The Rough Draft Reanimates With Movie Brunch

Up on the screen that hung over the stage at the Rough Draft this past Sunday, Gene Wilder as the grandson of the infamous Dr. Frankenstein screamed as he brought back to life the body of a man with some recently deceased parts in the Mel Brooks classic Young Frankenstein, a not-so-scary take on Mary Shelley’s classic horror novel and the film featured during the venue’s monthly Movie Brunch.

The Rough Draft had undergone a rebirth itself only a couple of weeks before, as the fairly new venue (it replaced the old Space) had a setback after it became flooded during a torrential rainstorm during the last week of September.

According to co-owner Karen Robinson, the flooding forced the venue to close for about a week and a half. The biggest losses were food and other kitchen items. But with the help of her dedicated staff, and lots of fans and wet vacs, the equipment that they feared might be ruined forever was up and running again, as was the venue itself.

“We’re back fully now, and we think today is going to be our best brunch yet,” said Robinson.

Chef Christina Del Santo agreed. She said the movie brunch, with films supplied by the Nutmeg Institute and held the second Sunday of each month, had been ​”building momentum” over the past four months, and she had been having ​“so much fun” with it. For each movie she has put together a menu that compliments the film. For Young Frankenstein, she decided to take it one step further and called in the ​“hive mind from Facebook” for titles.

“I asked people on Facebook for ideas and they delivered,” she said. She took their suggestions for names for brunch items and created those dishes. ​“I’d like to think they are clever,” she said with a laugh. Selections included Roll in Ze Hay, an egg and hash brown combo plate, and Putting on the Ritz, an egg Benedict-type dish served over a Ritz cracker-based corn bread. A bottomless mimosa or Bloody Mary option was also available.

Trish Clark and Michael Field, who along with Patrick Whalen run the Nutmeg Institute, were there to introduce the film and run a raffle for two movie passes to Cinemark (each patron of the movie was handed a free raffle ticket upon entering the venue).

“We thought it would be a fun way to get people together,” Clark said before the movie began. She explained that the films shown, chosen for the brunch with input from the staff of the Rough Draft as well, were selected from a list through the Criterion Institute that changes each year. So far the venue has shown the films Birdman, The French Connection, and Romancing the Stone. Clark said not all of the movies are chosen according to a theme or time of year, but Young Frankenstein was chosen this month for Halloween. Miracle on 34th Street is planned for December. November will feature Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. She added that it is not out of the question that future movie choices may be based on suggestions from social media followers and patrons of previous events.

For some, this movie brunch was their first; for others, it was their first time seeing the movie itself. Musician Jeff Cedrone, who said he loved the film and even owned his own copy, brought his son Jack who had never seen the movie before. Maishe Dickman, who also happens to be the father of Rough Draft owner Karen Robinson, came wearing a shirt that said Abby Normal on the front, a shirt he had gotten when he saw Young Frankenstein in its form as a musical on Broadway.

“I’m a big fan of Abby Normal,” he said with laugh.

Sharon Travelli said she had seen the musical with him, but had never seen the film until after the musical, and was eager to see it again here.

All the tables were filled and seats at the bar were also almost all taken as well by the time the movie began. The audience cheered and laughed along with their favorite parts throughout the film, including the Abby Normal references and the ​“Putting on the Ritz” dance number. Though the film is over 40 years old and so many of the actors in it are now no longer with us, it still felt as smart and silly as it did when it first came out, the mark of a true classic.

“It’s a good movie, good food, and good company. What’s better than that?” said Clark.

For more information about future movie brunches visit The Rough Draft and the Nutmeg Institute Facebook pages.