Guest Blog: Daena Schweiger on The Producers
Rhetoric does not get you anywhere, because Hitler and Mussolini are just as good at rhetoric. But if you can bring these people down with comedy, they stand no chance – Mel Brooks
I remember the first time I saw (and fell in love with) the
original movie The Producers starring
Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. It was a Saturday afternoon. It was shown on
regular television as filler until some sports programming began later that
day. I was surprised it was being shown.
I knew the plot: two men scheming to bilk elderly, amorous women out of their
money by producing a certified flop (a feel good musical titled “Springtime for
Hitler” **) guaranteed to close the first week.
It sounded hilarious. It also didn’t sound like something that would appear
on regular television, even if it was a Saturday afternoon. It didn’t matter.
They ran it, I watched it, and hummed the music to “Springtime for Hitler” the
entire next week. It quickly became one
of my favorite Mel Brooks films. Young Frankenstein is still number 1.
**Fun Fact: I know
one of the uncredited dancers in the “Springtime for Hitler” musical number in
the movie (I worked with her when she did guest directing stints for Opera
Omaha in the mid-nineties).
Years later the second incarnation of The Producers, in musical form, took Broadway by storm and was a
smashing success for stars Nathan Lane (Max) and Matthew Broderick (Leo). The
third incarnation of The Producers
came a few years after the Broadway run. The wildly successful musical took it’s
talents to the big screen, and took Mr. Lane and Mr. Broderick with it for the
ride. I did not see this movie, and
that’s okay. Full disclosure – I’m not a
fan of movies turning into musicals and then being filmed as a movie musical.
As if the original, non-singing movie, doesn’t exist! (My friend who attended the OCP preview night
with me said she was not impressed with the Lane / Broderick movie, but had
seen the Broadway tour when it came to Omaha a few years back and was eager to
see how OCP tackled some scenes).
The musical, I am happy to report, is every bit as funny as
the original movie, and in some places, is even more funny than the original
film. The invited audience on Thursday reacted as I did – doubled over with
laughter from the moment the curtain rose.
The humor of Mel Brooks, I think, is timeless – the jokes don’t feel
dated to me even if some of the setups are familiar.
Of course, it helps to have a solid understanding of comedy,
and more importantly, comedic timing. Jeff
Horger (stage director) has assembled an outstanding cast that is more than up
to the challenge. Leading the way are
two Playhouse veterans and audience favorites – Jim McKain as Max Bialystock
and Steve Krambeck as Leo Bloom. They
are surrounded by a supporting cast that shines as brightly as the
aforementioned leads. Mike Palmreuter,
as the Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind, and Zach Kloppenborg, as Carmen Guia,
are worth the price of admission. Also worth the price of admission? The dancing pigeons. Yes, you read that
right. Dancing pigeons. I haven’t
laughed as hard as I did during the song “Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop” in a long
time. A big shout out to Darin Kuehler
for that bit of props magic.
Speaking of the artistic team – once again Jim Othuse has provided
a sensible, practical set that takes us from Max’s run down, seedy office to
outside the Shubert theatre, a rehearsal hall, and a prison. Scene changes were
flawless and fast. Melanie Walters provided
outstanding choreography, in particular the Act I finale and, of course,
“Springtime for Hitler” in Act II. Amanda
Fehlner’s costumes were imaginative and fun. And Jim Boggess and his talented
musicians in the pit kept nice tempos and pacing throughout.
As an audience member you would be hard pressed to find a
flaw in the production. There was no weak link in the cast, crew, or artistic
staff. One of the most highly
anticipated musicals in Omaha in years will not disappoint you. They say
laughter is the best medicine, and as Mel himself stated, “If you bring these
people down with comedy they stand no chance.” None of us stood a chance on
preview night. We were all felled by laughter.
In fact, it left us breathless. And humming its signature song.
Daena Schweiger is a local director and playwright. She also serves as a board member for SNAP! Productions.
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