High River’s Windmill Theatre Players are taking on a horrifically ridiculous classic.
Opening April 21 at the Highwood Memorial Centre is their musical production of Young Frankenstein, based on the satirical Mel Brooks film of the same name.
“It’s probably one of the funniest shows we’ve ever done,” said Miranda Scott, who is co-directing the play with Laura Ferguson. “There’s so much comedy in every little thing, and Laura and I have been working hard at the minute details to make sure every single joke hits.”
Spring-boarding off the grim aesthetic of the original Frankenstein flick and making it a musical just amplified the absurdity.
“Mel Brooks made Young Frankenstein, a parody based off the original, then he was like, ‘Oh, now I have to make this a musical,'” Scott said. “This is one of the most unique shows that Mel’s ever done, so we’re doing projections, we’re doing orchestra and full sound, we’re doing something completely different for makeup and costumes – it's all new for Windmill.”
While past productions by the players featured larger casts than Young Frankenstein's 25, members of the chorus will get extra range out of the show.
“What’s really cool about this one is each person that's in the chorus gets at least four parts,” Scott said. “One time they’ll be a scientist, one time they’ll be a horse, or a villager, so it’s way more interactive for the chorus part, they get to change costumes, change makeup, change everything.”
The musical drew quite a handful of newcomers to the group, as well as mainstays.
“Quite a bit of our cast are newbies, which is awesome for us who have been a part of it for such a long time because we’re teaching a new generation of people who are going to be a part of Windmill Theatre Players,” said Scott, who was practically born into the group. “I’ve been in it since I was a kid. My parents met in the group, and so did our choreographer’s parents, and so it’s a very close community.”
Taking up the iconic role of Igor is Okotoks actor Benjamin Jaquish.
“He’s a bit of a crazy kook, but I’m pretty sure he’s the smartest one in the town, despite what everyone may think,” said Jaquish, who relishes the oddball role. “You really have to delve into the mind of the character, and when you’re doing a Mel Brooks production, you always run into the crazy ones – Igor is definitely one of the crazy ones.”
Along with the psyche, practical considerations such as the accent also bring the eccentricities out.
“Putting on the accent is great,” he said. “The cockney accent is a difficult one to get into, and then it’s really difficult to get out of after.”
While a newcomer to Windmill, Jaquish is no stranger to the stage, singing as a high baritone in the University of Lethbridge opera workshop and acting in other theatric productions.
“It has been fantastic, it’s a great big family here and they’re so welcoming it’s unbelievable,” said Jaquish, adding that chemistry has elevated the production. “There’s a lot of very talented people here, and you can’t go wrong with Mel Brooks.
“There’s a lot of witty, dirty comedy in it and it’s lots of fun.”
The show opens with dinner theatre performances April 21 and 22 at 5:45 p.m., dessert theatre April 27 at 7:30 p.m., regular shows April 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m., and matinees April 23 and 29 at 2 p.m.
For tickets and more information visit windmilltheatreplayers.com.
