"Young Frankenstein" a monster hit

You have until Oct. 28 to see the best show in San Diego County live in the Horton Grand Theatre, where a boffo cast, directed by Larry Raben ("The Producers") takes the movie and original musical, "Young Frankenstein," to new heights.

We won't blow their cover by detailing the spectacular entrance of the Monster, the technical virtuosity of the hayride to Castle Frankenstein, or the hysterically funny tribute to Irving Berlin in "Puttin' on the Ritz." You'll have to buy tickets and hasten to 444 Fourth Avenue, San Diego (handy parking lot right across the street) and see for yourself why San Diego Musical Theatre is winning renown nationwide.

Thanks to Raben's research and original approach, we get the Everyman-Walter Mitty persona at the heart of young Frederick Frankenstein (pitch perfect performance by Kevin Hafso Koppman), who wonders whether he should join the bizarro family business. Egging him on is lab assistant Inga (the adorable Kelly Derouin), weird-but-lovable Eye-gor (the scene-stealing Jonathan Sangster), and, in a brilliant solo turn, ancestor Victor Frankenstein (the remarkable Randall Eames).

Along with Drouin, we get a pair of star turns from Melina Kalomas as the narcissistic Elizabeth and Christine Hewitt as the fearsome Frau Blucher (cue the horses). Giving everybody fits, including the audience, is the Monster (the wonderful Donny Gersonde). Leading the cadre of Transylvanian peasants is the one-armed, one-legged Inspector Kemp (the hilarious Troy Tinker), who yearns to make Castle Frankenstein into a budget-boosting tourist attraction. Tinker doubles as the Hermit, who, along with Elizabeth and Frederick, is the key to the Monster's transformation.

We send a special shout-out to the ensemble, whose lightning fast costume changes, indefatigable dance numbers, and attentive support of the nine leads place them on their own Broadway gypsy pinnacle (a stand-out is killer tap dancer Paul Stine).

But it is Mel Brooks, who wrote the book (with Thomas Meehan), music and lyrics, then took his unabashed, over-the-top humor and laced it with a Noel Cowardian wit to make a lasting American original. It's alive!