RtS: The Producers

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Rank the Swank - Theater and Movies


Overall Swank Rank

The Producers
Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

Thousand Oakc, CA
April 18, 2007



The Lowdown
A gay romp with Adolf and Ava - Mel Brooks style!

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The Scene
So, it’s no secret I'm a huge Mel Brooks fan and in ranking his films, The Producers was always near the bottom. The original film is very funny and the acting by Zero and Gene Wilder is just great. It's not Brooks' best but still a funny, funny film.

The movie that they made a few years ago that was based on the Musical with Broderick and Lane was something that I really didn't care for. It was very "clean" and I really didn't like the songs. It was something that I really wouldn't want to see again and really made me want to see the original again.

So we got the chance to see the touring company version and we really enjoyed it. I think it worked better on stage that as a musical film. The highlight of the show was "The Director’s" screaming queen "assistant" who really was over the top and did some hysterical antics with his exits and such. The crowd was roaring during his scenes.

The downside was how they just took stage actors who were acting like the original musical actors playing the parts. The actor who played Max sounded like Nathan Lane playing Max and Timon from the Lion King. It was VERY annoying.

All in all, a fine performance of the show and an enjoyable, funny night at the theatre!

[Alex]

The Producers is the theme of today's New York Times crossword puzzle.

Needless to say, since I haven't ever seen any version of The Producers it wasn't an easy go for me. Bialystock isn't really something you can guess, even with a lot of crosses.

[Morrigoon]

Okay, I've finally *finally* seen both the original Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder film, as well as the Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick film of the musical.

I know Mel Brooks purists will lynch me for this, but the musical is far and away the better version. Looks like I'm going to have to get out and see it live now, like Bornieo has done.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Yeah, but you like the film version of Phantom, so your opinion hardly counts.

[ozron]

Have to agree with GD. As huge fans of the stage musical, Erin and I almost walked out of "The Producers".

Ditto "Phantom"
Ditto "Evita"

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Yeah, but you like the film version of Phantom, so your opinion hardly counts.

Not better than the play, of course! And the film phantom COULD NOT SING, which pissed me off mightily... I mean, okay, you think Michael Crawford's too old, fine, at least use Brad Little!

But I liked the way they converted the theatrical production to a cinematic form, yes. They didn't do it as well as Chicago did it, but it was better than Evita at evoking the same impression on the audience, and... oh hell, this is stuff for another dicussion.

[mousepod]

I really like Evita

[Morrigoon]

I did too, mousepod, but the play is WAY better. The artsiness of the theatrical production, however, would not translate well to the screen though, IMHO.

[Chernabog]

I didn't like the Nathan Lane film OR the stage play of the producers -- horrible songs, boring boring boring.

The Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel movie was hilariously funny with brilliant acting. Closeups of Nathan Lane are nausea-inducing. I couldn't even sit through the whole thing.

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by Bornieo: Fully Loaded

The highlight of the show was "The Director’s" screaming queen "assistant" who really was over the top and did some hysterical antics with his exits and such. The crowd was roaring during his scenes.

My Sister-In-Law did the costumes for the Melbourne Production, and we went to see it. We were crying from laughing at the assistant.

Did he do the business with the slowly disappearing arm when exiting ?