Alexander,
Short produce laughs
By Jack Schneider
Summer Online Forty-Niner
HOLLYWOOD—When
Mel Brooks was thinking about taking his
Broadway hit musical “The Producers” on
tour, he said in the “Los Angeles Times”
that he was nervous on the reactions audiences
would have with lead performers Jason Alexander
and Martin Short acting in his hit musical.
The anticipation grew as thoughts on whether
or not Alexander and Short could carry a
tune and live up to their predecessors,
Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick from the
New York production.
Acclaimed as one of the most successful
musicals to come out on Broadway, “The Producers,”
was originally a movie Brooks wrote/directed
in 1968 staring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder
as the main characters. In 2001, the movie
was revamped into a musical in which Brooks
produced, wrote the music and created the
lyrics which earned the musical a record-breaking
12 Tony Awards.
Despite mixed expectations and media hype,
“The Producers” has won over critics and
audiences in Los Angeles, and above all
was a delightful performance.
“The Producers” tells the story of Max Bialystock
(Alexander), who runs an offbeat theater
company on Broadway. Max finds out from
his neurotic accountant Leo Bloom (Short)
that he is in debt with his theater company.
In an attempt to save the company, Leo says
to Max that by producing a “flop” musical,
more money will be accumulated towards the
company.
Max later quits his job as an accountant,
and teams up with Leo to co-run Bialystock
and Bloom. The two stumble upon what they
believe is the worst script ever written
titled “Spring Time for Hitler.”
The show goes on with Max and Leo attempting
to find the worst director, and the worst
actors to star in the show.
Alexander and Short may have not had the
most superb voices, but their performances
were still amazing.
Short captured the part of Leo Bloom so
amazingly, that he comfortably fit the character
of the accountant. From his constant obsessions
of a little blanket, to getting nervous
about producing an opening production, Short
was both amazing and hysterical to watch.
Alexander was well fit for the part of Max
Bialystock with his constant smirking, and
his antics regarding the extremities of
theater with his famous line, “I’ll tell
you when it gets too much,” he says to Leo.
Many comedic elements were captured in the
production, including dancing tanks, showgirls
who come out of file cabinets, and even
Nazi pigeons.
Set design and musical numbers didn’t seem
over the top in the production, for color
and gray colors played an important part
in differentiating where the story took
place.
Not only is this performance entertaining
and visually stunning, there is a plethora
of uproarious comedy and side-splitting
dance, it will make any audience believe
in musicals.
“The Producers” will run at the Pantages
Theater until Jan. 4, 2003.
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