and aced it.
On par with The Monster is Hosanna Phillips, whose memorable performance as Elizabeth Benning elevated the role from background to center stage. While Elizabeth doesn’t have much depth in the beginning of the show, by the time she arrives in Transylvania, Phillips has given this character her all. Elizabeth isn’t just the bombshell; she’s the entire package, which Phillips conveys from the way she walks to the words that come out of her mouth. There’s no denying the talent that shines from this actress.
Final thoughts on Young Frankenstein
While I’ve highlighted a few of the names of the show, everyone in the cast has given their all to make Young Frankenstein the best it possibly could be. Each and every cast member nails their delivery and adds to the humor and heart that oozes out of this show. Director Joy Oetjens has carefully crafted something beautiful, with each piece just as important as the last. From the sets designed by Kevin Miller to the lighting and costumes designed with care and integrity from John (JD) Deierlein, and the props from our very own RJ Miller-Zelinko, everything was so thought out.
A show that features wonderful music direction from Rob Pietrantoni and dances choreographed by Maritoni Harte, there’s so much to appreciate in every inch of this show, making it a highlight from the Avon Players’ 2024-2025 season, closing it out with an electrifying pulse.
Stay tuned for future productions from Avon Players, such as Holmes and Watson or A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder! Did you see Avon Players’ Young Frankenstein? What did you think of the production? Let us know @bsb.insider on social media!
Exclusive Interview: Eric Rodman of Avon Players’ Young Frankenstein
