by Emily Edelman
Berkshire Theatre Group’s “Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein,” being staged at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is as delightfully funny as you’d expect while also being perfectly acted and produced. Based on the classic 1974 Mel Brooks film, the plot follows the activities of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (“Frahnk-en-steen”) as he travels to Transylvania to inherit his grandfather’s estate.
As the title character, Matthew Hydzik is superb – his portrayal, singing, dancing and diction — especially in the complicated and wordy first number “The Brain — were unwavering in their quality. James Romeny’s Igor (“eye-gore”) was nimble on his feet and at ease with both verbal and physical comedy. Veanne Cox’s deadpan delivery of Frau Blucher’s song “He Vas My Boyfriend” was unexpected and compelling.
Matthew Hydzik as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein and cast of Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell. 
Matthew Hydzik as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein and Aléna Watters as Elizabeth Benning in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell. 
Matthew Hydzik as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein and James Romney as Igor in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell. 
Veanne Cox as Frau Blucher in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell. 
Nick Cearley, Aaron Choi, Savannah Cooper, Brady Miller and Linda Neal in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell. 
Kyla Stone as Helga, Matthew Hydzik as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, James Romeny as Igor, and Veanne Cox as Frau Blucher in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell. 
Kyla Stone as Helga and Matthew Hydzik as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell. 
Sean Bell as The Monster and Aaron Choi in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell. 
Sean Bell as The Monster and Matthew Hydzik as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell. 
Kyla Stone, Aléna Watters, Matthew Hydzik, Veanne Cox and James Romney in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell. 
“Puttin’ on the Ritz.” The cast of Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell. 
James Romney, Nick Cearley, Linda Neel, Aaron Choi, Kyla Stone and Savannah Cooper in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell. 
James Romney as Igor, Matthew Hydzik as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, and Kyla Stone as Helga in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell. 
James Romney as Igor in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”, directed by Gerry McIntyre, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA. Photo David Dashiell.
Director Gerry McIntyre’s choreography is appealing and intricate, demanding a certain amount of physical strength and finesse from the actors, especially Hydzik and Kyla Stone as Inga, whose movements in keeping their various limbs aloft under a sheet during “Surprise” in the second act was nothing short of impressive.
The technical values were all as excellent as you’d expect, but the lighting included frequent use of multiple strobes throughout out the performance, which was not acknowledged in the show’s program or on BTG’s website. Those who are sensitive to such things will need to sit this one out.
“Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein” runs through Sunday, July 21, at the Colonial Theatre, 111 South St., Pittsfield, Mass.
Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan. Music and lyrics by Mel Brooks. Original direction and choreography by Susan Stroman. Based on a concept by Stuart Ross. Direction and choreography: Gerry McIntyre. Assistant director: Nick Cearley. Music direction: Eric Svejcar. CAST: Sean Bell, Nick Cearley, Aaron Choi, Savannah Cooper, Veanne Cox, Matthew Hydzik, Brady Miller, Linda Neal, James Romney, Kyla Stone, Aléna Watters, Christina Emily Jackson, Cullen J. Zeno. Scenic & lighting designer: Mike Billings. Costume designer: Barbara Erin Delo. Sound designer: Joanna Lynn Staub. Projection designer: Brad Peterson. Associate projections designer: Andrew Garvis. Wig designer: Liz Printz. Intimacy coordinator: Lillian Ransijn. Orchestrations: Doug Besterman, Mark Cumberland. Production stage manger: Whitney Keeter. Assistant stage manager: Julia Bregy.