The Producers

There are some shows that make you smile. There are some that make you laugh. Then there are those rare productions where you leave the theatre still chuckling about individual moments several days later.

Maidenhead Operatic Society's production of The Producers firmly sat in that final category.

Mel Brooks' gloriously outrageous musical is not an easy show to stage. It relies heavily on comic timing, strong characterisation, relentless pace and performers who are willing to throw themselves wholeheartedly into its wonderfully absurd world. It is also an unusually dialogue-heavy musical, requiring actors to carry long stretches of comedy before launching into complex musical numbers. That added level of difficulty was handled with remarkable confidence by this company.

From the opening moments it was clear that Director Louise Tait had a deep understanding of both the source material and the style of humour required. The production remained faithful to the classic Broadway version whilst still feeling fresh, energetic and entirely its own. The audience responded accordingly, with laughter ringing throughout the auditorium and a genuine sense of joy radiating from the stage.

Musically, visually and theatrically, this was an exceptional production. The company embraced every ridiculous moment with gusto, creating an evening that was consistently entertaining from beginning to end. Whilst there were a handful of technical observations that may help strengthen future productions, they were minor points within what was otherwise a hugely accomplished and thoroughly enjoyable show.

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