Young Frankenstein is a musical adapted from the movie of the same name. It opened on Broadway in 2007.
Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of the famous monster-creator, has built a respectable life for himself in New York, but is forced to return to the family seat to settle a question of inheritance, where circumstances work on him to continue his grandfather's work.
The musical contains examples of:
- Adaptational Personality Change: Inspector Kemp is far more unhappy about Frederick and his arrival, while in the original film he urged giving him a chance before making a judgment.
- Artificial Limbs: Inspector Kemp has a wooden arm and a wooden leg.
- Big Damn Heroes: Lampshaded by Frederick when he's about to be hanged. It appears to be subverted after the doctor is actually hanged, but Elizabeth returning and the monster using his intelligence to save Frederick saves the day.Isn't there anyone who could save me at the last second?!
- Blind Mistake: The blind hermit keeps accidentally injuring the Monster while trying to offer him hospitality.
- Brain in a Jar: The brain that goes into the Monster, before it goes into the Monster.
- Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick: Frederick is going through the library and is surprised to find his grandfather doesn't have his medical books there, but instead things like "Black Beauty, Heidi, and the Kama Sutra."
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: Frederick, after the big number where his ancestors confront him over denying his heritage: "My relatives were crazy... so crazy... but boy could they dance!"
- Creepy Housekeeper: Frau Blücher. Every time someone says her name, horses neigh and there is lightning. Although, despite playing to every creepy film trope the filmmakers could trot out, she's more misguided than malicious, and gets to share in the happy ending.
- Dance Sensation: "The Transylvania Mania". Played with, because they're trying to distract the townspeople from the Monster's sounds and so making it up on the spot. The lyrics consist of contrived rhyming claims on how much fun it is (but purposefully for parody)So join the fun, let's all be zany-a
Even Liths in Lithuania love it, it's the latest rage.
Lose the blues and don't complain-ia
hit the dance floor feel no pain-ia
Love it! Do the Transylvania mania! - Dark Reprise: "Frederick's Soliloquy" has the same tune as "Life, Life" (where Frederick is trying to coax Fate to let the Monster he's assembled live), but the village is about to hang him, and here he's accepted who he finally is without regrets. The newly-intelligent Monster realizes the hanged Frederick is unconscious, not dead, and is able to revive him.
- Disposable Fiancée: Frederick starts out engaged to Elizabeth, but it's clear they don't really click. In the end, Elizabeth hooks up with the Monster, leaving Frederick free to marry Inga.
- The Eleven O'Clock Number: "Deep Love" is a big, showy number that marks a turning point for the character singing it and the beginning of the end of the story.
- Fate of the Frankensteins: The musical includes a dream sequence song, where Frederick is visited by his ancestors, including the infamous Victor, imploring him to become a mad scientist.
- Follow in My Footsteps: Although Frederick's grandfather is dead, there's still some pressure for Frederick to take over his experiments. In the number "Join the Family Business", the ghosts of his grandfather and other ancestors come out of the woodwork to express their wishes directly. Frederick, not being a Mad Scientist, is reluctant. At first.
- Gag Penis: In addition to the monster's enormous Schwanzstüke, the late Victor von Frankenstein once won a three-legged race all by himself.
- Ghost Song: Frederick Frankenstein dreams about his long-dead ancestors visiting and pushing him to fulfill his Mad Scientist destiny in "Join the Family Business".
- Greater-Scope Villain: The songs "The Happiest Town in Town" and "He Vas My Boyfriend" make it clear that Victor Frankenstein was a domestic abuser who relished his experiments, got people killed and maimed, and made the villagers' "lives a living Hell" for decades before leaving a will that will lure his reluctant grandson into the family business.
- Hair-Trigger Sound Effect: Horses whinny whenever someone says Frau Blücher's name. At one point, even when somebody just mouths it.
- Here We Go Again!:
- In the final number of the musical, Frederick is approached by a Dracula Expy inquiring about the castle. Frederick says it isn't for sale. He's planning to live there, because:I'm going to join the family business,
Learn the family trade,
Make another monster,
Make the world afraid!
We can take a hayride when we're on our honeymoon,
And make the Son of Frankenstein, the sequel's coming soon! - And in the finale:Together again 'til the next time
We're mighty glad that you came
Like Byron and Shelley
Like pickles and deli
Like ping-pong and paddles
Maybe next year, Blazing Saddles!!
- In the final number of the musical, Frederick is approached by a Dracula Expy inquiring about the castle. Frederick says it isn't for sale. He's planning to live there, because:
- "He Vas" Song": Frau Blücher (*NEIGH*) has a song
about Victor in the Musical, complete with Evil Laugh and vamping by Andrea Martin for "He Vas My Boyfriend." Doubles as a Villain Song as she hints he wasn't too nice a guy other than the sex. - The Immodest Orgasm: Elizabeth's tryst with the Monster culminates in an entire musical number called "Deep Love", with Elizabeth singing and fireworks going off. Afterwards both her and the Monster are smoking, and Elizabeth comes out looking like the Bride of Frankenstein.
- In the Blood: "Join the Family Business" is a number where the ghosts of Victor Von Frankenstein and other ancestors insist that Frederick has inherited the family obsessions.
- Incredibly Long Note: Inspector Hans Kemp has one near the end of "He's Loose", and the entire chorus holds one at the end of the same song. (But only on the CD.)
- Intercourse with You:
- Inga's introductory number, "Roll in the Hay".
- Elizabeth has a ballad in Act Two relating her joy at having at last found "Deep Love." (Accompanied by a whole bunch more adjectives.)
- "I Want" Song: In a case where the person singing is neither the Villain nor the protagonist, the song "Please Send Me Someone" is sung by the blind hermit about how good it would be to talk to another person again.
- Last Minute Hook Up: At the end, Frau Blucher ends up with the blind hermit.Blucher: If you'll excuse me, I've got a blind date!
- Legacy of Service: Igor's grandfather worked for Frederick's grandfather.
- The Loins Sleep Tonight: From "Listen To Your Heart":As for Immanuel Kant, all the girls in town knew that Kant, kouldn't.
- Overly Narrow Superlative: "The Happiest Town in Town".
- Over-the-Shoulder Carry: The monster kidnaps Elizabeth and carries her like this to the cave.
- Patter Song: Most of the song "The Brain" ("His Medulla Oblongata / tells his brain stem that it’s gotta / send an impulse full of data / which creates a lot of pain"… etc).
- Protagonist Title: Frederick Frankenstein, the youngest member of the Frankenstein line, is the protagonist.
- Real Joke Name: Frederick claims to have once been a Wiffenpoof while at Yale during "Together Again". Strange as it may seem to anyone who didn't go to an Ivy League school, the Wiffenpoofs are a real student a capella chorus group based at Yale University.
- Pair the Spares: At the end of the play, Frau Blücher (*NEIGH*) hooks up with the blind hermit."Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a blind date!"
- Reprise Medley: "Finale Ultimo".
- Science Hero's Babe Assistant: Inga is the attractive blonde assistant to Dr. Frankenstein, a Mad Scientist. Her misunderstanding of his instructions creates several humorous scenes. Her appearance is a source of sex comedy, and she ends up paired with Dr. Frankenstein.
- Science-Related Memetic Disorder: A compulsion to commit mad science is a hereditary condition that runs in the Frankenstein family. As the Frankensteins sing in "Join The Family Business":The Roqueforts are celebrated for their Roquefort cheese
The Rothschilds are famous for their wines
Hersheys have their chocolates, and Liptons have their teas
But when it comes to making monsters you can't beat the Frankensteins! - Sexy Scandinavian: Dr. Frankenstein has a pretty blond sex kitten of an assistant named Inga.
- Sleeps with Everyone but You: Implied in "Please Don't Touch Me":Elizabeth: Oh, Frederick, I know you're a virgin.
Frederick: Yes, science has always come first.
Elizabeth: And as every guy in New York knows, I come first too. - Smoking Hot Sex: Featured in "Deep Love", when Elizabeth and the Monster come together.
- Tempting Fate: "I may just be the village idiot, but what are the odds of a New York doctor ever coming to Transylvania?"
- Title Drop: The song "Join the Family Business" ends with one. "Do not make a fuss!/There's nothing to discuss/You must be one of us,/young Fraaaankensteeeiiin!"
- Trauma Button: Because of what happened to him back at the lab, the monster is terrified of fire. It also sends him into a violent frenzy.
- The Unintelligible: The Monster before Frederick gives him some of his intelligence. Used for effect for two numbers:
- "Transylvania Mania" has Igor, Frederick and Inga trying to cover up The Monster's musical moaning with the song and later, the village joins in as well as a trombone.
- "Puttin' On The Ritz" has The Monster do a scat-singing solo, showing he knows the tune even if he can't say the words.
