THE PRODUCERS AT FOOTHILL MUSIC THEATRE WELL WORTH A VISIT

Leo Bloom (Tim Reynolds, center) and his chorus girls in Foothill Music Theatre's THE PRODUCERS. Photo by David Allen

MEL BROOKS' THE PRODUCERS, The Musical; Directed by Jay Manley. Smithwick Theatre at Foothill College,12345 El Monte Rd (El Monte exit West, off Hwy 280), Los Altos Hills, . (650) 949-7360 or www.foothillmusicals.com. July 24 - August 16, 2009.

THE PRODUCERS AT FOOTHILL MUSIC THEATRE WELL WORTH A VISIT

Undertaking to mount a musical forever associated with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick is an ambitious task, ever fraught with inevitable comparisons to those two stars. Never the less, Jay Manley has met the challenge directing a big splashy, colorful production with a 40-plus cast, well worth a visit for an evening of fun.

The Producers , listed as Mel Brooks’ The Producers, began as a 1968 movie starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. Brooks, with the aid of writer Tom Meehan (a classmate of mine at Hamilton College) fashioned it into the 2001 smash hit Broadway musical winner of 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It was greatly helped by bringing aboard Susan Stroman as director/choreographer and Lane and Broderick for the lead roles.

With all the news stories about Bernie Madoff’s rip-off of investors with creative bookkeeping, one has to agree that Brooks was ahead of his time in thinking up the story line. Failed Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Gary DeMattei) teams up with insecure, virginal auditor Leo Bloom (Tim Reynolds) to scam the investors. Simply over scribe the backers and produce a show that is sure to fail, therefore there are no profits and Bialystock and Bloom get to keep the unspent money. It is a raunchy, risqué show, politically incorrect and some community-based theatres have declined to produce it, since Max “services” little old ladies who voluntarily ante-up the dough.

To ascertain a failure, they contract for a script, “Springtime for Hitler”, written by Nazi lover Franz Liebkind (Ken Boswell) designed to present Der Fuhrer in a favorable light. Added to that, they con Roger DeBris (Ray Joseph), a flaming queen, the worst director they can find to mount the show. Into their den of inequity struts sexy, believer in free love, Swedish Ulla (Brittany Ogle) who “auditions” for a role in the play, ending up as their secretary/bookkeeper. Before they know what hit them, their sure-fire flop is mega hit guaranteed to run for years.

The action is fast, furious, hysterical with wonderful satirical songs, side-splitting choreography (Dottie Lester-White) and great ensemble performances. Gary DeMattei and Tim Reynolds do a very creditable job, but if you have seen Lane and Broderick in the play or movie there may some disappointment. The supporting cast shines including Brittany Ogle as Ulla who could fill in on Broadway with her beautiful face and sexy demeanor. Ray Joseph as the flaming queen, just call him Roger, steals every scene in which he appears. Sean Patrick Murtagh as Roger’s “side-kick” Carmen Ghia has his share of accolades. It is Ken Boswell, as Franz Liebkind, who stops the show with his hilarious acting, singing and dancing whenever he takes center stage. His rendition of “Der Guten Tag Hop Chop” is a show stopper.

Not to be forgotten are the little old ladies and their hilarious dance using their walkers singing the praises of Bailystock in “Along Came Bialy” for the act 1 finale. The hit songs include, “We Can Do It”, “I Wanna Be a Producer”, “That Face”, “Springtime for Hitler”, “Til Him” and “Prisoners of Love.”

Running time about two hours and 30 minutes with intermission.

Kedar K. Adour, MD

Courtesy of TheatreWorldInternetMagazine.com