Another One Bites The DustDespite never knowing for certain just how shaky
Mel Brooks'
Young Frankenstein has been faring at the box office (although with the deep discounts it's been offering, the writing's been on the wall), it's been an open secret that the show was in need of a major jolt to keep it going.
Alas, this evening, it was announced that the tuner adapted by Brooks from his cult film comedy classic would close on January 4, 2009, after 484 regular performances.
And you know what? As much as
I actually enjoyed myself the first time I saw the show during its Seattle tryouts, I have to say good riddance.
Punch drunk from the enormous success of
The Producers, which won more Tony Awards than any other Broadway show in history, Brooks & Co. did everything conceivable in their power to alienate virtually everyone against
Young Frankenstein, starting when they circled the
Hilton Theatre and its
previous occupant like vultures, followed by his
infamous snub of
Cloris Leachman, followed by
their greedy announcement that they'd have the audacity to charge a record-breaking $450 for premium seats, followed by the decision
not to follow Broadway precedent by releasing weekly grosses.
By the time the show finally opened,
most critics had their knives out. Never mind that it actually was kind of entertaining. Now, the jig is up, and I dare say no one is crying over the loss of this one.
If ever there was a textbook example of how not to open a show or engender goodwill on the Great White Way, this is the one they'll be studying for years. Let's just hope they've learned a valuable lesson that won't soon be repeated.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Box Office, Broadway, Cloris Leachman, Closing Notices, Mel Brooks, Musical, Young Frankenstein
Last Dance To Last Laugh?Sure, she may no longer be a "
Dancing With The Stars" contestant -- and the oldest one ever at that -- but her Herculean antics on the
ABC series may have earned
Cloris Leachman a second look by
Mel Brooks for his
Young Frankenstein Broadway musical.
Passed over initially because Brooks didn't want her to "
die on stage," Leachman challenged him via her representative Steve Rohr "to three rounds in the ring, and we'll see who's left standing."
What a difference a slice of reality television can make. Leachman is asked about a second crack at
Young Frankenstein in a
Q&A with Newsweek:
Is it true Mel Brooks wants you to reprise your part in Young Frankenstein on Broadway?
Yeah. We're negotiating.
He once said you were so old, he worried you'd die onstage.
He's not worried anymore. Corky [Ballas, her dance partner on the show] threw me around today on "The View," and I thought I was dead when I stood up. I can't tell you—I really thought I died! I thought I was in heaven.
If Brooks manages to bring the 82 year old actress back to the Broadway boards for her first time in nearly 50 years, far from being a neigh-sayer, I'll be happy to plunk down a little spare cash to cheer her on and hear those horses whinny but good.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, Cloris Leachman, Dancing With The Stars, Mel Brooks, Musical, Reality Television, Young Frankenstein
Cloris To Mel: Put Up Your Dukes!
Fascinating story in this morning's
New York Post "Page Six" column in which actress
Cloris Leachman is challenging
Mel Brooks "to three rounds in the ring, and we'll see who's left standing" -- a dare delivered by the acclaimed actress' representative Steve Rohr.
Apparently, the woman who created the celebrated character of Frau Brucher in Brooks' film "
Young Frankenstein" was notified by snail mail that she would not be invited to recreate the role on the Great White Way. The stage musical adaptation is now scheduled to open this November at the
Hilton Theatre.
While the official word is that Brooks wishes to start fresh by having "the stage version to differ from the film version," "insiders" are quoted saying the real reason is because the 81 years young actress is "too old." Indeed, Brooks -- who is barely two months younger than Leachman -- told Variety's vaunted columnist Army Archerd (himself 85), "We don't want her to die on stage." As duly noted in the "Page Six" column, that's actually the way most actors would prefer to go.
Although Leachman had participated in last year's initial reading of
Young Frankenstein, veteran actress
Andrea Martin has since been cast in the role that strikes terror in neighing horses (although, curiously, she's not yet listed among the show's cast members on the
Internet Broadway Database). The show is scheduled to begin its out of town tryout in Seattle in early August at the city's Paramount Theatre.
Personally, I adore Andrea Martin and relish every opportunity I have to see her perform live. But I've always been struck by the eternal Dorian Gray youthfulness of Leachman and was downright thrilled by the prospect of seeing her reprise her legendary film role on stage. I can't help but wish Brooks,
Susan Strohman and company would reconsider.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
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Labels: Andrea Martin, Broadway, Cloris Leachman, Film, Mel Brooks, Musical, Young Frankenstein
It's Official: Mullally Cast In Young Frankenstein
I had been told earlier this week that Mullally signed for the show. I've also heard that the producers have decided against casting the venerable
Cloris Leachman, who created the Frau Blücher role on the silver screen. The rumblings I've heard not only deem her too old (Leachman is, in my opinion, a remarkably young 80), but also indicate that
Young Frankenstein can really only begin anew if it's completely recast. Somehow, those neighing horses will never be the same.
Having said that, another of my fave actresses, the redoubtable
Andrea Martin, has supposedly been in the running to assume the role of Frau Blücher. But like Chenoweth, she's reportedly mulling over her own potential television deal. Same goes for
Roger Bart, who played Igor in the much-ballyhooed reading of
Young Frankenstein last October.
One thing that does seem certain is that the out of town tryout will be in Seattle this summer. Personally, I'm already planning a trek to America's Emerald City to see whether this Broadway bound tuner measures up, regardless of who's cast (although
it sure would be nice to finally see Sutton Foster...).
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
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Labels: Andrea Martin, Broadway, Cloris Leachman, Kristin Chenoweth, Megan Mullally, Musical, Roger Bart, Rumor, Seattle, Shuler Hensley, Sutton Foster, Tryout, Young Frankenstein
