“Franken-stine”

“Fronken-steen”

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of Dr. Victor von Frankenstein, insists the name is pronounced “Fronken-steen.”

This being 1934 in New York City and Transylvania, where the musical, “Young Frankenstein,” takes place, Frederick might not yet have been familiar with the name of legendary composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), as in “Bern-stine.”

I can relate to the divergent pronunciations.

My mother Ruth insisted on the pronunciation of Willistein as “Willis-tine.”

She referenced that in German, the “ei” digraph in “stein” is pronounced with a long “i,” as in “eye,” hence the pronunciation “stine.”

The pronunciation “Franken-stine,” “Fronken-steen” is one of the running gags in the hilarious production of the musical “Young Frankenstein.” through Oct. 26, Pennsylvania Playhouse, Bethlehem. The Oct. 10 opening night performance was seen for this review.

Igor also has a thing for mispronunciation. He insists his name is pronounced “Eye-gore.”

Word play is but one part of the butt of the humor in “Young Frankenstein, thanks to Mel Brooks’ obsession with double entendres, malaprops and silly names.

Mel Brooks wrote the book with Thomas Meehan for the musical. Brooks wrote the music and lyrics (with the exception of Irving Berlin’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz”).

The original 2009 Broadway production was based on the 1974 film directed by Brooks. The screenplay was by Brooks and Gene Wilder.

Primary source material for the musical and movie is “Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus,” the 1818 Gothic novel by Mary Shelley. The characters are so durable and fascinating that the “Young Frankenstein” parody of the movies they inspired only makes them more endearing.

Mark A. Stutz directs the Pennsylvania Playhouse show with a sense of abandonment and encouragement for the actors to push the limits. Assistant director is Sarah J. Davis.

Simultaneously, Stutz and company honor the tradition of the characters and their story. This requires a very disciplined approach, which Stutz and the actors have. They play it straight, which makes the musical all the more entertaining for the theater-goer.

Andrew Galindez is meek and mild as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, creating empathy for his plight as reluctant heir to the castle and all that it implies.

Joey Troiano as Igor steals every scene he’s in to great comedic effect. He’s agile and winsome, waits for the right moment to land his zingers and then pauses to savor the reaction.

Alyssa Steiner is fetching as Inga the lab assistant.

Tammy McKillip is kvetching as Frau Blücher, the housekeeper.

Andrew Maldonado as The Monster is scarily fantastic.

“Young Frankenstein” has terrific production numbers. Kudos to Music Director Amanda Haag and Choreographer Meg Pierre.

Set and Lighting Designer Brett Oliveira and Costume Designer Todd Burkel give a sense of time and place and veracity to scenes and characters in the fast-paced show.

“Young Frankenstein” opens with a silly insouciance that informs the show’s tone of merry mayhem in “The Happiest Town in Town” with Jack Warnke as a delightful Ziggy and a guffaw-inducing Shelby Shaffer as Inspector Hans Kemp.

The title alone of the opening number and of “Together Again for the First Time” are funny enough. Andrew Galindez as Frederick and Joey Troiano as Igor display a delightful rapport that continues throughout the show.

“Young Frankenstein” is nothing if not zany, no more so than in “Roll in the Hay” with Alyssa Steiner as a terrific foil and in fine voice as Inga.

Tammy McKillip displays fine pipes and comedic skills as Frau Blücher in “He Vas My Boyfriend.”

“Transylvania Mania” concludes Act 1 resoundingly with Joey Troiano (Igor), Andrew Galindez (Frederick), Alyssa Steiner (Inga), Andrew Maldonado (The Monster) and the Ensemble singing and kicking up a storm of fun.

Gary Boyer as Harold the Hermit evokes bathos in the coyly sentimental “Please Send Me Someone,” one of the show’s most fully-realized scenes.

Andrew Galindez (Frederick), Andrew Maldonado (The Monster), Alyssa Steiner (Inga), Joey Troiano (Igor) and the Ensemble deliver the iconic “Puttin’ on the Ritz” as the showstopper that it is.

Rebecca McCall as Elizabeth Benning is intensely wonderful in voice and character for the double play of “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life” and “Deep Love.”

The cast includes Richard Director (Victor von Frankenstein) Dale Beltzner (Mr. Hilltop) and Mya Detweiler (Dance Captain).

The Ensemble includes Alexandra Brito-Amador, Evan Hegar, Jordan Joseph, Cara Padilla Jensen, Caitlin McDermott, Jen Rarick, Carter Sachse, Stephen Simone, Maricel Wheatley, Sara Woodring and Hannah Zarate.

However, you pronounce it, “Franken-stine,” “Fronken-steen,” the Pennsylvania Playhouse production of “Young Frankenstein” is freaky fun.

“Young Frankenstein,” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25; 6 p.m. Oct. 12, 19, 26, Pennsylvania Playhouse, 390 Illick’s Mill Road, Bethlehem. 610-865-6665, http://www.paplayhouse.org/