Young Frankenstein Theatre Royal Newcastle/Garrick London

There is a huge difference between a minimal set (absolutely fine) and a cheap set (unacceptable).

The set is quite minimal - there's a series of black portals which have lighting contained in them, and the rest is mainly made up of back cloths.  It's not too unlike the Broadway set from what I've seen from videos of that production, but simpler in places.  The cart and horses for the 'Roll in ze hay' number look identical.

There's a trucked doorway for the entrance to the Frankenstein castle (with the big knockers...), which then revolves to turn into the bookcase which is the entrance to the hidden laboratory.

The laboratory itself has several bits of working machinery which light up, explode, move etc., and there's a flown rig for the Monster.

Some of the cloths look a bit 'panto', for example the outdoor one after the Monster has kidnapped Elizabeth - there isn't the trucked cave entrance from the Broadway production, but a cave-shaped hole cut in the cloth.

However... I think this style of set works extremely well for the production.  As Zak said, I too couldn't see a blg flash set working as well.  It focuses everything down on the performances themselves, and all fits in well with the tongue in cheek production.

The costumes and wigs are great, and look very much like the Broadway ones.

So they cut Life, Life? Disappointing -- one of the better songs!

Remember seeing this on B'way and an absolute highlight was Puttin on the Ritz.

Strange Ross Noble has starred in both Mel Brooks musicals, anyone would think he is a top notch actor.

I'm getting a Ewan McGregor vibe from that pic. 

Really glad to hear good reports on this... and Riedels NY Post article says we brits are loving it..!

May just have to get tickets for the west end now

The original Broadway production starred Roger Bart and he was totally lost in the role. He was manic all the time. No charisma at all. That is half the battle and Hadley has it. The the Broadway production was pretty bad anyway.

That's a bargain - well done!

Even the 'partial view' seats in the back row of the Stalls don't have too partial a view for this production, as there's nothing really high up that you'd miss from the Grand Circle overhang.

When I saw The Producers I sat there with a manic ear-to-ear grin all the way through it, apart from when I was actually laughing out loud. I mean proper belly laughs.

This never happens.

I just found it hilariously silly. I'm hoping this is the same.

I'm rather excited for this and will see it in town, but hoping for a TodayTix Rush or something.

I ended up seeing this again today, the Thursday matinee. Row C restricted view (because of high height of stage) for £21 but row C turned out to be the second row.

I cannot fault this show and there's not one weak link in the cast.

Even though it was my second viewing I had an actual pain in my side from laughing so much. It is hysterical.

I absolutely adore the music, the songs, the scenery and everything at all from start to end.

Ross Noble absolutely grafts from start to finish and he nails it. I didn't think he could do it but am eating major humble pie! He has really put the work in here and being the local boy he probably got the biggest applause of all. I was also chatting to a lovely couple who remembered him being their paper boy.

5 stars.

I popped in for another viewing last night (back again for a final one on Saturday night).

Aside from one brief show stop while they sorted a bit of stuck set out (and Ross & Hadley popped out from behind the curtain to give us a bit of ad-libbing about "Look at all these people here in the castle garden...") the show is in tremendous shape.

I love the sound on this show too - little touches of sound effects like brains squidging, candles plopping and audience noises during 'Puttin' On The Ritz' all add to make the show the fun ride that it is. The sound desk is like something from Star Wars

One of my favourite scenes is where Frankenstein attempts to reanimate the monster - the sound, lighting and stage effects are fantastic!