Stage Write

  Mel Brooks fans and those missing Gene Wilder should be flocking to Carmel this month, where the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre’s current production of Young Frankenstein hits all the right notes.  First off, can we just take a moment for the sets? They are incredible! They are based on the original Broadway scenic design, but there were no corners cut in recreating them here. From the gorgeous laboratory with a winding staircase to a Transylvanian village, the sets just keep coming. There’s   a ship, train, cave, horses, a giant monster puppet, a forest; you name it and it was probably in there. It was easy to get sucked into the story with the elaborate scenery. The cast is a blast. Saucy Frau Bleucher (played by Vickie Phipps), naïve Inga (Devan Mathias), and earnest Frederick Frankenstein (Steve Kruze) all seemed like they were made for these roles. My particular favorite is Damon Clevenger as the forever loyal Igor. He was hilarious as he nimbly followe...

When Elf (the movie) came out in 2003 people were expecting a goofy Christmas romp. While it was hilarious, the reason it remains a seasonal favorite is because of the sweet message at its core. What could have been pure comedy instead had real heart, encouraging even the grumpiest of adults to find the magic in Christmas. Now the movie is a musical and Broadway Across America has brought the cheerful production to Indianapolis just in time for the holidays.  That unbridled enthusiasm translates well into a stage musical, where bursting into song is expected, but something is inevitably lost with that expectation. We know there will be singing, so it's not surprising when Buddy the Elf starts singing in the midst of Macy's Christmas rush. The musical takes that same plot of the film and adds bubbly songs and gives a few characters a bit more meat. Buddy's new stepmother Emily and his father's assistant Deb both benefit from the changes ...

“I'm just a sweet transvestite, from Transexual, Transylvania,” if you don’t immediately recognize those lyrics than this probably isn’t the show for you. This cult classic, the basis for the 1975 film, has a strange story. A young couple find themselves stranded when their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. They end up at the home of Dr. Frank-N-Furter and their bizarre night gets even weirder as they meet his devoted crew of miscreants. The elegant Athenaeum theatre is an oddly fitting setting for the musical. The set included a full catwalk and scaffolding that allows the cast to take advantage of the whole stage. There were some occasional audio issues and moments when the music overwhelmed the actors’ voices, but it was a minor issue. Zach Rosing Productions did an excellent job casting actors who were willing to throw themselves full force into the roles. Without their enthusiasm the show could have easily fallen flat, but instead the whole audience cau...