The Producers

This musical opened in 2001, having been adapted from the film of the same name from 1967. Mel Brooks, a songwriter, with some help from Thomas Meehan, put together a very silly storyline about Hitler and the Nazis, accounting frauds, the justice system and jail, the sex lives of elderly ladies and several other subjects likely to cause controversy.     

The two main characters are an already failed producer, Max Bialystock (Chris Dale) and Leo Bloom (Michael Boucher), an accountant. These characters were on the stage for the major part of the show and acted and sang brilliantly. Ulla (Kat Merrick) is an auditionee for the next planned musical flop that they intend to concoct and she is hired as a secretary. She only had two songs but they were sung to great effect.

A lot of the comedy was in the form of a Hitler-loving, jack-booted German soldier, Franz Liebkind (Dominic Batchelor). This was very much enjoyed by all the audience.  

The director who was hired for the production was Roger de Bris (Cameron Rowell) with help from his friend Carmen Ghia  (Sam Berry). They suggested that the show be more “gay”. This is taken up when Franz breaks a leg and Roger takes over the part of Hitler and plays it very flamboyantly. This is the turning point for the show and it becomes a Brodway hit.

The two main characters are then sent to jail for their part in the $2million fraud but continue to work together on another musical and the whole evening ends with a “Prisoners of Love” finale.

The scenery was very colourful and really amazing and the “show” scenes quite spectacular, especially “Springtime for Hitler”. The scene changes were many but well executed, as were the lighting cues. The six big ensemble numbers were well sung and most imaginatively choreographed. The music was provided by a thirteen piece orchestra and  it complemented the singers perfectly.   Congratulations to all on and off stage and in the production team.

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