Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...The laughs - big laughs, sometimes - arrive mostly thanks to a pair of truly wacky comic performances that had the folically challenged gentleman in front of me spluttering and snorting with such regularity and enthusiasm that I grinned, vicariously, all night long. The first stellar turn is from Jeff Dumas, an actor who we do not see nearly enough, in the role of Igor. In essence, Dumas plays Patsy, a role he did for ages in "Spamalot." But since they are basically the same character, that's fine. Dumas, who has the best comic timing this side of a Tom Skilling weather forecast this frigid week, is hilarious."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...This 2007 Broadway musical, which Brooks (in collaboration with writer Thomas Meehan) based on his hit 1974 film (itself the wackiest of homages to the classic 1930s movies inspired by Mary Shelley's classic tale about life, death and what it means to be human), had the misfortune of arriving in the wake of his megahit musical, "The Producers." Two hits in a row are rarely permitted, and from the start, "Young Frankenstein" was sorely underrated. The boffo Drury Lane Theatre revival that opened Thursday should set the record straight."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...The basic problem with Young Frankenstein is that it's no Young Frankenstein. Mel Brooks's 2007 musical stage version of his incredibly funny, 40-year-old movie starts out well enough, with numbers like "The Brain"--a kind of patter song that sets cerebral functions to snappy rhymes. But the score quickly subsides into oompah-style repetitiousness and the book into a greatest-gags reel (Igor telling Dr. Frankenstein to "walk this way," horses neighing every time somebody says "Frau Blucher") in which the gags are ruined, more often than not, by misguided attempts expand on them."
ShowBizChicago - Recommended
"...Thanks to William Osetek and company (along with some top notch musical direction by Roberta Duchak and a masterful set by Kevin Depinet) this Young Frankenstein has one thing going for it that the Broadway version did not…..it has LIFE!!!"
Stage and Cinema - Somewhat Recommended
"...The musical at hand is a textbook case of fanaticism; it forgets its end in order to redouble its means. The targeted 1931 Universal picture is all but eclipsed by 150 minutes of industrial-strength vaudeville, hilarious at times but too often spelling and dragging out sight gags the movie deftly discharged quickly and cleanly. Overstaying their welcome, five entire songs get elaborated from five-second zingers in the film: Inga's salacious "Roll in the Hay," Frau Blücher's "He Vas My Boyfriend," the blind Hermit's "Please Send Me Someone," prudish fiancee Elizabeth's "Please Don't Touch Me," and the blatant penis anthem "Deep Love." The idea of a running joke is to hit and run, not stay and bore. Over and over you want to plead, "I get it! I get it!" (The ending here in particular is, well, endless.)"
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...Young Frankenstein is a slick production, rich in vivid costumes, stellar lighting with impressive sets to augment the comic acting, fine vocals and the polished dances that together with Brooks' irreverent satire combine to offer a large-scale and most satisfying night at the theatre. This is a wacky old-time structured Broadway Musical from a mad genius that is pure escapist fun. We all need some fun and Young Frankenstein delivers boat loads of gags. if you loved the movie-then you'll love the musical even more. Don't miss this show."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...On a very cold January night, with the fear of snow and more snow heading our way, escape is what we seek. There is no better place to escape to than Transylvania, which has now taken over the stage area at Drury Lane Oakbrook to bring us the absolutely hysterical "Young Frankenstein", the Mel Brooks classic movie made into a musical. The book by Mr. Brooks , who also wrote the music and the lyrics along with the genius Thomas Meehan takes the movie into a new place and the production, under the direction of William Osetek, with slick choreography by Tammy Mader and musical direction by Roberta Duchak is far superior to that which we saw "downtown" representing the "Broadway Version".! What a difference!"
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended
"...For those who enjoy their humor bawdy and a bit less sophisticated, but still demand high energy performances, production numbers boasting a talented ensemble of singers and dancers and spectacular special effects here is a show they'll enjoy. And for patrons for whom the name Mel Brooks is synonymous with a good time, they ought to head out to Oakbrook Terrace for some fun that's a real "Roll in the Hay.""
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Highly Recommended
"...It may be time to reassess the merits of "Young Frankenstein" as a musical. The Mel Brooks score scintillates with wit and verbal surprises, especially in the speed-of-sound patter songs. The man does have a dazzling facility with lyrics. His quirky humor tickles the funny bone and yet the show isn't all jokes. There is substance to the book in its homage to horror movies, and the off the wall characters command the stage with a comic brilliance that makes the show an uninterrupted pleasure from first scene to final blackout. It's become a mantra in Chicagoland theater that local stage artists exceed the New York breed in skills and inspiration and just plain quality. That's not just chauvinism. See "Young Frankenstein" and then ask, "Who needs Broadway?""