Young Frankenstein
at Fountain Valley High School

Reviewed on April 5, 2014

Claire Pukszta
Northwood High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

A Monster Mash at Fountain Valley
for the OC Register
Claire Pukszta is a junior at Northwood High School in Irvine.

Thunder booms and lightning crashes. Like an old fashioned black and white movie, the words flash across the screen, emblazoned against a creepy castle -- Young Frankenstein. But what starts as creepy and dark old Hollywood becomes vibrant and colorful in Fountain Valley's production of Mel Brook's classic comedy, Young Frankenstein.

In a little Transylvanian town, trouble brews upon Victor Frankenstein's death. It is then that grandson Frederick Frankenstein, or Frank-in-steen as he would say, comes to inherit the estate. After arriving, Frederick decides to recreate his grandfather's famous monster with the help of a crazy cast of characters.

Jeremy Flores plays the awkward, fidgety Frederick Frankenstein. Forever in his grandfather's shadow, shown in the song "The Brain", he vainly tries to prove his sanity. When frustrated at his experiment's lack of results, he flies into sudden comedic rages, showing the unpredictability of his character. His decision to "Join the Family Business" is attributable to his faithful companion Igor by Nikki Tran. Like a puppy, she follows him everywhere, hunched over but able to spring into the air at a moment's notice. Flores and Tran's contrasting personalities and comedic timing show most in "Together Again"; Tran bouncing in exuberance and Flores, though less sure at first, soon joining the hilarity.

Also helping the young doctor is Inga, the beautiful local girl, played by Miranda Lennert. Sweet and trusting, she comforts Flores when things go wrong, in more ways than one. Even with the innuendos her character brings, Lennert never fails to lose her innocence, even in such songs as "Roll in the Hay", she swings her legs like a child, and always has a smile on her face.

The ensemble maintains and builds energy, cumulating in such songs as "Transylvania Mania" and "Puttin' on the Ritz". Although singing is pitchy at times, overcoming that are the zany accents and over-the-top acting.

The sets by Julie Brashear, Ronald Daughton, Sam Maytubby, and Danthi Tran add a creepy foreboding atmosphere. Most notable is the platform lift carrying the doctor and monster to heaven during the famous resurrection scene. Make-up and hair by Rebecca Turner and Miranda Lennert makes each character unique, but especially the Monster, who is humanly creepy.

A reminder that what's on the inside is what counts, Fountain Valley puts the humor back in horror!

Madeleine Blossom
Sunny Hills High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Fountain Valley brings Young Frankenstein to Life
OC Register
Madeleine Blossom is senior at Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton.

A young Frankenstein tries following in his grandfather's footsteps to bring a corpse back to life. The results, created by Mel Brooks, are hysterical and the cast of Fountain Valley's Young Frankenstein executes this humor superbly.

Throughout the entire show the ensemble has a vibrant energy that builds with each dance number. While it was hard to hear some, the cast works together to create the overall feeling of the show through distinct physicality and expression. What some may have lacked vocally is made up through character work and comedic reactions.

The young Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Jeremy Flores) employs great diction and creates many different levels in his character. One moment he is calm and collected over his failure, and the next he is sprawled on the ground throwing a temper tantrum. The levels of Flores's character add to the relationship between him and the lovely Inga (Miranda Lennert), and the two play off each other well. Lennert allows her character to be multidimensional, and does not let any of the more sexual innuendos or jokes cheapen her character in any way. The two work well together, and their relationship grows throughout the show, making it more enjoyable to the audience.

The cast of Young Frankenstein utilizes many technical aspects such as make-up and hair (Julie Brashear and Rebecca Turner), which add to the specific characters and overall show. The distinct green of the Monster (Michael Peters) covers all visible skin, and stays on, even during interactions between other characters. Igor's (Nikki Tran) dark and sullen face along with the hump helps Tran with the physicality of jumping and darting around the stage. The girls' braids are delicate and detailed in the hair, which again adds to the characters and helps set the show era wise.

Overall the accents utilized by the cast are consistent and clear, and one standout is Inspector Kemp (Daniel Lynch). The distinct physicality of moving his right arm and leg create the idea that he has fake limbs, and he is consistent throughout the show. Even while dancing or just walking about, Lynch never loses his character.

With intricate sets (Julie Brashear, Ronald Daughton, Sam Maytubby and Danthi Tran) adding to the plot, a live orchestra, and fantastic special effects (Julie Brashear and Danthi Tran), Fountain Valley's cast of Young Frankenstein puts on a show to be remembered.

Allie Graydon
Tesoro
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Monstrous fun at Fountain Valley
for OC Cappies Facebook
Allie Graydon is a senior at Tesoro high School in Las Flores.

With a menagerie of creepy characters and wild, comedic physicality, Fountain Valley's production of Young Frankenstein is a playful jaunt through unexpected twists and constant satirical comedy. The story follows Frederick Frankenstein, a scientist who must take over the estate of his late grandfather, Victor Frankenstein, and in doing so decides to make a monster of his own. Fountain Valley's combination of eerie and humorous atmospheres makes Young Frankenstein a fun-filled "mania."

Comically switching from cool and sarcastic to frantic and dramatic, Jeremy Flores conveys both modern reason and mad science as Frederick Frankenstein. He remains grounded when first meeting Igor, his stiff posture and confused glances revealing his discomfort. As he adapts to his new surroundings however, his relaxed attitude is dotted with wild outbursts and he cackles wickedly when creating his monster. To convey his acceptance of his family name, he sings boldly with his head high and eyes resolute during "Frederick's Soliloquy."

Miranda Lennert is charming and pleasant in contrast with her dark surroundings as Inga. She kicks her feet merrily and her clear voice leaps effortlessly through yodels during "Roll in the Hay." Her love for Frederick is revealed as she gazes at him with concern or suddenly leans against him and plays with his tie flirtatiously. She stumbles on stage with Frederick, her clothes askew, to hint at their romance.

With a loud, dramatic voice and erratic movements, Nikki Tran is comical and eccentric as Igor. She hops across the stage creepily, hunched over, with one foot dragging behind her. She incites constant giggles as she leaps up unexpectedly, arms and legs flailing with excitement at meeting Frederick or when she sits comfortably on top of his shoulders during "Together Again." Her constant wide eyes and disturbingly large smile convey her abnormality.

Sets by Julia Brashear, Ronald Daughton, Sam Maytubby, and Danthi Tran create a ghoulish atmosphere with dark grey and black gothic castle spires on either side of the stage. Victor's laboratory is painted with faded colors and the operation table and control panel are rusty to convey their underuse.

Fountain Valley's production is both dark and amusing with a shadowy setting yet humorous characters and songs. Through each antithesis of rational and erratic behaviors, the characters reveal the importance of remaining true to oneself, even if that means being unusual. Young Frankenstein brings weird and whimsical "together again!"