By Jeanette Hirt –
When a has-been Broadway producer and his accountant cook up a scheme to scam $2 Million from their investors, they couldn’t wait for the big day. They set out to produce an undiscovered musical flop entitled, Springtime for Hitler, so outrageous that it wouldn’t last a week on Broadway. From there, the ridiculous antics begin and, to the delight of the Paramount Theatre audiences, the uproarious 1967 Mel Brooks comedy, The Producers, unfolds.
Paramount Theatre artistic director Jim Corti once again brings out the very best in each stellarly-performed character and in the perfectly choreographed dancers and precision chorus. Music director Tom Vendafreddo expertly conducts the 21-piece orchestra, the largest since Paramount’s first Broadway show.
The blatant satirical in-your-face slapstick style of Mel Brooks, as well as a layer of more subtle humor and social satire, keeps the audience in an uproar throughout much of the play.
In contrast, the beautiful rendition of Your Face offered a welcome romantic interlude from the many high-volume song and dance numbers which were too ear-piercing for some members of the audience. Perhaps the volume and sharp treble could be softened a bit for the comfort of the audience members.
Liz Lauren photo