Audience members who are old enough to remember Mel Brooks’ 1974 “Young Frankenstein,” a parody of the horror film genre, will appreciate many of the movie’s gags that also show up in the musical stage version by Campanile Productions. It’s playing this week at the Alhambra Theatre.
These gags include the irrepressible nature of Igor, who is Dr. Frankenstein’s incompetent hunchbacked assistant. Also from the movie, there’s the off-stage neighing of seemingly frightened horses every time the name of another character, Frau Blucher, is mentioned.
- SUBSCRIBE: Sign up for our newsletters
But no one needs to have seen the film to appreciate the humor of this musical by Hopkinsville’s community theater group. It is a funny show all on its own — and it comes with a rare word of warning from Campanile. This show is PG-13 thanks to adult themes and the type of off-color humor that’s expected from Mel Brooks.
That means parents might have some awkward explaining to do if they bring young children to the show. It is fine, though, for teenagers. In fact, some of the best acting comes from high school cast members.
Take, for example, the actor playing Igor.
A young star
Based on a dress rehearsal to a very small audience Tuesday evening, it’s safe to say Matthew Couch will emerge as one of the most expressive and memorable performers in the Hopkinsville production of “Young Frankenstein.” He’s also the most energetic character on stage, which is required for his role as the quirky sidekick to Dr. Frankenstein.
Couch is a senior at University Heights Academy and attended the Musical Theatre Class for the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts earlier this year. He’s been cast in three other Campanile shows — playing Crutch in “Newsies,” Archie in “13 the Musical” and Bruce in “Finding Nemo Jr.” He also played in two stage shows for his school, “The Addams Family” and “Into the Woods Jr.”
Show times and tickets
- When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 through Saturday, Oct. 21, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22
- Also: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, “pay-what-you-can” dress rehearsal
- Where: Alhambra Theatre
- Tickets: $15 to $25, available online
The players
Other cast members of “Young Frankenstein” have also played in a number of shows for Campanile. The cast includes:
- Turner Vaughn as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein
- Brandy Westerfield as Elizabeth Penning
- Rachel Sanders as Inga
- Matthew Couch as Igor
- Scotty Sanders as The Monster
- Caleb Huffman as the Hermit
- Brad Ison as Victor von Frankenstein
- Logan Kirkman as The Herald and Mordecai
- Shelley Ladd as Inspector Kemp
- Elliott Moorefield as the Village Idiot
- Ellen Schumann as Frau Blucher
- Rachel Cavanah as the Medical Student and the Telegraph Boy
Members of the ensemble include Emily Beeny, Ryan Fuller, Danielle Ison, Ann Jarvis, Corrine Kiesle, Kasey Miranda, Alaysia Sells, Quintin Scala-Beltran and Amanda Thorne.
In addition to the ticketed shows Thursday through Sunday, there is a “pay-what-you-can” dress rehearsal at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Hoptown Trivia
The movie “Young Frankenstein” has an interesting tie to the Alhambra. It was the first movie shown at the theatre after it was refitted to show films in October 2013. At that time, there had not been a movie shown at the Alhambra in roughly 30 years.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
