Book/Lyrics Mel Brooks
Director: Nick Winston
If you tell someone you’ve seen a world-class musical off a dark street in Ancoats there’s a chance they’re going to look at you like you’ve got two heads. Alas no, as in this case two heads would be considered a true blessing in order to doubly appreciate the brilliantly unhinged lunacy, absurdity and outrageousness that is Young Frankenstein at Hope Mill Theatre.
Based on Mel Brooks’ classic comic film and adapted for stage by the man himself, this frightfully funny musical has been exhumed and brought back to life to perfection and beyond by Director Nick Winston.
Ore Oduba is sensational as Frederick Frankenstein, “pronounced Fronkensteen”, proving impossible to look away from the second he powers onstage. Oduba oozes charisma and charm and is every part a perfect parody of the dashing, masculine hero of cinema’s golden edge, with comic timing that is second to none. For those unaware, Oduba ran away with the 2016 Strictly Come Dancing title, and sitting in the audience of this show, it doesn’t take an eccentric scientific genius to figure out why.
Another performance that can’t go unmentioned is Julia Yammannee’s brilliantly bawdy Inga, whose song “Roll in the Hay” and outrageously raunchy characterisation and choreography descends the full audience into fits of giggles. While Young Frankenstein’s humour may be wonderfully silly, at no point is the execution anything but sharp – this company know what they’re doing.
Young Frankenstein feels like a hidden secret that you’re lucky enough to have secured a front row seat to. The intimate setting of Hope Mill provides a unique and priceless opportunity to view West End quality musical theatre up close and personal, and it would be a crime to not seize such an opportunity on the rare time it presents itself. Those adventurous enough to stray a little from the bright lights of the city centre, prepare to be rewarded with something that far exceeds your expectations, because Nick Winston and his company have created something monstrously good.
Runs until 30th November
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