The Producers - Menier Chocolate Factory

It’s going to the Garrick

Garrick fits since Producers closes at the Menier in March and Unicorn closes late April. Apollo could also work (if it's not confirmed for the Garrick) with a quick turnover after Fawlty Towers.

There is a reason why the ingenious Mel Brooks is a EGOT winner, as the Producers is a great musical.

What did Lewis say to Clarke when everything looked bleak, what did Sir Edmund to Temzin as they struggled towards Everest peak, what did Washington tell his soldiers as they crossed the Delaware. Not to do big glorious award winning original musicals in the Menier.
 
So this revival was done by theatre actors very ably on a adequate set and seeing this tonight just reminded me of seeing the glorious Tony and Oliver Award original at Drury Lane, every scene took me down memory lane and for me that is the problem. A revival should be enjoyed for what is on its own terms and not as a memory nudge every few minutes. The Producers has absolutely no business being done in a 150 seat theatre, by theatre actors on a minimalist set, it is a big, lavish and brash musical that needs big sets and bigger actors, it is a star vehicle for 2 leading names, it should have more lights than Blackpool.

Obviously the Menier is the leading theatre for reinventing musicals, where the Colour Purple, La Cage and any Sondheim was done gloriously and worked in the ‘intimate’ Menier. Even Brooks’ Young Frankenstein was everything in the West End that it wasn’t on Broadway. This ill judged revival is a mistake. When this was announced I had misgivings and everyone of my misgivings was founded.

If this went to Broadway it would be laughed at, not sure it should go to the rumoured West End either, it would do fine on a cruise boat.

At the end there was no standing ovation, where the ovation was more polite than enthusiastic, apathetic!

2 Stars.

Not really, theatre Is an opinion based business I’m afraid. No one is comparing Starlight Express to the original. I was also blown away by Oliver at Chichester and said that production worked with theatre actors than names, which I also saw at Drury Lane. I thought the acting was fine but miscast and needs bigger named actors. It is a big musical in every aspect. I would be saying the same if it was done at the Almeida or Old Vic.

The show sold out before opening night so clearly there was an audience for The Producers.

I'm seeing it next week with a very open mind as I have nothing to compare it with. I was not fortunate enough to have seen it before so this will be a real treat.

I saw the Drury Lane production and thought it was uproariously funny. I won't get to the Menier but I might try to see the transfer if it happens.

I only mentioned this as the original had a prolonged sit down in Manchester, so thought you might of caught it. Yes the show is about comedy, nothing as funny as Nathan Lane kicking an actor down some stairs ‘saying break a leg’ or when the pigeon does a nazi salute and the original Springtime for Hitler had me delirious. But you need the sets and space (choreography) for this to happen, which you don’t have at the Menier. None of this worked at the Menier, which although not surprised at this but always going open minded and my mind has been changed.

What a mess.
I originally had tickets for the canceled show early in the week. I checked the website today and saw a pair of tickets, so I decided to go. Well, the canceled show should have been a sign.

Biggest disappointment of the year.

The Royal Exchange version showed that the humor and score can work without a flashy set.
This production was just bad. The cast couldn't hold notes, keep up accents, and came out semi-dressed as they didn't seem to be able to do the quick changes in time.

The first act dragged, and most of the humor from Mel Brooks's script had the life sucked out of it.
The funniest line was Ulla saying she was Swedish, as she only seemed to be half the time.
The set, I can't quite work out what they were going for, as it just looked cheap. Not sure if it was intentional or not?

Springtime for Hitler, how you can make that scene fall flat... It should be a showstopper. Ropey choreography. Cast members getting dressed as they run onto the stage late, parts of costumes coming off as they danced.
A bizarre, random Jesus character appeared in the "Keep It Gay" number, which I'm sure wasn't in any production prior to this. It just felt like trying to be offensive for offense's sake.

If this is what passes as a production that the creatives feel is ready for an audience, it shows the contempt they have for the audience.

To top it off, creatives (choreographer and others) were in the audience, waving their arms around, talking to each other, and bashing away on iPads and laptops.

If your show isn't ready, and I'm now doubting that the cancellation was due to illness rather than a need for more rehearsals, then you should be rehearsing during the day and not having discussions in the middle of a paying audience to try to sort it out.

All in all, one star. It would be zero if that were an option.

It does seem bad practise for the creative team to be siting in the audience having loud conversations during the performance.

I

Know

But

This

Transfer is

Next year, right?

That's when most will see it ?