Pittsburgh CLO's 'Young Frankenstein' electrifies

Fans of Mel Brooks, your ideal date night has arrived at the Greer Cabaret Theater downtown. Pittsburgh CLO’s production of “Young Frankenstein,” which opened Friday night, is a real crowd-pleaser.

Based on the 1974 comedy film of the same name, penned by Brooks and Gene Wilder, who also starred in the movie, the musical opened on Broadway in 2007. After the immense success of “The Producers” onstage, it’s no surprise that Brooks gave another crack at adapting his films into musicals. He wrote the music and lyrics, collaborating with Thomas Meehan for the book.

While “Young Frankenstein” isn’t quite as successful an adaptation as “The Producers,” it’s still a fun time, and the CLO pulled out all the stops in their electrifying production.

Anyone who’s seen the movie will find the show’s plot very familiar. It follows Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (that is, of course, pronounced “FrankenSTEEN”), a descendant of the legendary Dr. Frankenstein, as he inherits his grandfather’s legacy and returns to Transylvania to sort out his affairs. While there, he discovers the original Frankenstein’s secrets to creating life — and takes a crack at it himself. Naturally, hilarity ensues.

The biggest issue with films adapted into musicals is the comparisons it invites. For example, living up to the astronomically high bar that Gene Wilder set onscreen in 1974 is practically impossible. But Dan De Luca, CLO’s leading man, did a great job of making the role his own, using wry delivery and a battery of funny facial expressions to bring new life to old jokes.

And what would Dr. Frankenstein be without his faithful assistant, Igor? Anthony Marino portrayed the character with aplomb and the sort of over-the-top delivery that Brooks’s writing demands. Similarly, Theo Allyn’s Frau Blücher (don’t forget to whinny) was appropriately larger-than-life and equally funny. Alex Sheffield charmed as Inga, Dr. Frankenstein’s new lab assistant, with seductive sweetness, and Susana Cordón stole her share of moments as Dr. Frankenstein’s self-centered-but-sultry fiancée, Elizabeth. Her solo songs drew particularly loud laughs from the crowd.

But, appropriately, the show’s brightest star was Tim Hartman as The Monster. Looming large — both literally and figuratively — he was tremendous at physically embodying the character, especially during the show’s second act rendition of “Puttin’ On The Ritz.”

The Greer Cabaret Theater is a perfect place to stage this show, too, because it allows for full immersion. The actors came down into the audience a number of times throughout the show, including The Monster in his rampage. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed over the crowd, and the house lights were utilized to heighten the tension during The Monster’s “birth.”

Speaking of lighting, Paul Miller did a great job with lighting design, setting the mood in the intimate space along with Bob Bollman, whose sound design gave the show an extra dimension. Scenic designer Bob Lavallee made good use of the smaller space with simple-but-effective pieces, in conjunction with video designer Kylee Loera, whose work allowed for even a sparer set to feel real. Costume designer Alexander Righetti brought in a whole wardrobe of notable pieces — dressing Elizabeth seemed like it must have been a particular joy — and special recognition goes to hair and makeup designer Travis Klingler, who did an exceptional job with bringing The Monster to life.

The orchestra, directed by Robert Neumeyer, played a wide range of musical styles with apparent enthusiasm. And, of course, such an intricate production with — at times literally, with the actors moving throughout the audience — little room for error needed an expert director and choreographer, and Joel Ferrell delivered.

“Young Frankenstein” isn’t the best movie-to-musical adaptation, but it brings the classic comedy’s punchlines to a live audience and, with a talented cast and great technical efforts, Pittsburgh CLO’s production is a shockingly good time, for those who have seen the film — and, maybe even moreso, those who haven’t and get to hear the jokes for the first time.

Pittsburgh CLO’s “Young Frankenstein” will run through Sept. 1 at the Greer Cabaret Theater in downtown Pittsburgh. To get information and tickets, visit pittsburghclo.org .