By Vanesa Brashier, editor@bluebonnetnews.com
The Valley Players are halfway through scheduled performances of the Broadway sensation “Young Frankenstein,” based on the Mel Brooks’ movie. With just two performances remaining, time is running out to purchase tickets for upcoming shows on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26-27, at the Humphreys-Burson Theater in Liberty.
The story of Young Frankenstein is a parody of Mary Shelley’s 1816 novel “Frankenstein” and is set in the years after the original Dr. Frankenstein has died. The doctor’s grandson, Frederick, also a medical doctor, travels from America to Transylvania to secure the family estate, meeting a collection of unique characters along the way, such as devoted servant Igor, housekeeper Frau Blucher and the frequently-yodeling Inga, who becomes his love interest and lab assistant.
In The Valley Players’ production, two local high school students – Nolan Myers of Liberty and Billy Thompson of Hardin – share the spotlight with neither outshining the other. Myers plays Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, a character burned into American culture in the film version by the late funnyman Gene Wilder. Thompson portrays the hunchbacked Igor.
Both Myers and Thompson have earned acclaim in their high school UIL One Act Play performances. Myers has been an All-Star Cast selection at LHS and Thompson was named Best Actor during competition at HHS.
Other title cast members are Kat Stroud as Inga, Caleb Hair as Frankenstein’s Monster, Deborah Pickett as Frau Blucher, Makayla Grothe as Elizabeth Benning, Chuck Gonzales as Inspector Kemp and Betty Runkle as Ziggy, the village idiot. Runkle is also the musical director for Young Frankenstein.
Behind the scenes, pulling the show together, are Josh Hair as head of set construction and props, Catherine Hair as assistant director and Joe Roberts as director. Josh Hair also pops into one of the final scenes of the musical as Count Dracula.
The remaining show times are Saturday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 27, at 2 p.m. The show is designed for mature audiences only. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling 936-336-6699. You may be required to leave a message but calls will be returned later. Light refreshments, including wine, will be available at the shows.
The Humphreys-Burson Theater is located at 1710 Sam Houston St., Liberty, inside the same building as the Liberty Municipal Library.
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