by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meeghan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tinkers Farm, director Emma Harley<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stourbridge Town Hall, Wednesday 14th May 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I am sure we are all aware, \u201cThe Producers\u201d started life as a cinema film in 1967, produced by the legendary Mel Brooks and starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. It was adapted into a stage musical in 2000, with this in turn leading to a new film version in 2005. It is the tale of a con-artist theatre producer who has long realised he can make more money from a flop than a success (mostly from old ladies by means that we need not go into here). He is joined in his nefarious activities by an accountant who just happens to have had life-long theatrical ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We open with a backdrop cloth of a cinema (or I suppose we should say \u201cmovie theatre\u201d as it\u2019s in New York), with an inset in front containing a couple of doors out from which came the chorus for the opening number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were several scenes used for the show and whilst they were all fine in and of themselves, one or two of the scene changes did seem to take a few minutes to action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some nice touches \u2013 Max\u2019s desk and sofa in his office and the staircase at the back when the leads were visiting their prospective director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am always impressed by the detail that goes into what could be passed over and the office set used for \u201cI Wanna be a Producer\u201d comes into this category. Bearing in mind, it\u2019s only used for this one scene there was a lot of thought put into making this an effective backdrop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In terms of set dressing, one criticism I do have is of the piano used in the rehearsal scenes. What I would suggest is that if your piano does not have working keys, face it upstage so we can\u2019t see your actor just banging away on a wooden board. Speaking of the piano, there were a couple of occasions when the music came on before the actor started \u201cplaying\u201d \u2013 something else that could have been avoided had the piano had its keys facing upstage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another strange (I assume) directoral choice was towards the end when Franz confronts the two leads with a gun which he seems to be waving around aimlessly and random shots coming out not necessary matching the hand action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On a positive in terms of props, glad to see that the champagne glasses had something in them as one thing I do find irritating is people \u201cdrinking\u201d from empty glasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leo\u2019s blue blanket is referred to a couple of times in the dialogue but for some reason this seemed to be represented by a very small handkerchief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We had a lively overture from the orchestra who were on top form throughout although the levels did seem to be a bit loud during the number \u201cWhen You\u2019ve Got it, Flaunt it\u201d when it was difficult to hear what was being sung. Normally at Stourbridge Town Hall the music is too loud at the start of the show, so this was different!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were a couple of times during the musical numbers when cast members seemed to be out of the lit areas and were singing in the dark. Most notably this happened to Max in \u201cI Want to be a Producer\u201d and Ulla in the aforementioned \u201cWhen You\u2019ve Got it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Costumes were very appropriate to the period, although I do have to say that Franz\u2019s \u201clederhosen\u201d didn\u2019t appear to be very \u201cleder\u201d. Roger\u2019s frock probably needed a bit more colour although it was suitably sparkly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two titular producers of the title are the ones that naturally drive the show as I can\u2019t recall a scene without at least one of them in it and here the production was superbly served by the excellent partnership of Daniel Cox as Max and Richard Cooper as Leo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These two actors really brought out the contrast between the two characters, Daniel as the over-confident and self-interested Max being well placed against Richard\u2019s more subdued performance as the more (initially at least) timid and self-conscious Leo, a character that does come out of his shell as the action progresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel\u2019s very powerful performance of \u201cThe King of Broadway\u201d was a mesmerising highlight, and the twosome\u2019s duets on the likes of \u201cWe Can do it\u201d and \u201cWhere Did we go Right\u201d certainly had the audience in the palms of their hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Supporting the two leads was a variety of characters which could very much be described as \u201clarger than life\u201d, needing some big performances and my word we definitely got these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew Morgan gave a suitably over the top showing in his role as the \u201cmad German\u201d Franz, tackling the role with obvious relish and handling his musical numbers with the same enthusiasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tom Bowes and Tyrone Howell made a fine double act as Roger and Carmen. I did feel that Tyrone\u2019s performance may have gone a bit too far (Mr Humphries on speed was one description that came to mind) but this may have been to deliberately contrast with the more restrained Roger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rebecca Bate gave us a good comedy performance as the female lead Ulla, managing to maintain the accent for the duration (not easy).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The musical numbers were well choreographed. Productions like this can live or die by their opening number and we had a very lively opening number in \u201cIt\u2019s Opening Night\u201d, which firmly set the background to the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was lots of comedy to come from Franz\u2019s German numbers and a shout out here to the grannies\u2019 zimmer frame routine which was an absolute highlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the best reaction naturally came from what is probably the best known song in the production, which is of course \u201cSpringtime for Hitler\u201d. This is quite a long song, but at no point did the pace drop and become anything other than a delightful piece of (intentionally) poor taste entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To summarise, this was a superb evening\u2019s entertainment and even though it is quite a long show, the evening sped along nicely. Great cast, excellent musicians and fantastic staging, what more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reviewed By – David G<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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