There is only one show that gives you a neurotic accountant, a Hitler-loving playwright, a Swedish starlet, and a man who preys on innocent old ladies. The name of that show is The Producers, the national tour that rambled through the Center for the Arts Mainstage Theatre this past weekend.
The show reaches many different levels of ridiculous, and the silliness works. For a show that revolves around a play made to be disappointing, The Producers did not disappoint. From the elaborate costumes to the unbelievable singing voices, it was a very impressive performance.
As lead characters Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, Jason Simon and Austin Owen had some big shoes to fill, but they proved up to the task. At one point, Simon played an audience member during intermission, criticizing himself: "He's good, he's no Nathan but he's good," referring to Nathan Lane, the thespian who brought the character of Max to vivid life in the recent Broadway run of the show, based off of the 1968 comedy starring Gene Wilder as Leo and Zero Mostel as Max.
Owen performed the part of Leo Bloom wonderfully as well. The little details that went into his paranoid and neurotic accountant worked to perfection. From his pocket protector to his "blanky," Owen realized his character perfectly.
"It was a really good representation of the movie, and I thought that the actor who played Bloom played Matthew Broderick's character well," said Julie Szczerba, senior communication major, referencing Broderick's Leo, portrayed alongside Lane's Max, in the 2005 musical remake of the original film.
While the two leads hogged most of the spotlight, there were many supporting actors in that nonetheless commanded the audience's attention. The character Carmen Ghia, played by John West, had the crowd in hysterics from his first flamboyant prance onto the stage.
His character was one of the most captivating parts of the show, with West taking full advantage of Carmen's overdone mannerism. He also made the show a bit more interactive by leaving the stage and involving himself with the crowd.
Other roles, such as Carmen's boss and lover Roger Debris, played by Britt Hancock, stood out and complimented Carmen even more. Elizabeth Pawlowski played the role of Ulla, the sultry Swede who steals Bloom's heart. From her accent to her singing, the actress did a fantastic job with the character.
Jesse Coleman's Hitler-loving Franz Liebkind was the most ridiculous character of them all. Though he was no Will Ferrell (who played the role in 2005 version), it was obvious from the amount of spit leaving Coleman's mouth that the actor was both dedicated to his heavy German accent and the role itself.
Ironically, while the movie version may have produced more iconic performances and a greater following, cinema just can't compare with a live performance. The show stopped for ten minutes after a mere five songs had been performed due to a curtain cord malfunction; however, the scenery changes were smooth from then on.
The scenery itself was aesthetically pleasing and funny with posters in Bialystock's office reading "The Breaking Wind" and "When Cousins Marry."
Regardless of some minor difficulties, such as some distractingly sloppy dance numbers, it was clear that the audience was having a great time.
"I have nothing to compare it to, and it was not what I expected," said Kim Palinski, a senior speech and hearing major. "But it was great and really funny."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
