Brilliant Musical Comedy!
“I want . . .I want. . .I want . . .I want everything I’ve ever seen in the movies!”
Leo Bloom
It is such a delight to see the revival of the hit comedy musical,The Producers in the first production since 2004 when it ran until 2006, that it is already sold out. At the intimate Menier Chocolate Factory, Mel Brooks’ musical about failing producers is a thing of joy.
We start with Andy Nyman as Max Bialystock, who uses a procession of rich women in sunglasses and leopard skin coats to fund his usually failing enterprises. In an early scene as one of his sponsors is due to arrive, he quickly selects her photograph from the several hundred in a cupboard, to put on display! His latest flop is a musical based on Hamlet called Funny Boy which closes on the opening night.
He meets Leo Bloom (Marc Antolin) an insecure accountant clinging to his baby blue blanket who longs to be in showbusiness. They come up with the idea that they can make more money out of a failing musical than the successful ones which elude them. So begins the subterfuge to design a turkey, a sure to bomb piece of musical theatre. They both read numerous scripts until Max finds one called Springtime for Hitler which in celebrating the Nazi leader is sure to offend and close early.
They visit Franz Liebkind (Harry Morrison) the play author who is clad in a Nazi helmet and lederhosen and who has a flock of pigeons, each with a swastika on their back. I loved the row of a dozen pigeons in puppet manoeuvres as they tip over to display the Nazi insignia. They all have good German names and Franz knows each of them. Leo and Max have to agree to Franz’s terms of Nazi affiliation and wear swastika bands in red and black.
This is so beautifully directed by Patrick Marber as there is a laugh out moment every minute with so much physical comedy as well as zappy joke lines. We had some great dance moves in the production of Funny Boy with jazz hands raised and Cossack moves, Prisiadka, that expert squat and kick dance where they crouch on one bent leg and kick with the other straight out. There is a tap sequence in “I Want To Be A Producer”, a German themed “Der Guten Tag Hop Clop” as well as chorus girl choreography in the show.
The Swedish actress Ulla (Joanna Woodward) is recruited as chief female role and seductress with her wonderful Swedish vowels and elaborate forenames. Do you remember Ronnie Barker’s breakfast request in Swedish? “F-U-N-E-X?” “V-F-X-N-M.” Ulla is a romantic opportunity for Leo as Ulla neatly folds up his comfort blanket.
The showgirls appear in spectacular, jaw dropping design by Paul Farnsworth, silvered enormous headdresses based on an eagle in flight, a silver pretzel, giant silvered sausages, a Valkyrie and a beer stein. There is a Nazi jack boot tap with Nazi salutes. Bialystock and Bloom have recruited super sized director Roger de Brise (Trevor Ashley) and his ultra camp assistant Carmen Ghia (Raj Ghatak) who almost steal the show. Roger Brise has an outfit he compares to the Chrysler Building and his entrance in silver Roman chariot is amazing. Scott Pask’s set changes well with each venue. I won’t give away anymore plot detail but this is the first musical I remember involving Sing Sing!
The Producers is an absolute delight of performances, singing, comedy and dance and I hope many more will get to see it. Line up for returns!
Editor of TheatreVibe.co.uk
See ABOUT US
Musical Numbers
Act One
Opening Night
The King of Broadway
We Can Do It
I Wanna Be A Producer
We Can Do It (Reprise)
In Old Bavaria
Der Guten Tag Hop Clop
Keep It Gay
When You Got It, Flaunt It
Along Came Bialy
Act Two
That Face
That Face (Reprise)
Haben Sie Gehoert Das Deutsche Band?
It’s Opening Night (Reprise)
You Never Say ‘Good Luck’ On Opening Night
Springtime For Hitler
Where Did We Go Right?
Betrayed
‘Til Him
Prisoners Of Love
Goodbye
Production Notes
The Producers
Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Music by Mel Brooks
Lyricist Mel Brooks
Directed by Patrick Marber
Cast
Starring:
Andy Nyman
Marc Antolin
Alex Lodge
Harry Morrison
Joanna Woodward
Josh Kiernan
Nolan Edwards
Raj Ghatak
Trevor Ashley
Leah Harris
Chloe Saunders
Hana Ichijo
Jermaine Woods
Charis Alexandra
Kelsie-Rae Marshall
Esme Kennedy
Matt Gillett
Michael Franks
Creatives
Director: Patrick Marber
Choreographer: Susan Stroman
Set Designer: Scott Pask
Costume Designer: Paul Farnsworth
Musical Supervisor : Gareth Valentine
Lighting Designer: Richard Howell
Sound Designer: Terry Jardine, Niamh Gaffney
Musical Director: Matthew Samer
Information
Running Time: Two hours 45 minutes with an interval
Booking until 1st March 2025
Theatre:
Menier Chocolate Factory
4 O’Meara Street
London SE1 1TE
020 7378 1713
Tube: London Bridge
Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge
at the Chocolate Factory
on 10th December 2024
