Step one: get the rights to the show that's won more Tony awards than any in history. Step two: hire a magnificently talented director/choreographer. Step three: give him a strong ensemble cast and top-notch character actors.
Barn producer Brendan Ragotzy managed to follow these steps, doing the exact opposite of what ``The Producers'' in Mel Brooks' hilarious musical comedy do, and yet they both come out with the same result: a huge hit.
It's yet to be seen whether Ragotzy makes a million on this one, but audience members Tuesday leapt to their feet for a standing ovation opening night after the Barn's decadently silly first musical of the season.
A brilliant script, marvelous acting terrific singing and dancing, and sound technical elements make up the Barn's sure-win formula.
Based on the 1968 Academy Award-winning film, "The Producers"' tells the story of an unlikely pair -- a sleazy, down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mousy accountant -- and their get-rich-quick scheme: raise more money than necessary to put up a rotten show and pocket the difference when it flops. Of course, things don't go according to plan; high, hilarious drama ensues.
In classic Mel Brooks fashion, "The Producers" exploits practically every stereotype imaginable. Nothing is sacred: class, race, gender, religion, sexuality are all fodder for comedy. Just when you think perhaps you should be offended, another moment or line comes blazing at just the right angle, always delivered with perfect timing.
That impeccable timing is merely one of many terrific qualities of this cast. Joe Aiello and Scott Burkell shine in their leading roles. Aiello captures the sleaze and largesse of Bialystock, made famous by actors Zero Mostel and Nathan Lane, although he is far too svelte for the role. Burkell, in contrast to Aiello, isn't physically diminutive, but his reserved meekness makes him seem so. The juxtaposition works, and their alchemy on stage is beyond comparison; it's wonderful to watch them explore these new characters together.
No less delightful are Eric Parker as campy director and limp-wristed Hitler Roger Debris and his personal assistant/longtime companion Carmen Ghia, played to perfection by Alston Brown. Eric Petersen's portrayal of Hitler-worshipping playwright turned actor Franz Liebkind provides some of the loudest guffaws of the show, not to mention the most spectacularly silly singing and dancing.
Such wonderful leading roles are supported by a stunningly talented, enormous ensemble cast, and the actors carry off director Larry Nye's inspired choreography -- a terrific mix of folk, ballet and plenty of tap -- with gusto. Live music from a terrific septet provides just the right accompaniment to the cast's excellent singing. The technical designers are also to be commended for their exceptional work: umpteen seamless set and glitzy costume changes create character and set pacing as well as every other superb element of this show.
"The Producers"
Attended Date:reviewed by Christopher Tower
If it's not enough of a news-worthy event that the Barn Theatre landed
the rights to "The Producers," the 2001 Broadway musical that set a new record
with 12 Tony Awards, the Barn's second production of its 2007 season featured
several other noteworthy elements.
Primarily,
Gull Lake High School
graduate Larry Nye, now Professor of Theatre and Dance at Southern Connecticut
State University, has returned to the area to direct and choreograph the
musical. This homecoming alone is enough reason to crow about the Barn's
"Producers." But add to that Barn vets Joe Aiello and Scott Burkell in the lead
roles, and the perennial summer theater has a special season in the
making.
Though many people may have seen "The Producers" when
it passed through West Michigan in 2004, the Barn production is worth a second look. This stage musical revitalized
Mel Brook's flailing career, and though it was originally based on a 1968 film,
"The Producers" was made into a film again in 2005. The musical's plot mirrors
the original film. Like Mel Brooks saw his career crashing and burning, so does
lead character Max Bialystock (Joe Aiello), who woos octogenarian widows for
backing to fund his Broadway shows that are so bad they close on opening
night.
Bialystock's fortunes change when he meets accountant
Leo Bloom (Scott Burkell), who hits upon an ingenious scheme: a Broadway
producer could make more money with a flop than a hit aided by some creative
accounting. Max sets out to choose the worst play, worst director, and worst
cast ever assembled. Enter Franz Liebkind (Eric Peterson), who has written an
ode to "der fuhrer" entitled "Springtime for Hitler." Roger Debris (Eric Parker)
and his assistant Carmen Ghia (Alston Brown) sign on to direct, and Max hires a
Swedish actress, Ulla (Lisa Marie Morabito), who makes up for what she lacks in
talent with a hot body and a penchant for morning sex. The show should fail
before intermission, but it doesn't, and what ensues is hilarious.
The Barn Theater once again demonstrates that it has assembled its best
company in years. Aiello and Burkell who have shared the stage many times in
dual lead roles have never been better. Burkell is better suited to the role of
Bloom than Matthew Broderick, who played the role on Broadway. Aiello starts
slow with nothing to distinguish his performance from Nathan Lane's, but late in
the second act with "Betrayed," he demonstrates why he is one of the best actors
in the Barn's annual retinue.
Normally, Eric Parker would stand
out among the many character parts, and though he's very good, he's completely
upstaged by the swishy stylings of Alston Brown. Eric Peterson yet again shows
why he is one of the best performers to ever apprentice at the Barn as the Nazi
playwright. But it's Lisa Marie Morabito who is finally given a lead role after
years of playing bit parts, and she makes the most of every moment she has on
stage. Morabito is and always has been a rising star, who will one day be among
the names of the now famous who had their start at the Barn.
Larry Nye helms the ship with decades of experience and creative genius. He
shows why he was awarded a Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
Meritorious Achievement Award. Expert direction and choreography blend in an
intricate and complex interplay of comic business the result of which is
thoroughly hilarious and entertaining.
The Barn's enormous
company features far too many performers to laud individually, but a few others
deserve honorable mention. Jake Stackhouse is proving himself to be one of the
best of the Equity apprentices and a comic star in the making of Eric Peterson
or Roy Brown's quality. Bo Frasier, Nicole Niefeld, Jeff Baker are among the
many others who standout.
The greatest problem with the show is
its length and patrons need to be prepared for a three-hour long night of
theater. The length is worth it for the excellent performances, side-splitting
comedy, and peppy musical numbers, but with a first act that clocks in at over
90 minutes, watching "The Producers" is also a test of endurance.
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