“The Producers” is an extremely well known production. Anyone who watches entertainment on television regularly or is well aware of current event is certain to have heard about this production. But while many people know that “The Producers” is a Broadway production, not many are aware that the original creation of this story was actually started in 1968 by Mel Brooks who had written and directed the whole production on film during the same period. It was only later adopted in 2001 as a Broadway musical where it earned rave reviews and garnered twelve Tony Awards.
It is an exceptional Broadway musical with the direction of Susan Stroman. “The Producers” transports you to an extremely funny and witty environment where you are surely going to enjoy yourself. The humor found in this production is varied and extensive. The delivery of the lines is also well-said and is timed so perfectly that you will have a hard time believing you are watching a musical and not the real thing. The writer of this story, Mel Brooks, has truly outdone himself this time.
The story basically revolves around Nathan Lane who plays the character of Max Bialystock who was once a well-known Broadway producer but is now encountering difficult times as a result of recent flops. The story progresses as he hires Leo Bloom played by Matthew Broderick as his accountant. Together, they make a scheme to achieve a Broadway hit through a unique and offensive play. The play is centered on race discrimination mainly against the Germans. Believing that this would become his next hit, Max Bialystock has affairs with old ladies to fund his production and get the musical started. A lot of mishaps appear as the person who plays Hitler encounters an accident on the stage forcing an assistance to play the part. The result of all these encounters and strategies is a radically funny play that will change the way you think about the Germans.
Many critics have hailed this musical as comedy’s return to Broadway and with that being said, this particular production, “The Producers,” have left its audiences laughing until after they left the theater. It has been doing so for years but because pop culture change from one generation to the next, Mel Brooks sought the help of veteran Thomas Meehan to help in the Broadway production. Indeed, this move proved to be wise one as audiences laughed their hearts out when watching this production.
But despite this, something seems to be missing because although it presents comedy at its finest, the art form that is known in most Broadway musicals seems to be lacking. This musical is not balanced in the sense that it contains no lyrics that can subdue the rough humor that is sometimes present in the songs. The rhymes are also nothing new and although it is not obvious, the sentiments found in this musical lack the genuine feelings and heart that the character should contain. In the song, “You Never Say Good Luck on Opening Night,” the performers truly showcased their natural singing talents but Brooks did not really permit his performers to show genuine emotion. But Tony Awards winner Nathan Lane shows mettle in his rendition of the song “Betrayal.” He truly had established himself as a top performer in a Broadway musical comedy. On the other hand, another Tony Awards winner Matthew Broderick also performed one of the best songs in “The Producer.”
However, what it lacks in sentiment, it more than make up for in the humor. The sounds in “The Producers” are also great as it only choose the top musical talents of today. But it wears thin as the show progresses because the ballads never cease their flippant humor. This would not be bad at all if the show was about thirsty minutes to an hour of entertainment but if the same thing is repeated throughout the two hours of entertainment, it is inevitable that the humor will wear itself out. Overall though, “The Production” is worth watching because it is a professional production that gives you a glimpse of what the glorious days of Broadway musical in the past had contained. You can be sure that audiences will continue to patronize this musical as long as the leading casts stays with the production.
