The Producers - Menier Chocolate Factory

Could you please share where I could find a planned absence? We'll see 27Dec show. not that we could do anything but still would love to know in advance. thank you.

Agree wholeheartedly with Mark Chloe Saunders is a star for basically saving the show.

Some first preview awkwardness of course, but a really strong cast, and most importantly it was very funny, and a lovely night out. The show is in safe hands. Andy Nyman and Marc Antolin are brilliant, genuinely no notes and their chemistry is believable. They're impeccable. A massive shoutout to Trevor Ashley as Roger De Bris who genuinely had me gasping for air. Seriously, he is HILARIOUS. The orchestra sounds great. The 10-piece band sounds larger than life and there's no times where actors lines got drowned out.

However, this is easily the cheapest-looking set I've seen at the Menier, which usually has pretty great set and lighting design, always understanding the size of the place. It looks like a Charing Cross/TOP show. Painted flats of fire hydrants, trash cans... it felt trapped inside the tiny stage it was playing on and was yearning to expand outwards. Worryingly, bulbs were burning out mid-performance on the large billboard in lights at the back, which has to be an issue if the performers are going to be so close to them? Wouldn't want any of them bursting suddenly.

I assume this design is going to be scaled up for the rumoured transfer and this is likely more of a tryout set design. I can imagine some more design elements in scenes like on the rooftop, some smoke billowing or something like that. A nice facade of the theatre, more elaborate room decorations, some real trash cans?

But even with that said, it's a really great production of The Producers at this scale. It just needs to get out of the Menier and into a sliiightly larger theatre. I think that's where it'll truly be at peak performance.

Won't spoil much, but when S&M Eva Braun, whip in hand, comes running up and down the stage yelling "Hitler is coming" in aroused tone, it's sure to be a gay romp at Berchtesgaden.

How well is the humour aging?

Is the transfer definitely confirmed and if so, does anyone know where it's going?

I enjoyed this. [seen original production several times] but theatre could do with a good cleaner in.

I cannot believe they have a sold out 3 month run and they're still a building site

The old foyer space is LITERALLY a building site - like there was scaffolding up when I went to the Cabinet Minister, and you get taken in through a fire exit down the side currently to the bar area...

Tis still very much like that.

The bar area is always used for costume changes especially for the musicals and when cast members need to do quick costume changes. The dressing rooms are downstairs and quite a long way away from the stage. Props also stored there during the show so that they are easily accessible. It's one of the reasons why if you arrived late you could not get past the door between the old restaurant and the bar/box office when the show was on.
I remember having a conversation with Matt Horne once when he was in Charleys Aunt during a costume change and he is talking to me in his pants. I just kept thinking "I'm talking to Gavin in his pants!"

Ah, thanks for explaining! I had no idea.

Also hahahaha I would be thinking of that

Oh that looks....very cheap.