Review: Colville and Hawkins give a stand-up performance of NTPA's THE PRODUCERS!

THE PRODUCERS

By Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan

Lyrics by Mel Brooks and Glen Kelly

Directed by Anthony D. Pound

Music Directed by Ian Moore

Produced by North Texas Performing Arts

Audience Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2:45 with one 15 min intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Showing: A special ASL interpreted performance will be held on Saturday, April 27 at 2:30 pm
ASL Performance: Not Available
Volume Level: Loud during musical numbers
Noises and Visuals to Prepare For: Gunshots, swastikas, talk of Adolf Hitler.

Reviewed by Carol M. Rice

The Producers began its life as a 1967 film satire and hit Broadway as a lavish musical in 2001. The production won 12 Tony Awards, breaking the record held for 37 years by Hello Dolly! which had won 10. The Producers was then remade into a musical film in 2005 starring much of the original cast. While film to stage musical to musical film has become pretty popular lately, The Producers was one of the first, and it’s easy to see the appeal when you see NTPA’s very fun production.

Max Bialystock, hilariously portrayed by David Colville, is a Broadway producer who hasn’t had a hit lately. (Or as he ever, despite insisting he was once the King of Old Broadway?) Leo Bloom, the accountant sent to do his books, muses after Max’s latest flop that it’s possible to make more money with a flop than with a hit...which starts the wheels turning in Max’s head! Naturally Leo has always wanted to be a producer and gets sucked in almost immediately. As Leo, Joshua Hawkins is sweet and sincere with a nice tenor voice that effectively contrasts Colville’s more boisterous baritone. The two have good chemistry as they plot to produce the biggest flop in Broadway history.

Adam Michael Thomas as Franz Liepkind has penned the “worst play ever written” and our intrepid producers hire Roger Debris to direct. Mark Hawkins obviously has a fabulous time as the incredibly fey Debris. Liepkind is also tapped to play the lead, Adolf Hitler, but when he breaks his leg on opening night, Debris has to go on in his place, making for some ridiculous (yet perfect) casting in “Springtime for Hitler,” which ends up being a smash hit, to the dismay of Bialystock and Bloom.

The incredibly talented ensemble play so many characters that I know they spend the entire time they’re offstage changing clothes and even makeup! Rebecca Litsey shines as a number of them, including little old lady Hold Me Touch Me, a male choreographer with a rug of chest hair, and a perky usherette, to name a few. Speaking of costumes, Litsey is also the Costume Designer and has done an amazing job making the small ensemble look much larger than it is. Other standouts in the ensemble are Troy Murray, Emma Triana, and Dylan Ciminna, although everyone is excellent.

Director Anthony D. Pound has put together a very entertaining and energetic production, aided by Music Director Ian Mead Moore, who brings out the best in the cast’s vocals. The Producers only runs through April 28, so don’t miss NTPA’s fun and funny production!

There’s NOTHING like live theatre!

Carol M. Rice