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ROLLICKING FUN: THE PRODUCERS
ROLLICKING FUN: THE PRODUCERS
F. J. Hartland
CLO presents a sure-fire evening of rollicking fun with their current production of The Producers.
Funnyman Mel Brooks adapted his film of the same title into the multi-Tony Award-winning musical. And while I don’t think it’s the greatest musical by any stretch of the imagination—CLO certainly does it justice. It sure is FUN!
Max Bialystock, a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer (played brilliantly by John Tracy Egan), meets accountant and producer-wanna-be Leo Bloom (Jim Stanek), who convinces Bialystock that (through some clever bookkeeping) they can make more money with a Broadway flop than with a hit. They then begin to look for the worst script, most talentless director, etc.
With his performance Egan pays tribute both to Nathan Lane (Broadway’s Bialystock) and to Zero Mostel (who played the role in the film). Egan is a large man—yet performs the physical demands of the role with ease. He can be bombastic when he needs to be—and graceful when called upon to do so. And Egan brings down the house with his star-turn number “Betrayed” late in Act Two.
Pittsburgh native Joe Stanek also makes the most of physical comedy as nervous accountant Bloom. Clutching a shred of blue baby blanket, Stanek is hilarious whether having a full-fledged panic attack or dreamily falling in love with the Swedish actress Ulla.
The show is filled with outstanding performances, so it’s hard to pick favorites.
Ashley Spencer is very funny (and very beautiful) as the shapely Swedish bombshell Ulla. N’Sync alum Joey Fatone gives an impressive performance as Nazi playwright Franz. (I mean we knew he could sing and dance—but he also has a gift for comedy!) And John Walton West nearly steals the show as Carmen Ghia. West doesn’t even need words to be funny; his body language speaks for itself. And he makes two of the funniest exits I’ve ever seen on stage.
Direct from the Broadway production, Robin Wagner’s set and William Ivey Long’s costumes are spectacular. And Andrew David Ostrowski’s lighting meshes beautifully.
Director Bill Burns keeps the show moving at a lively pace. The book does tend to break down in Act Two, but overall, the show is fast and full of laughs.
Hands down, with its amazing cast and stunning physical production, The Producers is the best show so far in CLO’s 2010 season. You’d be a fool to miss it.
The Producers continues through July 18.