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The new Mel Brooks musical.

Friday Oct 17, 2003.     By Joseph Bowen

Theater Feed

Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre
Tickets: 312-902-1400 or www.ticketmaster.com
Through November 30, 2003

The Producers began life here in Chicago with its pre-Broadway stop. It was an immediate hit, and went on to win twelve Tony awards in 2001 - among them Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical (Nathan Lane). Happily, after two years on Broadway, the show is still quite sharp, and very funny.

Having only seen the show on Broadway (after Mr. Lane and Matthew Broderick left the show), I was interested to see this touring production, because I was not very impressed with what I saw in New York. Brad Oscar, who took over for Nathan Lane, was out of the performance I saw, and the production was not very sharp. Thankfully, this touring production is fast-paced and hilarious.

Mel Brooks has long been one of the funniest men around. His classic films, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, and of course the film version of The Producers became instant classics. The performances of Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, as well as that of Kenneth Mars as Franz Liebkind, are hard to equal. One of the best qualities of the musical version of The Producers is that Brooks makes a point of offending nearly everyone - from the Ol’ Man River Sequence, to the anthem “Keep it Gay”, to all the “fun” Nazi references.

The Producers is the story of Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Mr. Oscar), who has had a string of failures and is desperate for a hit. He gets a visit from Leo Bloom (Andy Taylor), an accountant who has come to check his books. Bloom makes an innocent statement that a producer can make more money with a flop than a hit. That, of course, is all Max needs to hear - the way to make tons of money without having to work for it. There begins the plan - to find the worst play ever written, hire the worst director in town, and get the worst actors, and you’ll be able to get the flop you want. They manage to find this theatrical gem in Springtime for Hitler, written by former Nazi Franz Liebkind (Peter Samuel).

The Producers is directed and choreographed with tongue firmly planted in cheek by Susan Stroman, who won a Tony Award for her work. The book scenes are very funny, and the musical numbers are even funnier, particularly “The King of Broadway”, “I Wanna Be a Producer” and the Little Old Lady Land sequence, in which we meet Bialystock’s investors - a group of horny old ladies. Best of all, however, is “Springtime for Hitler”, where we meet that “wacky hun”, in the person of Roger De Bris (Stuart Marland), the gay-as-the-day-is-long director, who steps in when Liebkind breaks his leg on opening night.

Brad Oscar, as Max Bialystock, is a perfect choice. His Max will do anything (or anyone) to get the money he needs, and is truly a man desperate for success. As Leo Bloom, Andy Taylor takes a scene to get going, but he eventually settles in to his rhythm, and is quite a good singer and dancer. Speaking of dancers, Ida Leigh Curtis shines as Ulla, although her diction is not as sharp as it could be. Stuart Marland as Roger De Bris and Rich Affannato as Carmen Ghia, are the perfect pair. Marland’s work, especially in “Springtime for Hitler” is inspired.

The Producers is a very funny show with a risqué side. If you are a fan of any of Brooks' movies, you’ll love this. Bring your sense of humor.