YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - Hope Mill Theatre (15/10/25)

Winston-directed revival of Mel Brooks' second symphony is electrifying!

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Following up from a gargantuan hit like The Producers is enough to send any writer for the stage or screen into a frenzied panic, and much like when the musical first premiered in 2008, we are in a similar situation in the present, with an enormously successful London revival of Mel Brooks' magnum opus having preceded this major return of his second musical "Young Frankenstein", and inevitably there will be many making their comparisons between the two. Having now seen both productions, this critic is ecstatic to report that Hope Mill Theatre, this year celebrating their 10th anniversary, have proven once again why their reputation of staging west end quality in a fringe sized venue absolutely precedes them, as this was just as good, if not better.

Our setting is 1930s New York, and renowned scientist Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of the infamous monster-mad Victor, is trying desperately to shed his grandfather's madcap reputation (and amusingly mis-pronouncing his own surname in the process) by teaching anatomy at a New York medical school, however when he inherits his castle in Transylvania, he forcibly must travel across the sea to resolve this issue. What he perhaps didn't expect was to be taken in by a book of Victor's old experiments, and begin working on them again; from this unexpected deviation from his schedule, completely expected chaos ensues for Frederick and those around him.

Ore Oduba and Pete Gallagher (credit: Mark Senior)

Brooks' comedic stylings are what truly take centre stage in this brilliantly bonkers musical adaptation of his self-confessed best film, with his signature blend of satire, slapstick, and distasteful, lowbrow humour titillating us and tickling us pink, and director Nick Winston deserves a huge amount of credit for how he navigates this. He manages to get the very best out of both the material and the performers delivering it, balancing everything masterfully, from the sets and costumes (Sophia Pardon/Lorraine Parry), to the transitions, lighting and projections (Aaron J Dootson), and creating something that dazzles and electrifies from start to finish.

Taking the reins as the titular professor turned mad scientist is Ore Oduba, known to many as a sports reporter, but now steadily building himself a reputation as a true triple threat of the stage. Channeling the late, great Gene Wilder but adding his own mesmerising spin on the character, Oduba is simply irrestible as Frederick, building layers into his portrayal, whilst also displaying some marvellous vocals, and proving with his fleet feet, and execution of Winston's slick choreography, that his victory on Strictly Come Dancing was no fluke.

The company of "Young Frankenstein" (credit: Mark Senior)

Joining him on stage is perhaps the strongest cast I have seen in a Hope Mill production, there wasn't a single weak link in there, from Jessica Martin's delightfully dour Frau Blücher, to Rhiannon Chesterman hilariously hamming it up, in a manner Jean Hagen would have admired greatly, as Frederick's fiancée Elizabeth, and Simeon Truby eliciting probably the biggest laughs of the night as the blind Hermit, especially in his scene with the monster (played superbly by Pete Gallagher). And Julia Yammanee as Inga was this critic’s pick of the bunch, giving a deliciously funny performance of real star quality. The ensemble too gave us no shortage of stunning performances, with the act 2 tap number during the show's big hitting showstopper "Puttin' on the Ritz" proving a particular highlight of the evening.

What was especially impressive throughout was how utterly perfect everyone's comic timing was, every joke hit on all cylinders, none of them felt over-egged, and when the rolling credits during the show's play-out manage to keep the laughter going right until the end, you know that you have a sure-fire hit. Spooky, silly, and splendidly good fun, Young Frankenstein will have you rolling in the aisles, and begging for more long after the curtain has come down.

★★★★★ (5*)

"Young Frankenstein" plays at Hope Mill Theatre until the 30th of November (book tickets)